WAIMEA — Shayna Kamoku dropped 10 points and the Kapaa junior varsity took the opener of a twinbill, 27-16, against the hosting Waimea High School Monday night during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation girls basketball games that opened Round 2 at the Clem Gomes Gym.
Waimea’s Qiyrah Rapanot drummed up five points coming off the 14-6 halftime deficit, including a trey that was answered by Kapaa’s Kiani Salvador — her only score in the contest — to close the third quarter.
Tisha Burton fired off another trey in the final frame when the Menehune JV outscored the JV Lady Warriors, 5-4, but the effort came up short, 27-16.
The Menehune varsity squad, clinching the KIF first round earlier in December, softened the sting of defeat by roaring to a 53-23 victory over the varsity Lady Warriors in the nightcap that played out before enthusiastic fans from both benches.
“We kept them to below 60 points,” said Kapaa coach William Aki. “That was our goal, and we’re proud of the effort the girls showed on the floor.”
Kapaa faced a manpower shortage entering the arena with just seven players suited up. This meant Aki had just two substitutes to draw from.
An injury early in the first quarter left him with just one subsitute while the Menehune closed the frame with a nine-point bulge, 13-4, Kapaa getting its marks from Alexie Ann Yam and Angeline Roslin. Kierstin Gummerus led the Menehune on nine of the team’s 13 points.
“They tried to slow us down,” said Waimea Natalie Mata.
Strapped by the injury, the Lady Warriors battled with everyone getting into foul trouble at the break where Waimea took a 31-10 lead into the locker rooms, paced by seven points from point guard Kaye Serapio. Kapaa got its production from Lilya Cummings who drove through traffic for four of the team’s six-point showing.
Kapaa’s manpower woes extended into the third frame when a pair of Lady Warrior foul casualties left the team with just four players on the court with 34 seconds remaining in the quarter that ended with Waimea showing a 45-14 lead, Kapaa getting its four points on buckets by Yam and Naia Maka-Adric.
Kaye Serapio continued to set the Menehune pace in the frame, firing off seven points, including one from long distance and getting help from Gummerus who added five points in the quarter.
Waimea responded to the short Kapaa field by moving Hazel Serapio to the point guard slot and replacing its Starting Five with its secondaries.
“She’s got potential,” Mata said of Hazel who topped the final quarter scoring by netting six of her game-total eight points in the leadership spot. “Normally, she’s our underneath girl.”
Gummerus and Kaye Serapio topped the Waimea victory on showings of 19, and 16 points, respectively. Hazel Serapio added eight, and Cori Burton finished with four first-half marks.
Maka-Adric balanced her eight points over three quarters for Kapaa, Cummings finished with six points, and Yam added five points before succumbing to injury.
Kapaa next hosts Kauai High School today at the Bernice Hundley Gym. The JV contest tips off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity matchup.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
