LIHUE — Warriors’ players and supporters erupted with cheers when the game clock wound down to zero.
Kapaa High School’s girls basketball team secured the second round of the season and captured the Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship with its win over Kauai 36-18 on Tuesday night.
“It’s so awesome. It’s hard to explain. I can’t even put it into words,” said Warriors sophomore center Tori Daligcon-Pomaikai after the game. “Believing in each other and playing together, not having any drama … It was a good season.”
She scored five points during the game.
Kapaa head coach William Aki said it’s been three years since the school last won the KIF title.
“Having to get that championship back to the school, it’s a big accomplishment for these girls,” he said. “I knew they could do it.”
Warriors senior center Annie Ballesteros was a freshman on the team when Kapaa last won the conference championship.
“To win after all those years, it’s a good feeling,” she said. “I’ll just remember this moment.”
This was the last home game for the Kauai girls squad and the school paid homage to its three seniors during pregame introductions.
Kauai senior center Shaylee Huni, who played for Kauai for four years, said she’s disappointed her team couldn’t win its final home game, but looks forward to seeing next year’s team as an alumna.
“It sucks we didn’t win, but the underclassmen can practice (to win) next year,” she said. “I gave them what I learned over the years and hopefully they can apply it.”
Huni scored six points during the game.
Kauai head coach Neil Fagarang said Kapaa was “more prepared.”
“We had a game plan. We tried executing it, but it didn’t happen,” he said. “We tried going inside, but for some reason our guards couldn’t connect with (our centers). When we did get inside, the shots weren’t falling for us.”
Fagarang also said he’s disappointed he and his team couldn’t muster one more home win for his seniors but hopes they took away good experiences playing for him.
“These three girls, they grew into better players and individuals. That’s all that matters.” he said. “Really proud of these three seniors.”
Kapaa awaits the start of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championship tournament which starts during the first week of February.
“I really hope we get far in state,” Daligcon-Pomaikai said. “From here on out, we’re just going to work hard and push ourselves like how we’ve been doing.”
Kauai’s season is not over. The team will play at Waimea on Friday.
“I told them, ‘Let’s just go out there and play basketball. Let’s end this year the right way,’” Fagarang said.
The junior varsity game will begin at 5:30 p.m. The varsity game starts 20 minutes after the JV game is finished.
Junior varsity:
Kapaa’s junior varsity team defeated Kauai 50-28.
Kapaa’s Pesi Paui scored 18 points and Kauai’s Sheryl Ann Tomas scored eight.
