WAIMEA — Kaua‘i High School spoiled Island School’s Senior Night with a 47-39 win and Kapa‘a High School overpowered the Menehune, 76-53 on Tuesday night during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys basketball games.
The games were played at Wilcox Gymnasium on the Island School campus and Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea, which had the Hoku’s food truck parked next to the gym to accommodate the large home crowd that came to enjoy the Menehune’s Senior Night.
“This means we have to win against Kaua‘i High on Friday night to force a playoff,” said Waimea High School Athletic Director Dino Pabre.
The Menehune, missing three of its team from the Tuesday night mixer, took the lead, 17-16 over Kapa‘a following the first eight minutes of play.
The deficit triggered an explosive 19-7 second quarter instigated by Austin Green popping for nine points and Keaka Kauhane sinking six of his game-high 22 points for the Warriors, who fielded 12 members.
“They came to play,” a Warrior fan said.
Kapa‘a continued to roll in the second half, outgunning Waimea who was led by Lindcey Constantino finishing with 16 points, including a trio of bombs from outside the 3-point arc.
Kelani Lewis added 14 points to the Menehune effort. Brayden Mira dropped his 10 points all in the third frame.
Kauhane launched a pair of long distance balls toward his 22 points that led the Warrior scoring attack. Austin Green finished with 19 points, including a trio of 3-balls, and Reimel Camacho ended with eight points in the win.
Earlier in the evening, Waimea junior varsity’s Edison Medina finished with 14 points to lead the Menehune to a 43-36 win over Kapa‘a. Efran Taylan Jr. added nine points and Kaleb Parraga finished with eight points.
CeeJay Jenkins of the JV Warriors matched Medina with 14 points to head the Kapa‘a effort. Apollo Truong, getting his grandparents to watch the contest, dropped a trio of long distance bombs for nine points. Naki Tuulangavalu took the long way around for his nine point contribution.
Scores from the JV contest at the Wilcox Gymnasium were not available.
Over at the Wilcox Gymnasium, Kaua‘i High School’s Joshua Rego finished with 16 points, including a pair of distance shots to lead the Red Raiders victory. Camren Holt-Ho and Kalaikea Esteban each finished with nine points.
Lucas Summerhays of the Voyagers launched a game-high 23 points, including six 3-balls in a losing effort. Mark Fitzgerald and Matthew Dobashi each had three points in the effort.
With the results of the Tuesday night contests, both Waimea and Kapa‘a share one-loss records in the second round with one more game on their dockets.
Kapa‘a holds the first round title and if Waimea falters against Kaua‘i High School on Friday night, Kapa‘a will secure the Central Pacific Bank KIF boys basketball championship.
Waimea will visit the Red Raiders at the Kaua‘i High School gymnasium on Friday, while Kapa‘a will celebrate its Senior Night by hosting Island School at Bernice Hundley Gym. The JV games at both sites will start at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity match.
