Kapaa High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Hanalani of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu in Friday’s consolation final of the OC16 Girls Basketball Championships – Division II state tournament. The Warriors defeated the Royals, 34-25, at Waiakea High School
Kapaa High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Hanalani of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu in Friday’s consolation final of the OC16 Girls Basketball Championships – Division II state tournament.
The Warriors defeated the Royals, 34-25, at Waiakea High School on the Big Island to place seventh at states.
“Actually, we started off slow like we did all season long. Picked it up in the second half,” said Kapaa head coach William Aki in a phone interview Friday. “Even though we had a slight lead in the first half, we kind of stalled out again. Pressure kind of got to us, but the starters got themselves back together again, and pulled away in the second half.”
Aki added he believes the team could have made a deep run in the main bracket had it not lost in the opening round. Kapaa lost to Big Island’s Kohala, 47-40, in double overtime on Wednesday.
“It was a pretty good run for us. Like I said earlier, I wish we could have won the first game. I think we could have got pretty far,” he said. “The girls played well. They played hard. It was a good tournament, even for the juniors to get some exposure. Hopefully, if we do come back next time, we’ll have a little bit of experience to be in a tournament like this.”
Warriors junior guard Paea Tafea had 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in the consolation final for Kapaa. Senior forward Tori Daligcon had five points, five rebounds and an assist. Freshman guard Jaliyah Casem had six points, a block and an assist. Junior center Lila Hern had five points, five rebounds and an assist.
Royals senior guard Alyssa Spurling had nine points and two steals for Hanalani. Senior guard Alexa Nava had four points, two rebounds and an assist.
“I guess we played a little faster than them. They had their good points and we had our bad points, but I feel like we played really well considering it was our last game,” Daligcon said. “We were so set on making our way to the top. To come here and lose the first game, it was kind of hard.”
Kapaa ends its season going 2-1 at states. Prior to Friday’s match, Kapaa defeated McKinley of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, 39-32, on Thursday at Keaau High School. The Warriors were 8-0 in the Kauai Interscholastic Federation regular season.
“I definitely gained a whole lot more experience. I hope the rest of the girls, they grew from this trip — especially the first-timers,” Daligcon said. “Coming up here, the nerves and all of that, hopefully next year they will have grown out of it. If they make it next year, then it will be easier for them.”
Aki said the team has not been exposed to dengue fever.
“Nothing has happened yet. We still got another two more days left, but it’s been OK,” he said. “The weather’s been fine. We haven’t come across any mosquitos.”
