KAPAA — The synergistic play of Hillsboro High School’s Braxtyn Ellsworth, Amaya Johnson and Zoe Rodrigues led the visiting Spartans to a 41-30 edge over Kapaa High School on Tuesday at the Bernice Hundley Gym.
Rodriguez topped all players with a game-high 12 points, including dropping a pair of long-distance bombs in the second quarter when the Spartans pulled away from the Lady Warriors to end the first half with a 24-12 lead.
Ellsworth added nine points in the win, including six marks that hit the scorebooks in the first half.
Abigail Warren and tall post Addyson Reberry each added six points, including Reberry’s scores coming in the first quarter when the Spartans pulled ahead of Kapaa to finish with a 12-7 advantage.
Kapaa, who suffered a 20-59 loss at the hands of Waimea High School on Friday to claim the Kauai Interscholastic Federation first round, got its high marks from point guard Taira Samiano who finished with nine points, including a pair of three-balls in the first half.
Alena Abell added seven points, including a third quarter trey, and a lot of court time. Tyra Carvalho finished with six points and time on the court to hone her synergism with Trinity Guillen who ended with four points.
The Spartans’ win on New Year’s Eve completes a three-game tour through Kauai that was initiated when the Hillsboro coaches met up with Kauai High School coach William Aki during a stop in Las Vegas.
According to the Spartans’ coaching staff, the high school from Hillsboro, Oregon, never lost sight of the invitation and following some effort, finally made it across the Pacific Ocean to play on Kauai, the home of one of the Spartan coaching staff.
Earlier in the weekend, Hillsboro got past the Island School Voyagers, 34-24. On Sunday, the Spartans were 53-23 winners over Kauai High School.
Hillsboro did not have an opportunity to scramble against Waimea High School.
