Big Games Tonight For West Oahu Girls Basketball Teams
As OIA West play enters its third week of the girls basketball season, every game is a big game for league members. A look at Wednesday’s (Dec. 18) games – all at 7 p.m. – for Aiea, Campbell, Pearl City and Kapolei follows.
Radford at Pearl City
The Chargers passed their first test of the season last week with an easy 35-12 win over fellow Division II opponent Waialua and will look for an upset win over Radford.
The Rams, who are in Division I, posted a big win to open their own season last week by defeating a good Aiea team, 36-34, at home. Radford used its inside-outside attack to edge Na Ali’i.
Freshman guard Deja Tavale posted three 3-pointers and 14 points for Radford, while post player Jasmine Moody went 6-for-6 at the free throw line and tallied 14 points to pace the Rams’ inside game.
Pearl City is led by senior Megan Ramos, junior Jurey Jao and sophomore Ciera Sylva.
Kapolei at Leilehua
The Hurricanes will play their first road game of the season after home games against Nanakuli and Campbell, while the Mules are completing a stretch that saw them play three of their first four games at home.
Defense has been Leilehua’s forte during a 2-0 start, as the Mules are holding opponents to 31 points per game.
Tywanna Abbott led Leilehua in its win over Campbell last week, posting 20 points, while veteran Tiffany Reyher is one of the league’s most capable. Kapolei is led by guards Amayha Dycus and Raquel Lasconia.
This is Leilehua’s last game before an eight-day layoff that will precede a much-anticipated matchup Dec. 26 with rival Mililani.
Campbell at Waialua
Although it is early, this game can be placed into the ‘must win’ category for the Sabers, who are battling Aiea, Pearl City and the Bulldogs for playoff positioning among the Division II schools. This matchup also represents the second of a three-game stretch of road games for Campbell, which also must travel to Radford Friday night.
The Sabers entered their game with Kapolei late last week still searching for their first league win, following losses to defending DI champion Leilehua and DII favorite Aiea. Sabrina Marzan was Campbell’s high-point leader versus Leilehua, tallying 12. The Sabers also feature Cydney Curran and Brandy Contrades.
Following the Radford contest, Campbell will play four of its last five games at home.
Waianae at Aiea
Aiea was only a couple of plays away from a 2-0 start following a heartbreaking 36-34 road loss to a good Radford team last week. Na Ali’i had opened West play with an impressive 45-24 win over fellow Division II member Campbell Dec. 4.
Na Ali’i guard Mich’Lae Higa opened conference play with a flourish, tal-lying 25 points in the win over Campbell to establish herself as a Player-ofthe-Year candidate in the league, before being limited to six versus Radford. Aiea has also relied on Natasha Maroney and Aliysha Cooper-Tabisola for scoring to date.
Among Aiea’s challenges for this game will be to avoid looking past the Seariders, as a key home-date against Mililani looms on Friday for Na Ali’i.
After that game with the Trojans, Aiea will play four of its next five games on the road, including a stretch of four in a row away from home. Waianae began play 0-2 following losses to Radford and Nanakuli.
Email Jack Danilewicz at jackster.1969@yahoo.com
