LIHU‘E — Even a few extra Christmas cookies couldn’t slow the Kaua‘i Red Raider girl’s basketball team. Following the holiday break, the Red Raider wahine stormed out of the gates to beat the Island School Voyagers, 57-30, Tuesday night at Kaua‘i High School.
The Red Raiders used a full court press from the beginning and cruised to a 19-6 lead after the first quarter.
“We worked on some things that we figured we’d try tonight,” Kaua‘i head coach Sandi Nadatani-Mendez said. “We pressed from the first thing. We try to improve every game by adding new things.”
The addition of the press worked for the Raiders, but it was the familiar play of the Kaua‘i guards that padded the lead.
Casey Anacleto and Krystle Henry combined for 26 points for the Raiders. The speed and quickness of the Kaua‘i guards often forced turnovers, leading to several fast break points for Henry and two three-pointers by Anacleto. Nadatani-Mendez said the pair worked together in the offseason to develop the chemistry that was on display Tuesday night.
The guards benefited from the strong inside play of Kawehi Louis-Diamond.
The tall Red Raider forward contributed eight points, but was strong on the boards with eight rebounds.
“Initially our game is to go from the inside out,” Nadatani-Mendez said. “We’ve been working our post players a little more and trying to get them involved.”
The Voyagers brought the score close in the second quarter through the play of their own inside forward. Down by 13 to start the second quarter, the Voyagers fed the ball to center Lauren Claypoole below the basket. The Red Raiders couldn’t find an answer for Claypoole, as the tall forward scored 8 second quarter points to bring the Voyagers within 10 at the half, 29-19.
But the Red Raiders adjusted and kept the ball out of Claypoole’s hands in the second half, picking off passes or stealing the ball before the Voyagers could force it inside. The Red Raiders outscored the Voyagers 14-2 in the third quarter and 14-9 in the fourth to close the game with a 27 point lead.
“I think what happened is that our team showed that most of us were away on vacation for the holidays,” Island School head coach Cheryl Claypoole said. The Voyagers had to forfeit a game last week against Kapa‘a because the team only had four players available to play. Claypoole said with the team being dispersed for the holidays, the Voyagers came out too rusty.
“I don’t think they did their running while they were on their break,” Claypoole said. “The heat and humidity and being out of shape killed us.”
Lauren Claypoole led all scores with 19 points on the game. Autumn Warnock contributed 5 points for the Voyagers.
Anacleto led the Raiders with 14 points. Bristy Agu finished with 13 points for the Raiders while Henry chipped in 12.
In action on the Westside, the Waimea Menehune beat the Kapa‘a Warriors, 38-26 at Waimea High School. In JV action, the Warriors bested the Menehune 34-26.
Tyson Alger, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or by emailing talger@ thegardenisland.com. Follow him on twitter.com/tysonalger.
