KEAAU – The speed that had in part prompted Hawaii Prep coach Greg McKenna to call his shot was on display for four quarters. But beyond all the talk, when the tide could have turned in overtime, Ka Makani’s water polo team also had the resolve to back it up.
Louisa Duggan completed her hat trick by scoring the only goal of the second overtime Saturday, and HPA sent a large ripple through Naeole Pool by handing Kamehameha its first Big Island Interscholastic Federation loss in six years, 12-11.
“I didn’t expect anything less,” McKenna said. “No quit. We just played with a lot of heart today.”
The third-year coach provided bulletin-board material three weeks ago when he predicted Ka Makani (7-0) would defeat the five-time defending champions Warriors (8-1) at some point this season.
“I will back up anything he says 100 percent of the time,” Duggan said.
Forget losing, Kamehameha hadn’t so much as been seriously challenged in a BIIF game since falling to Hilo in the 2009 league title game. Back then, Duggan was a fifth-grader at Hualalai Academy, a school which has since closed its doors.
“It’s a huge honor to beat them,” Duggan said. “Win or lose, playing against them is always going to be intense. I’m proud of the girls for pulling through.”
Duggan had to spend much of the match guarding Kamehameha senior Pua Wong, who scored three of her seven goals in the fourth quarter as the Warriors furiously rallied from a four-goal deficit.
After waiting for much of the season to play, the wait for the rematch will be short. HPA travels to Kamehameha’s pool again Wednesday.
Asked if there were any positives in defeat, Kamehameha coach Dan Lyons said, “Everything.”
Lyons is usually starving for competition, but not this year.
“(HPA) wanted it really bad, so that’s great,” he said. “We want to get better, so this really helps us get better.”
Kamehameha appeared to have all momentum heading to the first three-minute OT. Wong’s penalty shot with 40 seconds remaining in regulation capped a four-goal spurt to tie the match. The senior hit the crossbar with a shot in the final seconds.
Usually, the Warriors swarm BIIF teams with defense and then overwhelm them on the counterattack, but they were dealt a dose of their own medicine Saturday.
Malia Brown, Ava Jean Johnston, Elizabeth Jim and Janelle Laros each scored twice and Leilani Bostock also found the back of the net for HPA, which jumped out to an 8-3 lead early in the third quarter.
After waning a bit in the fourth, Ka Makani scored both of its OT goals on the counterattack.
Laros gave HPA the lead in the first OT, but Halia Nahale-A answered with her fourth goal for Kamehameha. Goalkeeper Harmony Graziano made three key saves to get Ka Makani to the second OT.
“We finally found a focus and we’re working hard on the fundamentals,” McKenna said. “It sure helps that we have some fast girls that can sprint for four quarters – and more.”
Earlier, Mikala Fernandez scored six goals as Konawaena beat Kealakehe 12-2 to secure the third seed at BIIFs. The Wildcats (6-4) also beat Waiakea 9-3, getting three goals from Kaulana Ruedy.
The Waveriders (3-6) are still in control of the final playoff spot, despite also losing to HPA 12-3. Duggan and Taylor Doherty had hat tricks for Ka Makani.
Wong had a 12-goal day, earlier scoring five times as Kamehameha beat Hilo 15-4. Nahale-A added four scores.
Also, Waiakea beat Hilo 8-1. Kaitlyn Tengan, Mary Economy and Summer Cassidy each had two goals for the Warriors (2-7) to keep the Vikings (0-8) winless.
Ka Makani can clinch an automatic HHSAA berth Wednesday, while the Warriors will try to rebound and welcome back one of their leading scorers, Katelynn Kubo, who was away Saturday on a trip.
“I’m sure it’s not going to be any less exciting than this was,” McKenna said.
