One redemption game down and at least one more to go for Ka’u’s girls basketball team.
Tyra Wong Yuen scored 25 points Saturday night in Pahala, and the Trojans surged in overtime to down Christian Liberty 43-34 in the opening game of the BIIF Division II playoffs.
“Tyra has been awesome for us all season,” first-year coach Jake Davenport said. “One of the most crucial parts of our offense. She has an all-around game. She can hit from the outside and she can drive.”
The Canefire (1-7) didn’t go down easy. Kamille Febo-Santiago hit a 3-pointer to tie the game late in regulation, finishing with 15 points.
In overtime, the Trojans (2-8) were able to hit “crucial 3s and get them to foul us and get to the line,” Davenport said.
Heidi Vidal scored seven points for Ka’u, while Audrey Akina-Makaneole contributed 13 for Christian Liberty.
Points-wise, Ka’u did a better job defensively against Febo-Santiago. The junior scored 22 points Jan. 29 in the Canefire’s 37-34 victory.
The Trojans’ next chance at “redemption,” Davenport said, comes Monday night at Honokaa as the teams vie for a berth in the semifinals.
On Friday night, the Dragons beat Ka’u 50-31 in a game in which Wong Yuen scored 20 points.
Boys
Keaau 47, Kealakehe 18: Rayden DeMello led the way with 12 points as the host Cougars grabbed their first win.
Trailing 23-12 at the half, the Waveriders fell to 0-6.
Kohala 67, Ka’u 22: O’shen Cazimero scored 20 points and La’akea Kauka added 15 in Pahala as Cowboys rolled after a 10-day layoff.
Koby Agbayani added nine for Kohala (4-0), which led 41-12 at halftime.
Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu led the Trojans (0-3) with 10 points.
Friday
Waiakea girls win
In their last tune-up before the postseason begins, the Waiakea Warriors started off hot in Kailua-Kona
Led by four first-quarter threes from Jolie Mantz, Waiakea put the game’s first 13 points on the board and led 23-4 entering the second quarter. Mantz and fellow sophomore Avery Snyder scored 15 apiece to pace Waiakea in their 37-point victory.
“Since we lost to Hilo (January 28), they’ve been real focused,” said Waiakea’s head coach Alika Smith. “We want another crack – which we’re going to get on Monday – to get to the state tournament. We’ve got our work cut out for us. We’re young, but they have a whole year full of experience.”
With the game in hand early, the Warriors got plenty of experience for their bench players, as well; in all, nine Waiakea players scored points on the night.
“It’s important,” said Smith of getting all his players game-time experience. We may need them in some way, shape or form.
“We’re excited. We knew we had a team that could compete. It’s just a matter of, most of our girls are 10th grade; we didn’t have that year last year. It’s still learning, but they work hard. That’s all I can ask for.”
Waiakea will travel to Hilo on Monday to compete in the BIIF D-I semifinals; tip time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Kealakehe’s season came to a close with Friday’s contest, as the team elected not to take part in this year’s BIIF playoffs. The Waveriders were led by Kylea Medeiros and Jackie Tornes with six points apiece.
Honokaa 50, Ka’u 31: Kristen Ragasa led three scorers in double figures with 18 points for the host Dragons (3-3), who won their final two games of the regular season to grab the West’s No. 2 seed.
Rylee Velazquez chipped in with 16 for Honokaa and Tawnee Carvalho added 11.
Kamehameha 52, Kohala 12: Maela Honma and Keanu Huihui each scored 17 points in Kapaau as the Warriors put the finishing touches on a 5-3 regular season.
The Warriors await either Ka’u or Honokaa on Tuesday in the semifinals.
Keycinth Kaolowi scored six points for Kohala (2-6), which will visit Pahoa on Monday in the playoffs. The winner moves on to face top-seeded Hawaii Prep in Tuesday’s semifinals.
West Hawaii Today’s Tom Linder contributed to this report
