KAPA‘A — The Warriors made their move in the second quarter, capitalizing on a 13-0 run to create some distance and holding on for a 53-41 victory over the Waimea Menehune, Saturday night at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a.
KAPA‘A — The Warriors made their move in the second quarter, capitalizing on a 13-0 run to create some distance and holding on for a 53-41 victory over the Waimea Menehune, Saturday night at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a.
Holding a 13-11 lead, Kapa‘a’s Spam Lindsey knocked down back-to-back jumpers to start the run. Kainoa Colipano then converted a layup on a Willis Batol pass for a 19-11 lead.
Keane Agoot grabbed an offensive rebound and laid in the putback, followed by a Batol steal and breakaway layup, which led to a Waimea timeout at the 3:51 mark of the second quarter. Batol then completed the 13-point run by nailing a 3-pointer for a 26-11 Warriors lead.
Waimea did not get closer than within seven the rest of the way as Kapa‘a won for the sixth straight time, moving to 2-0 in the season’s second round and holding first place by itself.
Colipano led the Warriors in scoring with 12 points on the night, while Lindsey finished with 11.
Agoot had eight points, scoring a bucket in each quarter, while Willis Batol and Adam Clark had six points apiece. Bradley Coloma, David Kanoho, Jundel Sagucio, Jude Cruz and Keoni Kinzio all had two points.
Vinda Carineo Jr. was the Waimea leading scorer with 17. Brandon Palacio scored 11 points, Paul Oligo Jr. had four and Garret Cadiente-Gushiken had three. Travis Soares, Ariel Lahip and Nikko Delos Reyes all had two points apiece.
Batol had a game-high six assists for Kapa‘a.
The Warriors never trailed in the contest, scoring the first four points of the game, though the Menehune kept things close throughout the first quarter. Carineo and Palacio each knocked down 3-pointers in the early going.
Oligo got a layup quickly in the second quarter to make it a 13-11 game, but the 13-0 Kapa‘a run followed.
Waimea came out in the third quarter trailing 28-15, but played swarming defense and forced turnovers in transition. It held Kapa‘a to just two third-quarter points — an Agoot layup — but was only able to manage eight points of its own.
The Menehune headed to the fourth trailing 30-23, but the Warriors used a 10-2 run to build back to a 15-point lead at 40-25.
Batol later went behind his back twice with the dribble, leapt into the air and wrapped a pass around his back to Clark, who put in the layup to cap the pretty move, leading to a Waimea timeout.
Waimea continued to pressure and got to the free-throw line a number of times in the closing minutes, but couldn’t come up with enough steals or buckets to pull off the comeback.
Results from the evening’s other varsity game between the Kaua‘i Red Raiders and Island School Voyagers were unavailable at press time.
In the night’s junior varsity contest, Kapa‘a came away with a 38-34 win over Waimea.
James Stevens led Kapa‘a with 11 points, while Kevin Esteban finished with eight.
Waimea’s Duke Yadao had a game-high 15 points, scoring all but one in the second half.
The boys are back in action Tuesday night when the Menehune host the Red Raiders at the Clem Gomes Gym. JV will tip at 5:30 p.m., followed by varsity.
Kapa‘a will host Island School in a varsity-only contest at 7 p.m.
