“This is a crazy league,” said Gary Kodani, assistant coach for the Kapa’a Warrior basketball team. Crazy it is. But what proved to be the nuttiest notion in last night’s second round playoff is the thought that you could beat
“This is a crazy league,” said Gary Kodani, assistant coach for the Kapa’a Warrior basketball team.
Crazy it is.
But what proved to be the nuttiest notion in last night’s second round playoff is the thought that you could beat Kapa’a by putting Warrior guard Garrett Danner at the foul line.
That’s exactly what the Waimea Menehunes did, and it was a big part of why they fell to Kapa’a 56-47 last night at Bernice Hundley Gymnasium.
It’s what forced a winner-takes-all showdown which will be played tonight at Clem Gomes Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
Danner was automatic from the foul line.
He couldn’t miss – not even one.
The electric guard hit 12-12 of his foul shots, scored a season high 26 points, notched five assists, and nabbed four steals to make certain the season was not going to end on Friday night.
But give credit to the Warrior defense, who again clogged production down low and forced the Menehunes to shoot from the outside.
Lucky for the Warriors, the Menehunes were often ice cold.
Waimea was held scoreless for the first seven minutes of the second quarter and Kapa’a went on a 10-point run to offset a 12-6 Menehune lead in the first period.
It was 16-16 after two.
Danner ignited the Warriors in the third with 10 points, two steals and two assists and Kapa’a held the Menehunes to only eight points in the quarter to take a 34-24 cushion going into the fourth.
It was just enough.
The Menehunes did the comeback walk once again, but Danner was hot at the line and Seth Yamamoto grabbed the game sealing rebound to give Kapa’a the stunning victory.
