WAIMEA — The Menehune took advantage of the free throw line to win its last home game of the season. Waimea High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Kapaa, 41-35, in overtime Friday on Senior Night. “It was exactly what
WAIMEA — The Menehune took advantage of the free throw line to win its last home game of the season.
Waimea High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Kapaa, 41-35, in overtime Friday on Senior Night.
“It was exactly what I had in mind, especially on Senior Night. It was great,” said Menehune senior guard Tiana Apilado. “Everybody came in and performed. I’m so proud of our underclassmen. They helped us out. It wasn’t just the seniors.”
While the night was dedicated to the team’s graduating class, it was freshman guard Monique Joy Lorenzo who boosted her team in the extra period.
She scored six of the team’s eight overtime points, four of which was scored at the charity stripe. Lorenzo finished the game with 10 points.
“I can honestly tell you that we’re watching the best freshman guard on this island,” Waimea head coach Brandon Moises said about Lorenzo. “She grew up tonight. We asked her to go and make free throw, and she stepped up big.
“We just told ourselves in the locker room that we’re going to battle until we can’t anymore. Our girls, they finally realized that they can play together and make things happen,” he added. “All it came down to was execution and free throws. Everything that haunted us in the six games prior to this turned into our favor tonight.”
Kapaa junior forward Tori Daligcon-Pomaikai sprained her ankle minutes into the fourth quarter and didn’t return. She had seven points.
“We had our chances. Without her (Daligcon-Pomaikai), we kind of became lax in the inside, but we still had our chances,” said Kapaa head coach William Aki. “We had to trust our bench a little more and put them out there. We saw what they had to give us. All in all, they had a pretty good game.”
With the win, Waimea (2-5 KIF, 1-2 second round) said farewell to its three seniors: Apilado, guard Caitlyn Owen and forward Taira Teves-Balaan.
“Tonight was nice to see them go out there on their home court, potentially their last home game, and walk out with a W,” Moises said about his seniors. “All in all, I’m glad for these three seniors to walk out winning on Senior Night.”
Apilado scored 14 points for the Menehune. Owen had eight points.
Sophomore forward Paea Tafea scored 13 points and junior center Siokapesi Paua scored nine for Kapaa.
Kapaa won the junior varsity game, 52-45.
Waimea will play at Kauai (3-3 KIF, 1-1 second round) on Tuesday. The JV game begins at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity will follow. Kapaa (5-2 KIF, 2-1 second round) will host Kauai on Friday.
