KAPAA — The Menehune girls held on to win their last game of the season, and also put the Warriors out of reach.
Waimea High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Kapaa in a nail-biter, 50-48, Tuesday evening at the Bernice Hundley Gym at Kapaa High School.
“Awesome game. Awesome atmosphere. Awesome energy from both sides,” said Waimea head coach Natalie Mata. “Pure basketball game. It was a good one, a good way to end our year.”
Tuesday’s result put Kapaa out of contention for the season’s second round, awarding this year’s Kauai Interscholastic Federation girls basketball championship to Kauai High School.
Waimea (3-5 KIF, 1-3 2nd round) trailed after the first quarter but worked out of the early deficit to go into halftime with a 23-22 lead.
The Menehune then hit four 3-pointers in the third quarter to go into the final period leading, 43-34.
“At the ending the second quarter, the group that we had in, they were working really well together chemistry-wise. That’s what we came out (with) after halftime,” Mata said. “We came out with that same group hoping they would continue the energy and the chemistry, and they did. So, we were able to pull away a little bit.”
The Warriors caught up in the fourth quarter to take a one-point lead. Menehune freshman guard Kaye Serapio hit a layup to take a 49-48 lead.
Senior guard Monique Lorenzo then made one free throw to extend Waimea’s lead to two with seconds left, which would be the game’s final point scored.
“As a senior, I would say we just went out there and gave it our all for the last game,” said Menehune senior guard/forward Starlynn Ripley. “I kind of took this win to heart … because it is my last high school basketball game.”
Kapaa (1-6 KIF, 1-2 2nd round) outscored Waimea, 14-7, in the final quarter. Warriors junior center Mele Tafea made 3-4 free throws down the stretch to give Kapaa a 46-45 lead.
After Lorenzo’s free throw, Kapaa had the final possession with seconds left. Warriors freshman guard Lilya Cummings took a desperation shot from about half-court.
Cummings’ shot went off the back iron of the rim as time expired.
“It was a great game. We knew we were going to get a great battle out of Waimea, and we tried to prepare for it,” said Kapaa head coach William Aki. “We had a slip up here and there that got them (Waimea) right back into the game, but we had a quick start tonight. We just couldn’t finish it at the end.”
Tuesday was Kapaa’s senior night. One Warriors senior, forward Melissa Rodriguez, was recognized before the game.
Rodriguez was in Kapaa’s starting five and ended with one assist.
“She did pretty decent this year regardless of not coming up the last two years,” Aki said of Rodriguez. “She did her job tonight. We appreciate all of what she had done for us. Regardless that she came off the bench and didn’t have that much playing time, decent player. Smart girl.”
Serapio ended with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a steal for Waimea. Ripley recorded a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, a block and an assist. Senior guard Kiarra Palacio had eight points, all scored in the third quarter, four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Tafea totaled 11 points, six rebounds and an assist for Kapaa. Cummings had 12 rebounds, a block and an assist. Junior guard Angelica Cudiamat led Kapaa in scoring with 17 points and also had five rebounds and an assist. Junior guard Jaliyah Casem had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Kapaa will play at Kauai High School (7-0, 3-0 2nd round) on Friday to conclude the KIF regular season. The junior varsity game will begin 5:30 p.m. and the varsity will follow.
Waimea also won the JV game on Tuesday, 44-24. Brae Cayaban scored a game-high 24 points for Waimea. Lilia Unutoa scored six points for Kapaa.
