Kauai High School guard Marissa Layosa is playing every game in the second round like it is her last, because any Red Raiders’ loss could shorten her season.
Layosa and her Red Raider teammates were not placed in an idyllic situation. They were forced to play the No. 1 team in the Kauai Interscholastic Federation, and beat Waimea at home in a game they had to win.
A Menehune victory would have put Waimea in a prime position to capture the second round, and a clear path to advance to the 2020 Snapple Girls Basketball Division II championships Feb. 5-8.
In the hypothetical scenario, if Waimea won, it would have allowed them to play for the KIF championship against Kapaa Monday night.
The fact the Menehune lost opened the door for Kauai High to potentially force a playoff game if they can win the KIF season-finale Jan. 24 at Kauai High.
Layosa did what all great players do. She elevated herself and her team to another level, allowing her to win a critical road game with a 58-46 victory over the Menehune on the road Friday.
Layosa chose to excel in the face of adversity, and like great athletes do, showcased her ability to elevate her game to another level.
Layosa’s first-half stat lines were a statistical double take.
Layosa finished the first half with 23 of the team’s 36 points and outscored the entire Menehune team, who ended up with 20 after the first half of the game.
“They are such a tough team, and they are one of the toughest teams I have ever played in my career,” Loyosa said.
The grand-finale
Layosa wasn’t the only Red Raider to come up big in this game. Now, the Jan. 24 game against the Menehune is not just a home game, but also their senior night.
“I am going to play every game like it is my last,” Layosa said.
All season, Waimea has been the undisputed top dog in the KIF, and now they are going into another high-pressure game against the Raiders on their senior night.
Could there be a scenario that makes this season-finale any better? It is as if it was scripted, and the best part of it it’s just high school sports at its best.
The storyline for the game has polarity.
In one direction, you have Waimea, a highly-skilled team that will most likely battle to clinch a playoff berth. Then you have a Red Raiders’ team gaining momentum with each victory.
Both of these teams still have to win their games against the Kapaa Warriors, who could shake the scenario up if they were to pull out their first win of the season.
Waimea now has a chance to flip the script on what Kauai High did to them in their house, and the fact it’s the Red Raiders’ senior night could create a playoff atmosphere.
Still, in the midst of all of this hoopla, Layosa wasn’t fazed and knew her team must take care of business for the rest of the season.
She admitted not giving the season-finale game much thought yet. The senior captain showed why she is a leader and stated she is focused on the Jan. 22 game against Kapaa.
“I haven’t given the game against Waimea any thought,” Layosa admitted. “We have to focus and get past Kapaa first. We have to make every game count.”
The Warriors, in spite of being depleted, still have game players and were competitive during Wednesday night’s game against Kauai High.
“They have some skilled players, and we have to maintain our intensity and focus,” Kauai High coack James Dingus said. “It doesn’t matter who we play. We have to go out and play that way if we are going to be successful as a team.”
Regardless, the Red Raiders have certainly made the stretch run of the KIF girls’ basketball tournament enjoyable. And let’s not forget Kapaa, a team looking for its first wins, who could mix up the whole scenario in their final two games of the season.
“Everyone on our team played a different role and did a different job,” Dingus said. “Our defensive players did their job, and a couple of players took charge and built us a cushion against Waimea, Everyone did their thing, and Marissa was good for three quarters.”
Whatever happens for the rest of the KIF season, one thing you can be sure of: The playoffs have figuratively begun.
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Jason Blasco, sports reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
