HONOLULU — Top seeded Kaua‘i High School girls soccer is still on track for the DII state title at the NIU Health Urgent Care+ Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II girls soccer state championships.
Thursday, the top seeded Red Raiders advanced to face Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i in the semifinals, Friday after defeating the Kalaheo High School Mustangs, 5-0 behind goals from Keira Bartholomew, Brianna Ehia, Shania Kelley, Adrianna Hernandez, and Kaleonahe Bukoski.
The two other Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation teams in the state tournament saw Waimea being shut down by No. 2 seed Pac-Five, 11-0, and the Kapa‘a Warrior wahine, unseeded in state tournament play, upsetting No. 3 seed Leilehua, 8-0. The Kapa‘a effort was led by Hanna Wamsley and Rhandi Hiranaka scoring two goals apiece. Julia Durocher, Emeli Rubel, Mia Kaneakua-Inoshita, and Liliwai Keahiolalo each added goals in the win.
With the win, Kapa‘a advances to meet the second seed Pac-Five, Friday at the Waipio Stadium.
The DII state championship game is scheduled for Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. at Radford High School on O‘ahu.
On the boys’ hoops court at the Heide &Cook HHSAA Division II boys basketball championships, the Kapa‘a Warriors, seeded No. 4 in the tournament were upset by No. 5 seed Maui Prep Academy, 75-50, Thursday at Kalani High School on O‘ahu.
Kapa‘a, entering the state tournament with the KIF Best Record of nine wins and no losses, took the lead, 19-15 over Maui Prep in the first quarter. Following that brief moment of glory, Maui Prep came back to effectively shut down the inside game, out rebounding Kapa‘a, 30 boards, offensive and defensive combined, to Kapa‘a’s 17 rebounds.
Kala Rall led the Warrior effort with six three-point balls, and three defensive boards toward his 20-point showing on the hardwoods. Fellow guard Mikey Questin finished with 14 points, and Solomone Malafu, lead the rebounding with 10 combined boards, added 11 points.
Maui Prep shot the lights out following the deficit first quarter, finishing the night with nine treys spead over four players. Drew Triplett and Dylan Falk led the Maui Prep scoring with 18 points apiece, and Koenig Biegle topped the rebounding with nine, seven being defensive boards. Triplett and Levi Basurto each finished with seven boards.
With the loss, Kapa‘a is relegated to the consolation bracket where it faces the Waipahu Mauraders, Friday afternoon at Kaimuki High School.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
