A new format to the Stanford Carr Development/HHSAA water polo state championships meant that three lucky teams across the state got to host first-round games this year.
Kamehameha took full advantage in its Kapalama pool on Monday.
The Warriors dispatched visiting Kapolei 12-4, meaning the ILH runners-up get third-seeded Baldwin on Thursday in the quarterfinals at the University of Hawaii’s Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
In past years, play would begin on a Wednesday, with all unseeded teams coming to UH. Both Kamehameha and Kapolei were adjusting to the unusual day of the week for competition. Before long, it was the Warriors who seemed right at home with the situation.
“It’s a great way to start the tournament,” said attacker Payton Bosque, who scored a game-high four goals. “I think it really boosts our energy, boosts our mood. It’s a good way to start the flow of us looking into Thursday, Friday, Saturday.”
Emma Kim and La‘akea Dedrick added two goals apiece for the Warriors.
Kamehameha adopted a philosophy of “nameless, faceless, pool-less” this season regarding its opponents. That mentality helped in the ILH, when Kamehameha was going against nine-time defending state champion Punahou on a regular basis.
On Monday, against an overmatched opponent, Kamehameha used the phrase — even in its own pool — to keep the focus on itself.
“I’m trying to get them to think, once you’re in the pool, the dimensions are the same,” said coach Randy Bart, who got the idea from Aaron Chaney, one of his former coaches. “Doesn’t matter what pool, where, who’s across from you.”
Kamehameha led 8-0 at halftime and kept the pressure on in the third once Kapolei got on the board — Mailani Wendt got behind the Warriors’ defense for a breakaway score.
Bosque, whose two older sisters played for coach Dexter Lee at Kapolei, scored twice in the period and it was 11-2 going to the fourth, when Bart inserted some of his backups.
“Their defensive press put too much pressure on my outside players. They couldn’t pass,” Lee said. “They (forced) a lot of outside turnovers.”
Monet Bisch, Keylee Leong, Mahie Lee and Kala‘i Terada accounted for the rest of Kamehameha’s goals.
Kapolei, the OIA’s fourth-place team, had six freshmen on its state roster. Seniors Wendt and Taylor Goeas each put in two scores for the Hurricanes, whose season is over.
“We have a lot of inexperienced players playing,” Lee said. “Overall for the season we did well. I’m very happy with our season. … We’ve got a group of freshmen that are coming up that are going to play. We’ve got years to develop them. We’re going to be around.”
Roosevelt 8, Waialua 4
The Bulldogs, the last of six OIA teams to qualify for states, gave their league’s runner-up all they wanted until the Rough Riders’ superior depth swung things in the second half at Kamehameha.
“I just had to remind them that in today’s games, you lose and your season’s over,” longtime Roosevelt coach Susan Nishioka said of the 2-2 halftime. “They just put in way too much time to just let it go at this point.”
April Gomes scored four goals and Rayna Miranda added two to lead Roosevelt, while Salia Kaio and Sarah Yasuda also got on the board.
Megan McHale and Shannon Foster scored twice apiece to account for all goals for Waialua.
Other scores
At Kona Community Aquatic Center
Kealakehe 9, Kaiser 6
At Kihei Aquatic Center
Lahainaluna 8, Kalani 7, OT
