Despite a string of frustrating losses, Brittney Garrigan and the Kamehameha Warriors weren’t ready to call it a season.
Kamehameha came to play when it mattered, outlasting ‘Iolani 7-5 in an emotional Interscholastic League of Honolulu water polo tournament playoff game to clinch the league’s second and final state berth.
The Warriors join ILH champ Punahou in the 12-team field next week at the University of Hawaii’s Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
Kamehameha opened the ILH season with a win over ‘Iolani, but then it was all downhill — five straight losses to ‘Iolani and Punahou — until Friday. Garrigan scored a match-high three goals from the interior and her teammates answered every Raiders charge during the final desperate minutes.
"This is our last game — we’re not going to play for ourselves, we’re going to play as a team, play for each other. And we brought it tonight," said Garrigan, the team’s lone senior, who is bound for Azusa Pacific to play water polo next year. "(The season) was a lot of frustration, but our girls, we’re really close, and we know we need to push each other. Our coaches had a big impact on us this season, so they were bringing us up no matter what, win or lose."
‘Iolani successfully negated Garrigan in the previous two meetings, while the Raiders’ go-to player, Kiana Harpstrite, had it going. The opposite was true this time as the sun set over the neutral pool of Punahou; the Warriors swarmed the interior on defense, forcing multiple tough shots and shot-clock violations. Goalkeeper Allie Mae Rosehill came up with six saves.
‘Iolani got three goals in the fourth quarter, but two were answered almost immediately by the Warriors.
Raiders coach Brennan Shum thinks the two teams are about even in talent, and credited Kamehameha with coming up with the better execution.
"They played a drop (when a team tries to clog the middle). I think our 2-meter girl (Harpstrite) hurt them the last two, three games," Shum said. "She’s our go-to person throughout the whole year. And they shut her out tonight. None of our other girls were able to step up.
"(Garrigan) didn’t want this to be her last game, so she played like that," Shum added.
‘Iolani led 2-1 on Sarah Carlile’s first-quarter shot from the left side, then allowed three straight goals by Kamehameha heading into halftime.
The Raiders had a chance to cut into the Warriors’ two-goal lead in the third quarter, when Kamehameha was whistled for a substitution infraction. But ‘Iolani came up empty on the ensuing penalty shot and Kawena Bikle followed with a bounce-shot past Keely Choy at the other end for a 5-2 advantage.
"It was a great team effort tonight; we had a lot of girls step up. We lost one of our key players early (Kiana Yamashiro) and we didn’t flinch. I’m really proud of these girls," Kamehameha coach Curt Ai said.
Chelsea Apo and Bikle were able perimeter threats around Garrigan, scoring two goals apiece for Kamehameha.
Taryn Aranador led the Raiders with two goals.
