KAPAA —Kauai High School basketball guard Marissa Layosa said she refused to shift her team focus on the potential rematch with Waimea, after the Red Raiders went into the Menehune home gym, and 58-46 last Friday night.
The victory positioned Kauai into a rematch with the Menehune Friday at 7:30 p.m. Kauai High during their senior night.
Layosa knew the game with the Menehune would be a regular-season finale, if they didn’t defeat the Kapaa Warriors Wednesday night.
“We weren’t thinking about Waimea, and› we were thinking about Kapaa because we knew they would come out and fight during their senior night,” she said.
The ingredients for the upset, existed with the Warriors five seniors playing on senior night in their home gym.
Layosa and her Red Raider teammates didn’t let that happen as they defeated Kapaa 43-25 Wednesday night at Kapaa.
The game followed a similar pattern to last Wednesday night’s game in which Kauai won 44-37 at Kauai High.
The Red Raiders’ top scorers, Amalya Sales and Layosa led the way in scoring.
Sales finished with a team- and game-high 18 points, and
Layosa finished with 10, combining to outscore the entire Warriors’ team by themselves.
In the loss, the Warriors were led by Lilya Cummings, who finished with seven points.
By halftime, the Red Raiders built a 24-9 advantage. They finished with a 14-point fourth-quarter surge to hold off upstart Kapaa, who was in search of their first Kauai Interscholastic Federation victory of the season.
The ultimate showdown
Now that Kauai High took care of business against Kapaa, it has set up a big-time showdown with Waimea High School Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Kauai High.
The Menehune scenario is simple a victory over the Red Raiders will capture a second-round KIF championship crown, and a loss will force a playoff in which the time and place are to be announced.
Kauai High basketball coach James Dingus is approaching this game like a playoff game because for the Red Raiders, it is.
If Kauai High loses, their season is over, and Waimea will advance to the playoffs.
“This is like our first playoff game at this point, and if we win, we keep playing,” Dingus said. “If we don’t win, we are done, it’s pretty simple.”
Dingus acknowledged the pressure associated with high school playoff basketball.
“I think as you through a high school season, and there is natural pressure built into every game,” Dingus said. “As you get closer and closer to the finish line, hopefully, the girls mature and come together as a team.”
Mirror images
Warriors William Aki, who has played both teams, said the matchup is evenly-matched.
“Both teams are similar in schemes and have the same techniques against each other,” Aki said. “They press each other, run against each other, and push the ball all season long. Whoever plays the better game on the defensive side of the ball should win Friday night’s game.”
Aki elaborated on the team’s two significant strengths headed into virtually the start of the playoffs.
“They play the same game, and Waimea has a little bit more speed, and Kauai High has a lot of shooters,” Aki said.
Layosa agreed with Aki’s assessment as the team focuses on the KIF’s top-tier Menehune team Thursday afternoon.
“We have to have a mentality of all or nothing,” Layosa said. “We are going to continue to have that mentality, play more, and want to be together.”
Because it is the Red Raiders’ senior night, Layosa said she felt they could duplicate the atmosphere that allowed them to go into Waimea’s home gym, and upset them.
Layosa aknowledged defense will be the key to defeating the Menehune.
“We are going to have to focus on defense, and defense is way more important,” Layosa said. “We have to pay attention, and get rebounds, and be aware of who is in the game.”
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Jason Blasco,sports reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
