Kapa‘a girls basketball escape a close one against Waimea

WAIMEA — With just 30 ticks remaining on the game clock on Friday night, the Waimea High girls basketball program was chasing just a point, 37-36, against the visiting Kapa‘a High program during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls basketball program being played at the Clem Gomes Gym.

Waimea’s Hailey Mata had control, but her shot attempt clanged empty off the rim. The errant sphere was grabbed by Kapa‘a guard Taira Samiano, and passed downcourt where a waiting Denise Alfonso bucketed the icing on Kapa‘a’s 39-36 win before an audience that did not expect the nailbiting finish.

Kapa‘a, missing two of its high production starters and the third being sidelined until the second half, battled to stay alive, surviving numerous lead exchanges throughout the 32-minute contest.

Samiano and Kyla Hopton stepped up to the task of moving the ball around the aggressive, feisty Menehune who grabbed an early lead only to have the Warriors remain in the contest on a Annie Nizo trey.

Samiano dropped another trey in the second quarter to the pleasure of the spectators to drive Kapa‘a to a 3-point lead at the half.

Those three points proved to be the margin of victory as both teams matched each other 17-17 in the second half.

Samiano finished with a game-high 10 points to lead Kapa‘a, getting solid help from Hopton, who showed nine marks on the scorecard. Alfonso, driving home the winning basket, came off the bench for nine points. Nizo dropped a pair of treys for her eight points.

Ari Acosta had her strongest night as a Menehune with eight points, being joined by Stephanie Companero, who also bucketed eight points in the effort. Leah Guerrero finished with seven points, and Mata dropped five points.

Kapa‘a will next visit Kaua‘i High on Monday, when the junior varsity contest tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity contest starting 20 minutes following the JV game.