WAIMEA — The Menehune opened a second-round home stand with a sweep over the Kapa‘a Warriors at Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea. Nicole Palacio finished with 12 points to lead the JV Menehune girls to a 26-20 edge over Kapa‘a,
WAIMEA — The Menehune opened a second-round home stand with a sweep over the Kapa‘a Warriors at Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea.
Nicole Palacio finished with 12 points to lead the JV Menehune girls to a 26-20 edge over Kapa‘a, which was adjusting to the upgrade of Kaylee Silva to the ranks of varsity. That change took place Tuesday when the Kapa‘a varsity faced Island School at Bernice Hundley gym.
Taylor Gaspar, one of the key ball movers for the Waimea JV, finished with four points along with Bailey San Augustine-Nordmeier to lead the win.
Sierra Shigematsu returned to the ranks of the Kapa‘a JV, filling in the paint and adding a pair. Mailekalehua Tuttle, normally playing the No. 2 post to Silva, was called to the No. 1 post position, finishing with six points with Ariel Cummings and Shyanne Almarza adding four points apiece.
Kapa‘a took the lead with 10 points in the opening quarter, led by Cummings’ four points, but was held scoreless in the second quarter as Waimea clawed back.
The JV Menehune got all of its first-quarter score on San Augustine-Nordmeier’s four points and pitched in five second-quarter points for a 10-9 deficit at the half.
“We played junk in the first half,” Palacio said. “But after coach Robyn talked to us, we played more like a team in the second half.”
Waimea came back with 12 third-quarter points, led by Palacio’s five points and Charlene Alicante dropping three points.
That production outscored Kapa‘a, which was held to just 10 second half points.
Nahealani Quereto slipped the ball in at the buzzer of the first quarter, effectively pulling Kapa‘a into an 8-8 deadlock in the varsity match-up.
But that was about as close Waimea would allow the Kapa‘a wahine as guard Cheyanne Duarte finished with 18 points to lead the Menehune to a 48-40 win at home, aided by Vakeesha Lagazo ending with 14 points.
Duarte moved Waimea to a 19-13 showing in the second quarter, unleashing seven of her nine first-half points, including one of two bombs she launched from outside the three-point mark.
Kapa‘a stayed close for most of the game, and in a physical fourth quarter, outscored Waimea 12-7 as the Menehune lost two of its posts on fouls.
Ka‘anoi Marshall pegged her game-total five points in that final quarter as Waimea’s Paige Connelly fouled out with four minutes remaining and Ulu Matagiese followed with about two minutes showing.
Lucyanne Harper, leading Kapa‘a with 14 points, added three points in the final stanza with Raquelle Matayoshi and Krystal Christian each adding pairs, and Matayoshi fouling out with six points.
Reggie McCabe topped the Kapa‘a scoring with 14 points followed by Marshall and Christian who finished with six points.
Silva, upgraded from the JV, was held to a pair in the second quarter, although her height and strength helped under the boards.
Following Duarte and Lagazo, Waimea saw Connelly add seven points before buzzing out, Kaelyn Aquino-Kamakele adding five points, and Jessica Soriano and Mariyah Oliver each adding pairs in the win.
Kapa‘a next hosts Kaua‘i High School on Tuesday night at Bernice Hundley Gym, while Waimea hosts Island School in a single game at Clem Gomes Gym.
Waimea’s game tips off at 7 p.m. and the Kapa‘a JV opens at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity teams tipping off 20 minutes following the completion of the JV match.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
