Kalani takes down shorthanded Kaiser for first league win

Brien Ing | SL

Kalani earned its first win in OIA East play with a 45-32 win over Kaiser, the Falcons' first over the Cougars since the 2019 season.

"We haven't beaten Kaiser in a long team," said senior guard Cassady Kobayashi of the win. "We were 0-3 before so this was a really big win for us, and I'm really proud of my teammates for that."

Kobayashi scored a game-high 16 points in the win, with 13 of those coming in the second half, and the Falcons needed her offensive output to help hold off the Cougars' rally.

"Even though we were up, we still had to be in the game," said Kobayashi. "It doesn't matter what the score is we gotta keep pushing the ball."

Kaiser played only five players the entire game, as there were no bench players avaialble. What's more, starters Alexus Maae and Maylee Moe were unavailable as well, putting the home team at a decisive disadvantage.

"We've been really trying to prepare for her," said Kobayashi of Maae. "When we found out she wasn't playing it was kind of honestly a bit of a letdown for us, but their team is still really a strong team."

The visiting Falcons built an 11 point lead at the half, but the Cougars came out in the third and chipped away at the margin, eventually getting the lead down to just six with just over four minutes left in the fourth.

Faced with the pressure of a narrowing gap and keen to milk as much time off of the shot clock as possible, Kalani got the best possible outcome on its next possession, taking the clock down to basically to the buzzer before Mia Garvin's angle three from the left side splashed through to make it a nine point contest.

"Mia's been working really hard, last season she wasn't much of a three point scorer for us, more a slasher, mid-ranger, but she's been really working hard this season," said Kobayashi of Garvin.

That basket, the only make for Garvin in the second half, proved to be a key make, as the Cougars would only manage a single point down the stretch.

Tonight's win snapped a three-game skid for the Falcons, and marked the first league win since Jan 6, 2023, where it edged Roosevelt 28-22.

Maya Wu had eight points heading into the break to lead the Falcons, but only scored two points in the the following two quarters.

The Cougars were led by Isabelle Baker, who scored 15 points and hit 7 of 8 free throws.