PUHI — The Island School Voyagers survived a torrid two-person defense by the Kapa‘a Warriors to pick up their first win in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls basketball season, 38-36 Thursday night at the Wilcox gym on the Island School
PUHI — The Island School Voyagers survived a torrid two-person defense by the Kapa‘a Warriors to pick up their first win in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls basketball season, 38-36 Thursday night at the Wilcox gym on the Island School campus.
Island School freshman Autumn Warnock joined center Lauren Claypoole to lead the Voyagers to an early 13-5 first quarter lead, Warnock firing a bomb from outside the three-point arc and Lauren getting off a pair of buckets in heavy inside traffic.
The Warriors’ defense could not adjust to the Island School senior and Lauren was able to control the inside game, getting the ball to either sister Joy, the Voyagers’ running sensation, or Warnock for movement up court.
“We got a sluggish start,” said Kapa‘a coach Willy Aki. “And the girls were not hitting their free-throws.”
Kapa‘a found its momentum late in the second quarter, but not until the Voyagers had established a lead that spanned 11 points before Kaylee Silva, the Kapa‘a Junior Varsity upgrade, spurred Kapa‘a with five points, including a plus-one. Reggie McCabe, finishing the night with high point honors at seven, hit the twine from outside the three-point mark, pushing Kapa‘a to a 10-8 shooting performance.
Despite the surge, Kapa‘a looked at a 21-15 deficit at the half.
McCabe kept up the pace in the third quarter, being joined by Ka‘anoi Marshall with four points each to keep ahead of Island School, 10-8, McCabe pulling Kapa‘a to a 21-21 deadlock with a little more than five minutes to play.
Led by Warnock’s key three points, the Voyagers plowed ahead, staying ahead of Kapa‘a and ending the final period equal at nine points each as Warnock locked onto the ball with less than three ticks showing for the win.
Warnock finished with a game-high 12 points, followed by Joy Claypoole adding 10 points and sister Lauren finishing with eight points. Serena Wong and Kelly Culliney each added four points and were key transition players in the Island School win, Culliney anchoring one of the inside posts and Wong playing the No. 3 spot working the corners and the inside.
McCabe topped the Warrior scoring with seven points, followed by Marshall adding six points and Silva ending with five second quarter points. Krystal Christian ended with four points, Raquelle Matayoshi, Ethelyn Calvan and Cherrilyn Coloma each adding pairs. A fourth quarter digit by Nahealani Quereto rounded out the effort.
The change in game was mutually agreed to by both teams after Island School had a scheduling conflict which would have four of its girls unavailable for play during the original Friday night schedule.
Kapa‘a next hosts Waimea on Tuesday night, while Island School travels to Kaua‘i High School.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
