KEAAU – In coach Michael Godden’s words, Konawaena lost a “good crowd” after breaking through last season to reach the HHSAA water polo tournament.
Win or lose, Saturday’s BIIF opener was going to be a learning experience for the Wildcats, who hadn’t so much as had a scrimmage in the preseason. Lesson No. 1 was that Jalen Gambee isn’t just another face in the new crowd.
The freshman completed her hat trick Saturday with two goals late in the fourth quarter, the first one putting Konawaena ahead for good, and the Wildcats staved off Waiakea’s comeback for an 11-9 victory at Naeole Pool.
“I learned that even though we’re a new team, I feel like we’ve bonded a lot and we have a really good connection with each other,” Gambee said. “I think we can push through the season and do really well.”
Waiakea trailed 7-2 at halftime, but it outscored Konawaena 4-0 in the third quarter, getting two goals from Kelee Shimizu, as the last match of the day finally featured a competitive contest. Kaira Chang and Jamie Velasquez completed the comeback with goals on 5-meter (penalty) shots.
Exclusion penalties were a match-long problem for Konawaena, and they led to the ejection off Bailey Walters, one of the Wildcats’ most experienced players.
Unfazed, Gambee went to work. She gave her team the lead again, and then blocked a shot on the other end of the pool before scoring on a 5-meter shot of her own.
“I knew that I would have to step up a little bit, since one of our best players got ejected,” Gambee said. “I knew we would have to work really well together.”
The rest of the league is forever trying to catch up to six-time champion Kamehameha, but the Wildcats made a spirited run to states last season in Gooden’s third year at the helm.
They lost six seniors, however, including first-team all-BIIF selections Mikala Fernandez and Chloe Delaney, and all-league goalkeeper Taiana Tolleson isn’t playing this season.
“Some of the young girls coming in are experienced,” Godden said. “Not a lot, but it helps that we’re not totally green. Jaylen had a little bit of offseason training
“We were impressed with (goalkeeper) Kenya Gray. She outplayed herself.”
Chang was all over the pool for Waiakea. She was a solid presence in goal during the first and third quarters, making eight saves and allowing only two scores, and Chang swam during the second and fourth quarters, and she and Velasquez each finished with three goals. Reina Kuwaye-Tamanaha also scored for Waiakea.
Konawaena got goals from seven different scorers in the first half. Aliyah Butler and Riley Walters each finished with two, and Payton Walters, Bailey Walters, Nala Foti and Porsha Brandt collected a goal apiece.
“I feel like we had a few errors, but I think we had a really strong defense and that pushed us through,” Gambee said.
In the first match of the day, Louisa Duggan scored eight goals and Ave Jean Johntson added six as Hawaii Prep beat Hilo 18-9. Ashleigh Kahawaiola’a Daffron put home five for the Vikings.
Also, Katelynn Kubo’s five goals powered Kamehameha to a 14-5 victory against Kealakehe. Alyssa Pelanca had three goals for the Warriors while Hannah Tomlinson and Skyler Hudson had two apiece for the Waveriders.