Kamehameha holds on; Punahou dominates


ScoringLive staff
May 3, 2018, 6:55pm

ILH foes Kamehameha (left) and Punahou (right) both were victorious in their quarterfinal matchups Thursday evening. Spencer Honda | SL

KAPALAMA HEIGHTS — Kamehameha squeezed by to hold on for a 8-6 win over Kahuku while Punahou dominated Kaiser, 14-2, in quarterfinals action in the Stanford Carr Development, LLC/HHSAA Girls Water Polo State Championships at Kalaniopuu Aquatic Center on the campus of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama.

The host Warriors advance to play Maui Interscholastic League champ Baldwin — who beat Kalaheo, 16-7 — Friday evening at 5:45 p.m.

Ten-time defending state champion Punahou will play Kamehameha-Hawaii at 7 p.m. in the nightcap semifinal matchup. The Big Island Warriors defeated Roosevelt, 9-5, in the quarterfinals round.

Championship match is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

Kamehameha 8, Kahuku 6:

Senior Laakea Dedrick and freshman Shaye Story led the way for the Warriors with each netting a hat trick. Mahie Lee followed with a pair of goals, including the go-ahead score.

After getting on the scoreboard first on Lee's goal from beyond five meters, Kahuku scored twice within 67 seconds with Hannah Smith sneaking a shot away from three defenders for the goal and Grace Rittenhouse skipping a desperation shot with the 35-second shot clock winding down.

Story netted three of Kamehameha's four goals in the second quarter to take a one-point lead into halftime.

Twenty two seconds into the third quarter, Dedrick lined up for a five-meter shot and Kahuku goalkeepr Kimbrell Kunz got a paw on it, but it wasn't enough as it was deflected in for the score.

Early in the final quarter, Sophie Wilson scored the equalizer from just inside the five-meter line on a crossbody skip shot to the left side.

But 2:12 later, Lee got the go-ahead shot to fall to make it 7-6.

After several turnovers back and forth and the game winding down, Kamehameha's defense held tough as they swarmed in to force a turnover on Ava Countryman after receiving a pass inside the five-meter line.

On the other side, Dedrick was fouled just outside the five-meter line and immediately took a shot that ricocheted in off the crossbar.

Kahuku's Delilah Tia took a quick shot from about seven meters out but barred it, giving the Warriors final possession to run the clock out for the win.


Kaiser 2, Punahou 14:

The 10-time defending state champion Buffanblu made quick work of Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Kaiser.

Seven different Punahou players got into the scoring column with team-leading scorer Dani Kauahi netting four goals. Dillyn Lietzke followed with a hat trick, Christina Hicks and Josie Mobley each had a pair of goals and Edlin Davis, Naia Young-Kingsbury and Sierra Smart each chipped in a goal as well.

For Kaiser, Kanoko Niimura scored both of the Cougars goals.