Two of the top girls basketball players in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation this season put on highlight performances in the final day of the Honoka`a Girls Basketball Tournament.
Konawaena’s Chanelle Molina, only a sophomore, played a complete game in Saturday night’s 72-48 victory over Honoka`a. Molina, who has reportedly received a scholarship offer from the University of Hawai`i, scored 34 points, dished out seven assists, and picked up several steals to lead the Wildcats.
Molina shot 12-for-17 from the field, 8-for-10 from the free throw line, and hit all two of her three point attempts.
Ihi Victor added 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting, but left the court in the game’s final minute after injuring her left arm in an attempt to dive for a loose ball.
Hunter Liftee scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Dragons. Eliyah Fernandez added 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Despite the final score, Honoka`a dominated the battle of the rebounds, grabbing 23 boards to Konawaena’s 12. However, that advantage was negated by 34 Honoka`a turnovers.
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In the previous game, Kamehameha-Hawai`i forward Casey Poe scored 27 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and dished out four assists in her team’s 59-50 victory over Waiakea.
Poe gave her Warriors the lead for good early in the first quarter when she picked up a steal and took the ball the length of the court for a basket, giving KS-Hawai`i an 8-7 lead over Waiakea with 5:27 left in the opening period.
Poe hit her first four shots of the game and scored 11 of her points in the opening quarter. She shot 13-for-27 from the field and 1-for-6 from the free throw line.
Both teams suited up only eight players for the game. The absence of Waiakea’s Shaila Apele helped Poe and Kamehameha-Hawai`i win the battle of the boards, beating Waiakea 39-20 in that category. The defending Division II state champions also held on to the basketball, giving it away only nine times.
Riana Arima added 15 points, eight rebounds, and three assists for Kamehameha-Hawai`i. Makamae Gabriel followed with 11 points.
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In the loss, Waiakea’s Kaydee Rapozo scored 21 points, 10 in the opening quarter, while shooting 6-for-12 from the field and 8-for-9 from the free throw line. Nicole Antonio added 11 points.
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