Mikala Fernandez did her best work in the fourth quarter Saturday. In one instance, it was enough to lift Konawaena to its second Big Island Interscholastic Federation water polo victory of the season.
Fernandez scored the go-ahead goal with 2:25 remaining to power the Wildcats past Hilo 10-8 at Kona Community Aquatic Center.
Fernandez added an insurance goal and finished with four scores for the Wildcats (2-3). Kaulana Reudy recorded a hat trick.
The Vikings (0-7) trailed 6-1 at the halftime but Kahawaiola’a Daffron netted all three of her goals in the second half. She tied the match 7-7 with a score early in the fourth quarter, and then she answered Ruedy’s goal with another of her own with 3:52 remaining.
Bailey Walters tallied two goals for Konawaena, which also help from Nala Mrozinski.
Hilo got two goals from Karyana Norris and one apiece from Alana Flaherty, Hilda Friday and Hayden Rooke.
Earlier, Fernandez scored three goals — all in the fourth — but the Wildcats fell to Hawaii Prep 10-7. Ka Makani picked up two wins at KCAC, as did undefeated Kamehameha, which finished the afternoon by handing Kealakehe its second loss.
Hawaii Prep 5, Waiakea 4: Seychelle Francis, Leilani Bostock, Taylor Doherty, Malia Brown and Sarah Im each scored as Ka Makani (4-3) survived a defensive battle.
Jeannie Rosa, Kasey Kawakami, Taislynn Ida and Coco Flores-Oishi scored for the Warriors (3-4).
Kamehameha 14, Kealakehe 5: Katelynn Kubo poured in four goals and Pua Wong added three as the Warriors improved to 7-0.
Acacia Trusdell (two goals), Chloe Martins-Keliihoomalu (two), Halia Nahale-a (two) and Cassidy Fratinardo (one) also made contributions for Kamehameha.
Marrisa Bryant-Manago led the Waveriders (3-2) with two goals. Anna Thomas, Naomi Tomlinson and Sarah Somsanguansit also scored for Kealakehe, which remained in second place in the league.
Kealakehe 16, Hilo 8: Mehana Pilago put on a seven-goal scoring spree to carry the Waveriders. Bryant-Manago tallied a hat trick, while Thomas, Somsanguansit and Tomlinson each scored twice.
Flaherty had a hat trick for the Vikings and Friday found the net twice. Daffron, Norris and Rooke tacked on a goal apiece.
HPA 10, Konawaena 7: Francis’s three goals and two from Bostock lifted Ka Makani.
Janelle Laros broke through for HPA, while Doherty and Teelin Healy added scores in the third quarter and Ava Jean Johnson and Brittani Boora had goals in the fourth as Ka Makani pulled away despite Fernandez’s late onslaught.
In the first half, Ruedy, Walters, Aaliyah Butler and Kristen Hiromasa each scored for Konawaena.
Kamehameha 14, Waiakea 2: Kubo and Fratinardo each scored three times in the first quarter for Kamehameha, which led 13-1 at halftime.
Trusdell and Martins-Keliihoomalu produced two goals apiece, as did Esther Kerr, who accounted for Kamehameha’s only second-half score. Nahale-a and Hoea Makai’ke each finished with a goal.
Ida and Jhante Iga accounted for Waiakea’s ouput.