LIHUE — The Kauai High School boys basketball team celebrated its senior night with wins in the junior varsity and varsity games before a loud, enthusiastic crowd Tuesday night at the Kauai High School Gym. Eight Red Raider seniors were
LIHUE — The Kauai High School boys basketball team celebrated its senior night with wins in the junior varsity and varsity games before a loud, enthusiastic crowd Tuesday night at the Kauai High School Gym.
Eight Red Raider seniors were honored before tip off.
Kauai lost little time asserting itself on the Menehune, building a 15-point lead at the end of the first quarter en route to a 64-55 final.
“We let everyone play,” said Kauai Coach Ipo Yoshioka. “The players accomplished what they needed to do going into the game. Tomorrow, we go back to practice to prepare for Kapaa, Friday.”
Senior guard Jassem Cumlat set the pace in the first quarter, firing off six points and getting help from another senior, Chavis Garma who had four points, including a trey. Michael Booth and Kekoa Tecson had five points, and Melvin Tingzon, another senior, chipped in with four points.
The Raiders exploded for 26 points in the opening frame while holding Waimea to 11 points, who was led by Kelly Ragasa and Bernie Ned with four points apiece. Ned finished with nine points.
Undaunted, the Menehune chipped away, cutting the deficit down to 10, 34-24, behind a 13-8 run in the second period led by Ned and Jamin Fernandez.
“During the break, we told them this is the last game,” said Waimea coach Chris Acoba. “Just go out and leave everything on the court. It’s frustrating that it takes the last game for them to realize they can play with the best of them.”
Waimea came off the break and even outscored Kauai 17-13 in the final quarter behind eight points from Seaton Farias, four from Theron Shigematsu, and three from Fernandez, who finished with 13.
But the effort came up short.
“They played a good game,” Acoba said. “We lose four to graduation, but have four returning next year. We also have several good JV players … That is a good starting point for a good crop of boys.”
Cumlat topped the Kauai scoring with 20 points, including a pair of treys. Josaiah Coatie added 14 points and Michael Booth finished with eight points.
In JV action, Kauai beat Waimea 53-41.
Kauai meets Kapaa Friday at the Bernice Hundley Gym. The JV game tips off at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity match starting 20 minutes after the JV game.
