KEAAU — Even when Kamehameha is struggling to find its shot, the team’s defensive intensity never drops off, and that’s largely due to sisters Caitlin and Camille Poe.
Behind a tenacious full-court press, the Warriors got turnover after turnover and defeated Waiakea 45-27 in a BIIF basketball game on Monday night at Koaia Gym.
Jordyn Mantz cleaned the glass and led the way with 10 points for Kamehameha (2-0), which converted 36 percent (17 of 47) from the field and had nice offensive balance.
Camille, a sophomore, added eight points, her senior sister Caitlin had six points, and Taylor Sullivan added seven points. Hera Salmeron contributed six points, on a pair of 3-pointers.
Danielle Oda scored 10 points, including two 3-pointers, freshman forward Madison Hwang added nine, and Sydney Layaoen had six points for Waiakea (1-2), which shot 24 percent (8 of 33) from the floor.
Kamehameha forced 24 turnovers and outscored Waiakea 10-2 off giveaways. The hosts had 20 turnovers, but Waiakea could find any shooting rhythm and mostly fired blanks.
The Division II Warriors also rebounded better and often held the Division I Warriors to one shot, a reason for the lopsided shot disparity.
Both teams have tough tests on Thursday. Waiakea plays at Konawaena, and Kamehameha hosts Hilo.
In the first quarter, to note that both teams struggled with their shooting would be a massive understatement.
Kamehameha missed its first 11 shots and all four free throws. Salmeron nailed a 3-pointer, and the hosts finished 1 for 14 in the first eight minutes.
Oda buried a 3-pointer and Hwang scored for Waiakea, which went 2 for 9 in a cold-shooting first quarter.
Camille Poe, the youngest of the Poe sisters (Chelsea, Casey, and Caitlin), gave Kamehameha a second-quarter scoring boost with four points, but picked up three fouls.
Caitlin also had four points while Mantz led the way with seven points, swishing a 3-pointer for Kamehameha before the halftime buzzer for a 22-15 lead.
In the second half, the Poe sisters kept flashing to the high post and firing jumpers. When they missed, Mantz or Sullivan picked up a rebound and scored.
Waiakea had sharp ball movement to break Kamehameha’s press, and the visiting team’s best scoring opportunities came in transition. But there were too many missed layup attempts with a defender, usually a Poe sister, breathing down someone’s neck.
When the visitors set up in half court, they couldn’t efficiently run their offense because the passing lanes were clogged, and there was little room for dribble-penetration. Aggressive defense may lead to free throws, but it does disrupt any offensive flow.
Both teams were Shaq-like at the line. Waiakea made 9 of 17 free throws; Kamehameha went 7 of 14.
Waiakea found Oda, the team’s best shooter, a few times for open looks, but most times there was a hand in her face. Even when the ball found Hwang in the paint, she was quickly double teamed, and Kamehameha closed gaps so the weak-side post option was unavailable.
Offensively, Kamehameha is much more diverse. Salmeron can hit a 3, the Poe sisters showed nice mid-range touch, and Mantz and Sullivan are deadly in the paint. Sullivan also had a Kevin McHale up-and-under move for a score. (Google the old Celtic post master’s moves.)
Both teams start only one senior: Caitlin for Kamehameha and Else Hasegawa for Waiakea, which has two promising freshmen in Hwang and point guard Claire Kaneshiro.
Hwang can score with either hand and passes well out of the post for kickouts to her shooters. Though she turned the ball over a bit too much, Kaneshiro played with composure, despite being guarded by Caitlin.
The Poe sisters are both listed at 5 feet 5. But they have long wing spans. Both have lanky frames and are relentless point press defenders.
When Kamehameha, the two-time BIIF Division II runner-up, needed a spark it was the Poe sisters who brought the defensive fire.
In the junior varsity game, it was Waiakea 42, Kamehameha 21.
Waiakea 5 10 6 6 — 27
Kamehameha 3 19 13 10 — 45
Konawaena 86, Keaau 7: Suiting up only six players and without the services of star Chanelle Molina, the Wildcats led 30-2 after the first quarter and 58-4 at the break in Kealakekua.
Konawaena (3-0) had five players reach double figures. Cherilyn Molina, Celena Molina and Mikayla Tablit each scored 19 points apiece – both Tablit and Cherilyn Molina knocked down three 3-pointers apiece – and Mercedes “Ihi” Victor followed with 17 points and Mahiehie Kaawa added 10.
Hunter Muranaka hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter to lead the scoring for the Cougars (1-3). Kaumaka Sibayton and Gracelin Castro added two points apiece.
Kona 30 28 17 11 – 86
Keaau 2 2 3 0 – 7
Hilo 82, Hawaii Prep 7: Sharlei Graham Bernisto led four scorers in double figures with 19 points in Waimea, and the Vikings held Ka Makani scoreless in the first and third quarters.
Lexi Pana and Cierra Keli’i added 12 points apiece for Hilo (3-0), and Mandi Kawaha added 11.
Emma Saito led HPA (0-1) with with four points.
Hawaii Prep 0 5 0 2– 7
Hilo 34 25 15 8– 82
Honokaa 52, Ka’u 20: The Dragons improved to 5-0 behind Markell Marquez’s 12 points and eight more from Kizzah Maltezo in Pahala.
Reisha Kekoa-Jara led the Trojans (1-4) with 11 points.
Kohala 50, Kealakehe 41: Naai Solomon-Lewis scored 26 points and Tezrah Antonio added in Kapaau as the Cowboys improved to 2-1.
The Waveriders fell to 0-3.
