KAPAA — Waimea High School guards Kierstin Gummerus and Kaye Serapio combined for 47 points Monday night during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation girls basketball contests played before a sparse audience at the Bernice Hundley Gym.
Gummerus and Serapio’s efforts led the Menehune to a 78-29 victory over the Warrior wahine, who are re-grouping from a limited manpower showing.
“We upgraded several girls from the junior varsity,” said Kapaa coach William Aki. “This is a learning process all over as we try to get the new girls into the system.”
Waimea played everybody on its roster, early, charging to a 31-point first quarter showing while holding the Warriors to just a pair from Naia Maka Adric.
“We told the new girls to just focus on defense, the offense will follow,” Aki said. “They held their own, and one even scored. We’re just trying to finish strong. We need to plant the new girls into the system.”
The Warriors’ effort was sparked by seven-point contributions from Tacia Kamoku and Tara Daligcon Pomokai, six points from Hailey Overmyer, five from Angeline Roslin, and four from Maka Adric.
Following the lead set up by the Menehune guards, Waimea got eight points from Tiana Lei Ramos who came off the bench to drop a pair of treys and a bucket in the first quarter. Malia Constantino, Hazel Serapio, and Layla Tapucol each contributed six points to the win.
The JV upgrades did not hurt Kapaa who, earlier in the night, rolled to a 41-15 victory over the JV Menehune after erupting for a 21-10 second half scoring surge.
Shayna Kamoku topped the JV Warrior scoring on 13 points followed by Tristee Souza dropping 12 points, including a pair of three-balls in the final stanza. Jada Ines added 11 points, including a trio of distance balls spread over three quarters.
Qiyrah Rapanot, dropping a three-ball in the final quarter, was joined by Tisha Burton in scoring five points apiece to lead the JV Menehune effort.
Kapaa will next travel to the Kauai High School gym to take on the Red Raiders when the JV game tips off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity matchup.
Waimea will wait until Friday when the Menehune host Kauai High School at the Clem Gomes Gym.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
