Warriors deny Hilo
in final home game
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
With the Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls and boys basketball seasons quickly winding down, the reality of playing your final home game often becomes emotional as a player can see their prep career coming to an end. But it also can be a celebration of what has been and hopefully will continue to be a successful ride.
On Friday night before about 500 fans at the Waiakea gym, seniors Alyssa Ferreira, Ciera Pacheco, Tricia Amuimuia and Taesha Aina played their final regular-season home game wearing the Warriors’ white and blue-trimmed uniforms. The hosts defeated rival Hilo 51-38 in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I girls game, but it was the tears, hugs, smiles, lei and family pride that highlighted the evening with a postgame ceremony honoring the seniors — an annual ritual held by most BIIF schools in each sport to honor their athletes.
Ferreira, Pacheco and Amuimuia played all four seasons on the varsity while Aina moved up as a sophomore. But all have enjoyed a highly successful run under Waiakea coach Grant Kauhi — one that the unbeaten Warriors (7-0) want to continue the rest of the regular season, which ends Jan. 28 and into the league playoffs.
“These seniors have been really important to our program,” Kauhi said after watching his team fight past the young Vikings (4-3).
“They’ve provided valuable leadership this season and have shown the young girls coming up that hard work can pay off. We’ve still got a way to go this season, but we’ll miss these seniors, they’ve been special to us.”
Amuimuia, a 5-foot-10 power forward, and improving junior center Daven Namohala-Roloos each scored 11 points to lead Waiakea. Pacheco, a quick combo guard, had nine and Ferreira, a sharpshooting point guard, added six.
But Kauhi shuffled his lineup throughout the hard-fought contest and he also got solid play from Aina, juniors Sefulu Faavae and Keani Shirai and freshman Kaydee Rapoza.
The Warriors, using an effective full-court press, led 15-6 at the end of the first quarter and 31-22 at the intermission. Sophomores Amber Vaughn (7 points) and Aliyah Pana (6 points) led the Viking charge through two quarters.
The hosts then outpointed Hilo 12-5 in the third period before the Vikings held an 11-8 advantage over the final eight minutes.
But the game — with only two officials available — was delayed 10 minutes when veteran referee Kimo Miller caught a cramp and headed to the trainers’ room. His partner, Kent Higa, looked in the crowd for a potential sub for the final 5:33. However, Miller fought through the “Kimo cramp” and returned to finish the contest. Both officials also had to work the junior-varsity game.
“It’s not easy doing two full games with only two guys,” Higa said. “But I’m glad we were able to finish. Kimo’s an ironman.”
Pana, a versatile guard/forward, led Hilo with 10 points and Vaughn finished with nine. Promising freshmen Sydnee Yokota and Chailey Cabalis added seven and six points, respectively. The Vikings don’t have any seniors on their roster this season.
Following the game, the Waiakea seniors took their final shots in the gym and then performed a dance routine to music the young people on hand could enjoy and the older people couldn’t understand.
“It’s a good way to see the seniors go out,” Kauhi said.
In other games Friday, it was: Keaau 59, Pahoa 21; Hawai Preparatory Academy 55, Kealakehe 17; Honokaa 49, Kohala 29. The Kamehameha-Ka’u game was not reported by the T-H deadline.
JV: Waiakea 43, Hilo 39. Wai: Vanessa Ignacio, 19; Grace Kalili, 9. Hilo: Kayla Okimoto, 27 (school record 8 3-pointers); Kanoe Brickwood, 7.
Hilo 6 16 5 11 — 38
Waiakea 15 16 12 8 — 51
* Keaau 59, Pahoa 21: At Keaau, Jacy Pagala scored 21 points to lead the D-I Cougars (2-5), while Randi Estrada and Maedina Ongais-Kilaulani added 14 and 12, respectively.
Randi Berinobis’ eight points paced the Daggers (1-6).
Pahoa 4 8 6 3 —21
Keaau 21 19 16 3 —59
* HPA 55, Kealakehe 17: Leahi Lindsey scored 17 points and Chancis Ferenandez added 13 in Waimea as the D-II Ka Makani improved to 5-2.
Taylor Mitchell scored six points for the Waveriders (2-5).
JV: Hawaii Prep 54, Kealakehe 25; HPA: Tiana Reynolds. 25 points; Ula Brostek, 18 points. Kealakehe: Jessica Lloyd, 8.
Kealakehe 2 5 7 3 — 17
HPA 19 14 17 5 — 55
* Honokaa 49, Kohala 29: At Kapaau, Hunter Liftee scored 17 points and Precious Chong 10 to lead the D-II Dragons (5-2).
Hauoli Sproat-Lancaster scored 8 points and Jovi Antonio 7 to lead the Cowgirls (2-5).
In JV, Halana Bertelmann-Makanani fueled Honokaa with 14 points in a 43-20 victory. Sophomore Mohala Kaholoaa-Kumukoa and freshman Tomiko Coito scored nine and eight points, respectively, for Kohala.
Honokaa 9 12 4 24 — 49
Kohala 4 6 6 13 — 29