Kapaa High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated McKinley of the Oahu Interscholastic Federation, 39-32, in Thursday’s consolation game of the OC16 Girls Basketball Championships – Division II state tournament. “Just a different strategy we came out with, and the
Kapaa High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated McKinley of the Oahu Interscholastic Federation, 39-32, in Thursday’s consolation game of the OC16 Girls Basketball Championships – Division II state tournament.
“Just a different strategy we came out with, and the girls were more relaxed,” Kapaa head coach William Aki said in a phone interview Thursday. “Today’s game was more relaxed, and we played our game like we did all season long.”
The Warrior girls ended the first quarter with a 15-6 lead, and they sustained the lead throughout against the Tigers at Keaau High School on the Big Island.
“We had that lead throughout the game, and then we slowed the ball down toward the end of the game,” Aki said. “Tried to kill clock, take time off that clock.”
Warriors junior guard Paea Tafea had 15 points, seven rebounds and a steal. Senior forward Tori Daligcon had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Tigers sophomore guard Suzie Park had 12 points and a steal for McKinley.
Kapaa will play against Hanalani of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu at 3 p.m. today in a consolation game at Waiakea High School.
“We played Hanalani in the preseason. So, the girls kind of know what they got and how they’re going to come out and play us,” Aki said. “We just got to play through that game. I think we’ll be all right.”
In the tournament’s opening round Wednesday, Kapaa fell to Kohala of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, 47-40, in double overtime at Keaau.
“It was a tough one to take, but the girls played hard,” Aki said about Wednesday’s loss. “The girls were fouling out, and that kind of hurt us in the second overtime.”
Daligcon had nine points, 12 rebounds and two steals in the loss to Kohala. Senior center Siokapesi Paua had seven points, 10 rebounds and an assist. Freshman guard Jaliyah Casem also had seven points along with four assists and two steals.
Kohala senior center Naai Soloman-Lewis had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds in that opening game. Junior guard Brittany Shimono had 13 points, six rebounds and three steals.
