WAIMEA — Menehune player Skyelynn Ripley earned whole-hearted cheer Wednesday night during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls basketball game against Kaua‘i High School at the Clem Gomes Gym.
Ripley dropped both ends of a Plus One play to light up the scoreboards that continued to show a Waimea lead, 14-11 following eight minutes of strong defensive pressure by the girls coached by Natalie Mata.
The relentless defensive effort was adjusted to by the Red Raiders who came back to chip out a 57-32 win behind the long ball launched by Hema Naka‘ahiki-Young.
Naka‘ahiki-Young continued to launch missiles, finishing with eight points, including a pair of three-balls before being sidelined with an injury in the second quarter.
“We really need Hema to be healthy,” said Kaua‘i High School coach Neil Fagarang. “But following her going down, the rest of the girls stepped up and did a good job of carrying us. That’s what team is about, people stepping up when they need to.”
The high point of Krystin Emproso who finished with a balanced 10 points led the comeback effort against Waimea who also demonstrated the emergence of court leaders Hailey Mata and Hazel Serapio.
Red Raider Angeline Nizo blossomed for six of her game-total eight points in the second half to support the Kaua‘i push against the Menehune defensive push. Jadelynn Reynolds led the Raider push in the first half with five marks, including going three-for-four at the charity stripe.
Mata fueled the first quarter offensive showing with a three-ball, and a bucket toward her game-total eight points, tying with Serapio who picked up six of her game-total eight points in the fourth quarter.
Menehune Tristan Raposas picked up all six of her points in the second half.
With the win, Kaua‘i High School prepares to host the Kapa‘a Lady Warriors, Friday at the Kaua‘i High School gym. The Junior Varsity contest tips off starting at 5:30 p.m. with the Varsity contest starting 25 minutes following the completion of the JV game.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
