WAIMEA — Kaua‘i High School girls basketball player Hema Naka‘ahiki-Young finished Wednesday night with a game-high 21 points during a Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls basketball game at Clem Gomes Gym.
But the effort came up short for the Red Raiders, who dropped a 46-43 heartbreaker to the Menehune. Katelyn Constantio led the Menehune with 17 points, including a trey in the second frame of the physically defensive contest.
The Red Raiders broke tradition in the KIF girls hoops season by taking a slim 6-5 lead at the end of the first quarter, and continued to lead by a digit, 16-15 at the half. The effort was fueled by Naka‘ahiki-Young, who put away six marks, but limited to just one bucket.
Constantino’s scoring was limited to just five marks in the first half, all scores, including the bomb from outside the three-point arc coming in the second stanza.
The Menehune found its rhythm in the second half, outscoring Kaua‘i 31-27 while holding the Raiders to just five points in the third frame, all dropping from Chayley Jacob. She nailed one of her two treys in the third quarter.
Kaua‘i came back to outscore Waimea, 22-16 in the final quarter behind 15 points from Naka‘ahiki-Young, who finished perfect 13-for-13 on the charity stripe. Jacob dropped her second three-ball in the fourth quarter, but the Raiders could not overcome the 3-point bump despite the strong cheering from its jacketed players.
Staying close was a factor for Waimea, who roared to a 15-5 third quarter after chasing the Raiders in three of the four quarters.
Constantino topped the Waimea effort on seven points toward her game total of 17 points.
Stehpanie Companero helped the Menehune with nine points, and Shaylen Lea Guerrero finished with seven points.
Following Naka‘ahiki-Young’s lead, Jacob finished with 10 points, and Kaua‘i senior Kadee Parubrub added seven marks.
Waimea next travels to the Bernice Hundley Gym, Friday to face Kapa‘a and close the KIF First Round play. Tip off in the single contest is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
