LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Red Raiders closed the game on a 9-1 run to come away with a 47-40 win over the Waimea Lady Menehune, Tuesday night at the Raider Dome. Kristle Henry had nine of her game-high 26 points
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Red Raiders closed the game on a 9-1 run to come away with a 47-40 win over the Waimea Lady Menehune, Tuesday night at the Raider Dome.
Kristle Henry had nine of her game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead Kaua‘i to the win in its home opener.
After a Jayme Jacinto 3-pointer gave Waimea the lead at 39-38, Kaua‘i’s Jennifer Grady knocked down a jumper from the left elbow to give her team the lead for good.
Henry got a lay-up after Bristy-Ann Agu saved the ball inbounds on the baseline to give the Raiders a 42-39 lead, then another fast-break lay-up on a downcourt pass from Uila Ahosivi for a 45-40 edge before a couple of free throws iced the game.
Ahosivi and Kelsey Cadiente each had eight points. Grady and Kawehi Louis-Diamond had two points apiece and Agu added one.
Waimea was led by Jacinto’s 18 points, which included four 3-pointers.
Jazzy Bradbury and Cheyanne Duarte each had five points, while Vakeesha Lagazo and Robin Moura had four apiece. Brandee Victorino and Searra Kaohi had three points and one point, respectively.
After a slow first quarter that saw Waimea hold an 8-6 lead, both teams got hot in the second quarter. The Lady Menehune ran out to a 15-8 edge off a Moura lay-up on a feed from Cassandra Owen.
Kaua‘i responded with an 8-2 run to get back within one when Henry pulled down an offensive rebound and went back up for two. The Raiders went to the halftime locker room trailing 21-20.
Henry put up five quick points to start the third, first on an offensive rebound put-back, then converting a three-point play, making a lefty lay-up and getting fouled in the process.
Waimea scored seven unanswered points to take a 28-25 lead, but Kaua‘i recovered the lead at 29-28 to end the third quarter.
Louis-Diamond pulled down a defensive board and went coast to coast for a short jumper to give Kaua‘i a 36-32 lead. But Duarte put in a tough lay-up, then made a good pass to Moura for a score and another tie game at 36-36.
Ahosivi hit a tough turnaround shot for a 38-36 Kaua‘i lead before Lagazo found Jacinto in the corner for a 3-pointer and a 39-38 advantage, but Grady’s jumper followed and Kaua‘i held Waimea to just one point for the rest of the game.
In the evening’s other varsity game, Kapa‘a came away with a 72-28 win behind 25 points from Mahea Hanie-Grace and 24 from Jessilyn Aki.
Raquelle Matayoshi had 11 for the Lady Warriors, while Reggie McCabe had eight. Lina Fifita and Mele Moala had two points apiece.
Lauren Claypoole led Island with 15 points, while sister Joy Claypoole had eight. Kelly Culliney had four and Kalena Wong had two for the Voyagers.
In the night’s only junior varsity game, Kaua‘i was a 36-30 winner over Waimea. Vinise Pava led the Raiders with 12 points and Alyssa Vegas had 11.
Jessica Soriano led Waimea with 11 points, while Nicole Palacio had eight.
On Friday night, Kaua‘i (2-1) will be back at home to take on Kapa‘a (3-0) in a crucial game to the top of the KIF standings. JV gets underway at 5:30 p.m. with varsity to follow.
Waimea (1-2) will play host to Island School (0-3) in a varsity-only game, starting at 7 p.m. at Waimea High School.
