Girls Water Polo
Kamehameha holds on; Punahou dominates


 



KAPALAMA HEIGHTS — Kamehameha squeezed by to hold on for a 8-6 win over Kahuku while Punahou dominated Kaiser, 14-2, in quarterfinals action in the Stanford Carr Development, LLC/HHSAA Girls Water Polo State Championships at Kalaniopuu Aquatic Center on the campus of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama.

The host Warriors advance to play Maui Interscholastic League champ Baldwin — who beat Kalaheo, 16-7Friday evening at 5:45 p.m.

Ten-time defending state champion Punahou will play Kamehameha-Hawaii at 7 p.m. in the nightcap semifinal matchup. The Big Island Warriors defeated Roosevelt, 9-5, in the quarterfinals round.

Championship match is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

Kamehameha 8, Kahuku 6:

Senior Laakea Dedrick and freshman Shaye Story led the way for the Warriors with each netting a hat trick. Mahie Lee followed with a pair of goals, including the go-ahead score.

After getting on the scoreboard first on Lee's goal from beyond five meters, Kahuku scored twice within 67 seconds with Hannah Smith sneaking a shot away from three defenders for the goal and Grace Rittenhouse skipping a desperation shot with the 35-second shot clock winding down.

Story netted three of Kamehameha's four goals in the second quarter to take a one-point lead into halftime.

Twenty two seconds into the third quarter, Dedrick lined up for a five-meter shot and Kahuku goalkeepr Kimbrell Kunz got a paw on it, but it wasn't enough as it was deflected in for the score.

Early in the final quarter, Sophie Wilson scored the equalizer from just inside the five-meter line on a crossbody skip shot to the left side.

But 2:12 later, Lee got the go-ahead shot to fall to make it 7-6.

After several turnovers back and forth and the game winding down, Kamehameha's defense held tough as they swarmed in to force a turnover on Ava Countryman after receiving a pass inside the five-meter line.

On the other side, Dedrick was fouled just outside the five-meter line and immediately took a shot that ricocheted in off the crossbar.

Kahuku's Delilah Tia took a quick shot from about seven meters out but barred it, giving the Warriors final possession to run the clock out for the win.


Kaiser 2, Punahou 14
:

The 10-time defending state champion Buffanblu made quick work of Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Kaiser.

Seven different Punahou players got into the scoring column with team-leading scorer Dani Kauahi netting four goals. Dillyn Lietzke followed with a hat trick, Christina Hicks and Josie Mobley each had a pair of goals and Edlin Davis, Naia Young-Kingsbury and Sierra Smart each chipped in a goal as well.

For Kaiser, Kanoko Niimura scored both of the Cougars goals.





Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

Punahou continues unbeaten streak, hands Kamehameha second straight loss

Third-ranked Warriors suffered consecutive losses in the regular season for the first time since 2017.

No. 4 Iolani rallies to hand No. 1 Kamehameha first ILH loss

Ethan Akagi and CJ Taira scored the winning runs for the Raiders off a wild pitch to hand the top-ranked...

Punahou pulls away from PAC-5 to notch first ILH win

The Buffanblu ended a five-game skid and broke into the win column to keep the Wolfpack winless in the...

Kalani's Nishigaya headlines All-OIA East selections

Forward/midfielder Kaiulani Nishigaya helped lift Falcons to first-ever league title; Kaiser's Noelani...

Trojans' Fuamatu-Maafala leads All-OIA West picks

Mililani's Iai Fuamatu-Maafala named Player of the Year; Campbell's James Curran named coach of the year.

Knights' Turcios named All-OIA East player of the year

Damon Turcios lone Castle player named to first team; Kailua's Joseph Wood named coach of the year.