KALAHEO — Strong defense demonstrated by the Westside Hornets II held off a second-half comeback effort by Wailua as the Hornets II took a 17-14 win to the locker rooms Wednesday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Kilauea shots weren’t dropping as, despite outshooting the Westside Hornets 6-5 in the second half, the Hui suffered a 17-25 loss as Cheri Kua exploded for six of the Hornets’ 13-point second period showing that pulled the Hornets out of the doldrums and into the lead, 17-8 after two periods of play in the county’s 14 and under girls’ basketball program.
Britney Salvador pushed Wailua into the leaders slot with four first-period points that were answered in the second stanza by buckets from Hornets Whitney Cachero and Krystle Manguba-Glover for a two-point lead that stood at the half.
Three more points by Manguba-Glover was enough to push the Hornets to their 17-14 win as the defensive effort sparked by Natalie Mata, Josey Jacinto and Cachero kept Wailua on the outside.
Manguba-Glover led the Hornets scoring with five points followed by Natalie Mata and Resha Banasihan each adding four points in the win.
Cachero and Christine Banach finished the night with a pair each for the Hornets.
Salvador led the Wailua scoring with her first period showing followed by Emma Donigan, Hanalei Gomes, Nai’lika Napoleon, Chelsy Villatora and Lehua McLake each adding a pair apiece.
April Johnson exploded for six first period points to lead the Kilauea Hui in their loss with Kristie Daly and Danielle Jure each firing four points. Caroline Troutman and Hannah Staed finished with a pair each.
Jamie Horikawa continued with the treys, sinking one in the second period, to lead the Hornets II scoring with seven points.
Cheri Kua rebounded from her ankle injury to finish with four points along with guard Tori Espino. Jondelle Ipac rounded out the Hornets II scoring with a pair.
Saturday’s games continue at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center with he Westside Hornets taking on Wailua at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Westside Hornets II hosting the Lihu’e Comets at 9:30 a.m.
In Yo’ Face goes up against the Westside Hornets at 10:30 a.m. with the Kapa’a Mystics tangling with the Westside Hornets II at 11:30 a.m. The finale will have In Yo’ Face meeting Kilauea starting at 12:30 p.m.
