LIHUE — Kauai High School’s Bailey Perreira got her only basket with 45 seconds remaining in the game Friday night against Kapaa High School at the Kauai High School gym.
Her late-game pair pushed the Red Raiders into the lead for the final time as the Warriors’ responding effort came up empty. Kauai High School’s Cici Tanicala, one of six seniors to celebrate Senior Night, hit the tail end of a charity pair with 23 seconds showing to lock up the 55-52 victory before a good-sized, enthusiastic audience.
“This was a tight one,” said Kauai High School coach James Dingus. “This was a good one for the fans. We also had the seniors getting minutes on the floor because it is Senior Night, and they need to feel they’re part of the team. Some of them are battling colds so we put in the underclassmen so they could rest.”
Kapaa High School came out fast and picked up the lead which they controlled until late in the second quarter. But three-balls from Amalya Sales and Marissa Layosa pushed Kauai into the lead, 31-27 at the break.
“We had our chances,” said Kapaa High School coach William Aki. “We came out strong and finished strong. That was the only thing I wanted. The girls worked hard and this is a good way to build for the next season.”
Both teams jockeyed for the lead throughout the second half until Perreira locked up the lead with less than a minute to play.
“The seniors fought hard, played hard,” Dingus said. “All the girls worked hard, and I’m proud of them and how they played.”
Six seniors — Tanicala, China Yasay, Shaelynn Erickson, Deija Melchor, Taegan Keep and Kaylee Braun — each had their moment in the spotlight. Tanicala, Yasay, Erickson, Keep and Braun got the nod as the Raiders’ starting five.
Marissa Layosa topped the Raiders’ win with 26 points, including four bombs from outside the three-point arc. She was followed by senior Keep netting 11 points, Tanicala netting five points, including her charity shot. Sales ended with seven points, including the second quarter three-ball, Braun netted a pair and Erikson finished with a digit.
Jaliyah Casem topped the Kapaa scoring on 27 points, including a trey in the first quarter. Angelica Cudiamat added nine points, Liliya Cummings marked seven points before fouling out with 4:41 remaining in the game, and Mele Tafea picked up seven points.
Earlier in the evening, Jessica Cezar scored 11 points, including a trio of three-balls to lead the Red Raider junior varsity to a 34-21 showing over the JV Warriors who got 10 points from Angeline Roslin.
The victory ends the Red Raiders in a tie for the JV crown with the Waimea squad, both teams finishing the season with 6-2 records.
