KAPA’A – The Kaua’i Red Raiders girls junior varsity basketball squad clinched the 2002 KIF JV championship with a 45-23 victory against the Kapa’a Warriors at the Bernice Hundley gym Wednesday night. This contest was initially a lot closer than
KAPA’A – The Kaua’i Red Raiders girls junior varsity basketball squad clinched the 2002 KIF JV championship with a 45-23 victory against the Kapa’a Warriors at the Bernice Hundley gym Wednesday night.
This contest was initially a lot closer than the final margin of victory would ultimately indicate.
The improved Warriors, in their final home contest of the season, answered virtually every Raider first-half offensive thrust with a patient score of their own.
Both teams traded baskets in a low scoring first quarter until Sherri Gebauers bucket from the right wing dropped in at the buzzer for an 8-6 Raider lead.
The Warriors rallied to take a short-lived 12-10 advantage with 5:10 left in the half on Theresa Taylors 10-foot jumper but Kaua’is full court defensive switch aided an 8-1 Raider run to push the visitors up 18-13.
Taylor’s three-point play cut the lead to two, but a Starlene Kelekoma free throw with :15 left gave the Raiders a slim 19-16 edge at the break.
Sharp-shooting Kapa’a guard Eliza Vicoy excelled from the perimeter with 10 points to lead all scorers into intermission, while teammate Theresa Taylor contributed 5 second quarter points.
Eight Raiders got into the first half scoring column, led by Ashley Belisario and Kelcie Morita with 4 apiece.
Tori Shimabukuro’ left wing trey jump started the Kaua’i offense after the break and three field goals by Stephanie Kashiwabara punctuated a 14-5 third quarter bulge to put the Raiders up 33-21. Briana Conant, a defensive blur throughout the contest, also displayed a nice shooting touch with a left wing three-pointer for Kapa’a’s lone field goal of the frame.
As a revolving door of fresh reserves forced the majority of action in the Warrior backcourt, Kaua’i closed with a 12-2 final period run to win going away.
Kashiwabara, a 5 2″ sophomore Raider guard, and Kapa’a’s Vicoy shared game-high honors with 10 points each.
The victory gives Head Coach Brian Inouye’s team-oriented Raiders a championship season record of 6 wins, 1 loss. The hard working Warriors (0-7) hope to find that elusive first victory when they travel to the Clem Gomes gymnasium on Friday, May 3, to take on the Waimea Menehunes (4-2) in the 5:30 p.m. regular season finale.
Kauai: Janee Correia 3, Sherri Gebauer 5, Stephanie Kashiwabara 10, Kristen Matsunaga 0, Amber Thronas 3, Anna Quibilan 0, Tori Shimabukuro 3, Ashley Belisario 7, Lindsay Sugihara 2, Starlene Kelekoma 4, Kelcie Morita 4, Ashley Silva 0, Shannon Tomacder 2, Alannah Fagarang 2, Alex Hadwin 0.
Kapaa: Tita Kuhaulua 0, Sandy Pimental DNP, Eliza Vicoy 10, Wehi Oliver 0, Rachel Boshears 0, Leah Williams 0, Theresa Taylor 7, Nani Kuhaulua DNP, Pilialoha Keaweamahi 0, Mia Archuleta 0, Kaui Cutcher DNP, Leilani Josselin 0, Samdi Makepa DNP, Briana Conant 4, Brittany Kaui 2.
3-Pt. Goals: Kauai 1 (Shimabukuro); Kapaa 1 (Conant).
