Here’s a recap on Kailua’s win over No. 10 Leilehua on Wednesday. (Limited space in the print edition this morning.)
Kailua 49, Leilehua 46
The Surfriders rode their big wave to a second win in as many nights, clinching a state-tournament berth with a come-from-behind victory. Delcie Williams paced Kailua (12-5, 9-3 OIA) with 21 points, five rebounds and four steals. Kawehi Perry and Patria Vaimaona added nine points each. Vaimaona was superb defensively with eight rebounds and six steals despite a sore ankle.
“She’s been huge for us defensively, doing things that don’t show up on the stats,” Kailua coach Mandy Llamedo said. “We tried to push the tempo, with Tau (Williams) and Tara at the top, they connect all the time.”
Leilehua got 15 points from Jerri Maluyo and nine from Tiffany Reyher, the starting guards for coach Elroy Dumlao’s defending OIA champions. But the Mules had difficulty matching up against the bigger Surfriders on the boards and opted to slow the pace.
Williams still filled the lanes often enough for the running ‘Riders, who trailed 28-22 in the second quarter. They finally went ahead 36-34 late in the third quarter on a steal by Vaimaona that led to a layup by Keala Kaio-Perez.
Leilehua stuck close and took a 46-45 lead on a corner 3 by Reyher with 2:50 to play. Vaimaona answered with a strong bucket on the low post for a 47-46 Kailua lead with 1:48 left.
After missed shots by the Mules, Williams scored on a follow shot with 29 seconds to go for a 49-46 Surfriders lead.
After Kailua’s Tara Takata missed a free throw with 12.8 seconds left, Maluyo missed a 3-point try from the wing and Kailua hung on for the win.
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