LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders were hosting the Waimea High School Menehune Friday night at the Kaua‘i High School gym. Kaua‘i was coming off of a crucial loss to the first place Kapa‘a Warriors and needed to
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders were hosting the Waimea High School Menehune Friday night at the Kaua‘i High School gym. Kaua‘i was coming off of a crucial loss to the first place Kapa‘a Warriors and needed to walk away victorious if the team wanted any hope of forcing a playoff with the Warriors. The Red Raiders at times seemed poised to run away with the game, but the Menehune would not go down lightly, with Kaua‘i eventually prevailing 44-34.
The Red Raiders were celebrating senior night and it was the Kaua‘i seniors who led the way inside with Mikal Moranz leading all scorers with 15 points and Angelo Ramento chipping in with 11.
Both offenses were struggling to find its footing in the first quarter with the Red Raiders slightly edging out the Menehune 7-6.
In the second quarter both teams got to the charity strip regularly, which would ultimately prove to be a difference in the game. Moranz converted on five free throws in the quarter and Waimea’s Peterson Lahip answered with four of his own. Waimea, with efforts from Lahip, who finished with 8 points, and Duke Yadao were able to keep the game to a tight 17-15 in favor of the Red Raiders.
After half time things turned for the Menehune and Kaua‘i began to extend its lead. Costly turnovers have haunted Waimea all season and Friday was no different.
It was turnovers that enabled Kaua‘i to convert easy buckets inside and layups off of fast breaks. The Red Raiders propelled themselves to a 27-22 lead at the end of the third.
Although Waimea would battle back in the fourth quarter, with Yadao and Nohili Kahepu‘u getting the Menehune within one, Waimea could never complete the comeback.
Kaua‘i’s Jassem Cumlat began to take over the game from the guard spot. Cumlat added just 7 points to the Kaua‘i total but it was the ball handling and the vision of the sophomore that was on display Friday. At one point late in the fourth, he riffled a pass from near half court that found Moranz amidst light traffic for an easy layup. The defensive play he was able to put forth was also impressive as he came away with multiple steals in the quarter.
For Waimea , Yadao finished with 14 points and Kahepu‘u added six to the final totals.
In junior varsity action Kaua‘i walked away with a 49-35 win over Waimea.
•Rick Killeen, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or sports@thegardenisland.com.
