KAPA‘A — Kapa‘a High School girls basketball program celebrated its Senior Night on Monday by sweeping both ends of their matches against Kaua‘i High School during Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls basketball games at Bernice Hundley Gym, which was filled with several hundred fans celebrating the five senior Warriors.
The junior varsity Warriors stayed ahead of the JV Red Raiders through three quarters of their encounter, and despite dropping the fourth quarter by a point, posted a 7-point victory at 30-23.
In varsity play, the Lady Warriors started the first quarter and closed the final quarter with its five senior girls — Jada Nakamura, Kiani Pia Salvador, Norma Tuulangavalu, Annie Nizo and Keala Kealoha. This put the Lady Warriors in an 9-8 deficit following the first quarter of play before the starters took the floor.
Despite the deficit, the Lady Warriors walked off the court with a 39-22 win over the Red Raiders, whose six seniors — Joliena Cumlat, Jazmine Constantino, Ciaralan Tolentino, Jadelyn Reynolds, Kadee Parubrub and Hema Naka‘ahiki-Young — were also acknowledged by the Warriors.
High-point honors in the JV Warriors win belonged to Alena Abell, who bucketed nine points, followed by Raine Hurd and Kenzie Ka‘aihue Paopao, who each scored six points. Keilana Pia Salvador finished with four points.
Kailea Sokau-Masulit of the JV Red Raiders posted a game-high dozen points, including two bombs from outside the 3-point arc, to lead the comeback effort that fell short in the final period. Chloe Kaluahine dropped five points, including a trey, and Kamaile Manibog scored all four of her points in the final quarter.
In varsity play, Tuulangavalu and Kiani Pia Salvador each dropped treys in the opening quarter, when the Lady Warriors faced a point deficit after Naka‘ahiki-Young responded with two straight treys that supplemented the bucket from Parubrub and half of a charity pair by Chayley Jacobs at the buzzer.
Regular Lady Warriors starter Denise Alfonso was heavily bandaged and relegated to paperwork duty on the bench, leaving Taira Samiano to step up and produce for Kapa‘a. The guard did what needed to be done, and between the second and third frames piled in a game-high 15 points, including a 3-ball in each of the frames before relinquishing the floor to the graduating senior players.
Tuulangavalu followed with nine points, including the first-quarter 3-ball, and Kyla Hopton finished with six points, all coming from treys in the second quarter that gave Kapa‘a a 26-13 lead at the break.
Anaiah Mendez came off the Kaua‘i High bench to finish with seven points, all dropping in the second half, including a 3-ball, and Naka‘ahiki-Young was limited to six points that came on first-quarter treys.
With the win, Kapa‘a continues to enjoy an undefeated string of wins, despite several close encounters. The Lady Warriors enjoy a bye on Wednesday when Kaua‘i High School celebrates its Senior Night by hosting Waimea High School in a single contest that tips off at 6:30 p.m. at Kaua‘i High in Lihu‘e.
Kapa‘a will close the 2023 girls basketball season by playing Waimea on Friday at the Waimea High School Senior Night at Clem Gomes Gym, starting at 6:30 p.m.
