At some point Friday, Kamehameha goalkeeper Jordan Ehara had saved more than just a stunning collection of Kahuku shots.
“She saved their bacon,” Red Raiders coach Aaron Waldrip said with a shake of the head.
The senior stopped 11 attempts, including a couple during crucial Kahuku power plays, as the Warriors outdueled the Raiders 5-2 for a title-game berth in the Stanford Carr Development/HHSAA Water Polo State Championships.
During a stretch of the third quarter, she saved shots on four straight Red Raiders possessions.
“One of my biggest things is that feeling of just not wanting to fail my team,” Ehara said. “Because all six of them are just out there, they’re countering, they’re shooting, they’re passing, they’re doing everything just fine. If I don’t do my job correctly, then I’ll let them down and let the whole team down. So I just have to keep myself up.”
Another surreal outing between the posts might be required today. Kamehameha (7-4) earned a showdown with ILH arch nemesis Punahou, the eight-time defending state champion which boasts a 32-0 all-time record in state competition. The teams open up at 6 p.m. at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
During the Buffanblu’s title streak, Kamehameha has finished runner-up five times, including last year.
The Warriors lost seven seniors from that talented team. Ehara is one of two for this year’s group.
First-year Kamehameha coach Randy Bart noted his team had a severe drought of leadership in the season’s early going, but around spring break the players “had taken it over.”
“Every team that strives for the championship, it’s gotta come from the players,” Bart said, acknowledging his team expended a lot of energy to dispatch Kahuku.
Kamehameha dropped three regular-season matches to Punahou by a total score of 32-7. But the Warriors were more competitive in the ILH tournament championship on April 21, tying it at 5 before seeing the Buffanblu rattle off eight straight to win 13-5.
“They’re game (for the rematch),” Bart said. “I tell them, up by five, down by five, even, they play the same way, and they’ve been doing that. I don’t have a crystal ball, but they’re going to bring it. They’re going to bring the emotion and the attitude and effort. I’m pretty sure about that.”
Offensively, junior Payton Bosque led the Warriors into the final with three goals, including the dagger on a penalty shot midway through the fourth quarter.
Kahuku came in as the seven-time defending OIA champion, but like Kamehameha, this year’s Raiders were young, with just a single senior, India Pyzel.
They made good on their first earned ejection with a goal by Pyzel in the first quarter. But then the Raiders misfired on three straight power plays going into the half, when they trailed 2-1.
Two more man-up situations went for naught in the fourth quarter with Kahuku in desperation mode down 4-1.
The ILH will keep its run of water polo state titles unblemished. Punahou owns 10 and Kamehameha and ‘Iolani one each heading into today’s final.
Goal scorers — Kah: India Pyzel, Keanalanimele‘okekai Kunz. KS: Payton Bosque 3, La‘akea Dedrick, Kaylen Nitahara.
Punahou 17, Roosevelt 2
Marissa Anne Miller scored a game-high five goals in eight attempts and the Buffanblu (10-0) advanced to their ninth straight title game.
“So far it’s gone just how we mapped it out,” coach Ken Smith said. “We know we’re pretty fast and we have really good defense, and that’s what we rely on.”
Taylor Brooks had both goals for the OIA runner-up Rough Riders (16-2), who were denied their first crack at the championship game.
Goal scorers — Pun: Marissa Anne Miller 5, Natassia Dunn 3, Saki Migliorato 3, Micaela Kauhane 2, Robbie Bickerton, Malia Gacutan, Kaya Lee, Danielle Kauahi. Roos: Taylor Brooks 2.
