KEAAU – Kamehameha-Hawaii already was in a hole early in the fourth quarter when Caitlyn Poe drove the lane for a layup that went around the basket and out. Camille Poe rebounded and put up an attempt that rolled out and Taylor Sullivan’s follow also went around an out.
It was that kind of night for the Warriors.
Top-seeded Hawaii Baptist took its place among the elite Division II girls basketball teams in the state Saturday night, pulling away to beat Kamehameha 44-31 at Keaau High to win its first HHSAA championship,
“I thought we had a hard time getting the ball through the hoop,” Kamehameha coach Weston Willard said. “It thought we had good looks and sometimes they don’t fall.
“Their help-side defense was outstanding.”
Ally Wada finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the ILH champion Eagles (17-0), who beat Kamehameha in the semifinals last season before losing to Honokaa for the championship.
Caitlin Poe finished with 12 points with five rebounds for the BIIF champion Warriors (9-6), who fell to 4-5 in state finals.
It’s a decent bet Kamehameha will be back soon.
Willard made sure Kamehameha’s three seniors (Caitlyn Poe, Gabriel Victor and Kyla Aguiar) finished the game on the court, and therein lies the silver lining for the Warriors, who started four sophomores.
“It was great for us to be able to get back to the championship round in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year,” Willard said. “We are rebuilding quickly.”
“This team grew and the seniors helped them develop. Everybody played for each other and that is what this program is all about.”
Leading 19-11 at halftime, Hawaii Baptist opened the second half on an 11-4 run, capped by two jumpers by Wada.
Sophomores Makenzie Kalawaia and Saydee Aganus each scored six points for the Warriors, who shot just 19.6 percent.
“We talked before the game about how we had a successful season and one game wasn’t going to define our season.
“We felt like we competed today. It just wasn’t our best game.”
Kamehameha 2 9 7 13 – 31
HBA 8 11 13 12 – 44