LIHU‘E — Hema Naka‘ahiki-Young scored a game-high 22 points, Wednesday during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls basketball game contested at the Kaua‘i High School gym.
The Red Raiders’ tall girl’s scoring led Kaua‘i High School to a 56-50 winning edge against Waimea High School following a night when Kaua‘i rotated its bench to stay ahead of the Menehune who were fueled by the taste of victory following its win over Kapa‘a High School two nights prior.
Powered by four points apiece from Krystin Emproso, Denise Alfonso, Naka‘ahiki-Young, and three from Kate-lynn Colipano who was upgraded from the Junior Varsity ranks, the Raiders established its game pace by ending the first quarter with a six-point margin over Waimea.
The Menehune were powered by a trio of shooters, including Hazel Serapio, Kiaura Rita-Ortiz, and Macie Ramos for their nine points in the opening frame.
Rita-Ortiz demonstrated the maturity gained following her second-half opening trey against Kapa‘a Monday. Against Kaua‘i, the guard/forward peeled off five points in the opening frame en route to her game-total nine points.
Serapio, one of two key Menehune playmakers, finished by topping the Waimea scoring with 14 points. Hailey Mata, the complimenting Menehune playmaker, added seven points.
Katelyn Constantino, thrust into the action against Kapa‘a, hardened to score seven points, including a final period three-ball, and going perfect on the charity stripe.
Following the tall posting of Naka‘ahiki-Young, Alfonso, despite a four-for-11 showing on the free-throw line in the second half, kept Kaua‘i alive with her eight points. The JV upgrade Colipado added five points to the Raiders’ win along with Emproso who marked all her five points in the first half.
The Junior Varsity contest scheduled between the Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i JV teams did not materialize due to Kapa‘a not being able to field enough players for a team.
With the victory, Kaua‘i re-enters the “W” column following its loss to Kapa‘a earlier in the week. The Red Raider ladies make the trek to the Bernice Hundley Gym on the Kapa‘a High School campus, Friday night with the JV games tipping off at 5:30 p.m. The varsity game starts 20 minutes following the completion of the JV contest.
According to information received from the KIF, the Kapa‘a boys basketball swept its series over Island School, Tuesday night at the Bernice Hundley Gym.
Reimel Camacho and Austin Green combined for 21 points to lead the Kapa‘a JV boys to a 35-24 win over the JV Voyagers who got eight points apiece from Michael Fitzgerald and Kapono Sullivan, and a three-ball from Mark Fitzgerald.
The varsity Warriors launched nine long balls from beyond the three-point mark in its 54-22 win over the varsity Voyagers who tried to match the effort with a single three-ball launched by Josh Dobashi.
Keaka Kauhane sparked the Kapa‘a fireworks with 14 points, including four three-pointers, followed by Mikey Questin with 10 points, including a pair of second-quarter treys, and Kala Rall ending the night with seven points, including a final quarter trey.
Lukas Meyers topped the Voyagers’ effort with eight second-half points followed by Dobashi with five points.
With the win, Kapa‘a boys host Kaua‘i High School, Saturday at the Bernice Hundley Gym while the Voyagers return to the Wilcox Gymnasium where they will host Waimea High School. The JV games tip off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity games starting 20 minutes following the JV games.
