Kamehameha Schools Maui’s Haven De Silva releases a second-quarter shot in a 48-37 win over Maui High on Wednesday night. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
KAHULUI — The Maui Interscholastic League season began with a bang for the Kamehameha Schools Maui girls basketball team. On Wednesday night at the Shine Matsui Athletic Center, it ended that way as well.
The Warriors returned to the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Division I state tournament for the first time since 2018 with a 48-37 win over Maui High in a second-place playoff game for the MIL’s final spot to next week’s tournament.
As the MIL runner-up, the Warriors (10-4) will host a first-round state tournament game on Monday against Radford at 4 p.m.
“It’s really exciting because this is my first time going to states,” Kamehameha senior Shanti Rae Visaya said after scoring 10 points. “You know, we worked our butts off this season.”
The Sabers (7-7) had beaten the Warriors in each of their last two matchups this season, including a 34-33 win on Monday in an MIL tournament semifinal.
Maui High’s Shylah Pulu-Valdez (left) and Alayna Borden bracket Kamehameha Maui’s Taylor Schnitzer in the third quarter.
“Having the hiccups that we had against Maui High the past couple of games, I think we just really wanted to prove everybody wrong,” Visaya said.
Kamehameha Maui coach Lance De Silva was proud of his group that began the MIL season with the first win in KSM history over Lahainaluna, now the 19-time defending MIL champions. After that, there were some challenges, but the Warriors met each and every one of them.
“I just told the girls the only difference between tonight and the other night was effort, 100 percent effort, dive after every ball, just battle for every ball,” De Silva said. “That’s the only difference. Should we do that, we win the game.”
Visaya sank a 3 to make it 7-3, and a midrange jumper by Kealoha Baricuatro made the lead seven with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
A runner by Maui High’s Kyra Okuyama brought the Sabers within five with 3:44 left before Ava Akahi scored inside for the Warriors.
Kamehameha Maui’s Kamea Abreu drives between Maui High’s Alayna Borden (left) and Darsee Seegmiller in the first half Wednesday.
Hailey Ryann Visaya, a junior, stole the ball and went coast to coast to push the lead to 15-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Haven De Silva nailed a 3 from the top of the key to make it 18-10, Kamea Abreu scored inside to give the Warriors a 10-point lead and De Silva added a shot from the lane to make it 22-10.
Hailey Ryann Visaya made a 3 to give the Warriors a 29-13 lead with 1:43 left in the first half.
Naiara Bal nailed a corner 3 to bring the Sabers within 29-19 with 7:28 left in the third quarter.
Shanti Rae Visaya scored inside to push the lead to 35-19 with 3:20 to go in the third quarter. The Warriors took a 37-26 lead to the fourth quarter.
The Warriors’ Taylor Schnitzer releases a shot.
Hailey Ryann Visaya banked home a top-of-the-key 3 to make it 40-26 with just over 7 minuets to play. Two free throws by Taylor Schnitzer pushed the lead to 42-26 with 6:43 to play.
The Sabers, who have only three seniors on this roster and start a lineup including two freshmen and a sophomore, didn’t get closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
“We went to Oahu early on, we played Iolani, we played Kamehameha, we played Maryknoll, you know, we went through the bumps and bruises, and we went to Lanai,” Maui High coach Vic Aguirre said. “They grew together as a team, we got some wins … the development and what’s coming back, it’s going to be really good for the next five, six years.”
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.
KAMEHAMEHA MAUI (10-4)
Maui High’s Keirstyn Boco shoots between Kamehameha Maui’s Shanti Rae Visaya (left) and Schnitzer.
Kamea Abreu 0, Ha’akea Hueu 0, Kailie Kalepa 2, Mika Bechert 0, Shanti Rae Visaya 10, Hailey Ryann Visaya 8, Haven De Silva 8, Taylor Schnitzer 12, Kealoha Baricuatro 6, Ava Akahi 2.
MAUI HIGH (7-7)
Mareea Casio 0, Maeghen Magarin 0, Kyra Okuyama 3, Lyndee Sabas 4, Darsee Seegmiller 4, Naiara Bal 8, Madelein Milliet 4, Bella Nania-Cole 0, Kayla Faye Vergara 0, Alayna Borden 6, Keirstyn Boco 0, Shyla Pulu-Valez 8.
Kamehameha Maui1514811–48
Maui High861211–37
Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Today • HHSAA swimming and diving 8:30 a.m.—State championships, dive finals, at Kihei Aquatic Center. 1 ...
BOWLING ALOHA FRIDAY LEAGUE Feb. 2 Results At Wailuku Lanes Standings—Anela’s 61, Jonathan’s 59.5, ...
Lola Donez scored 19 points in her final game with the Lahainaluna High School girls basketball team as the Lunas ...
Top-seeded Iolani School got a golden goal off the post in the 89th minute on Friday night for a 1-0 overtime win ...
Today • HHSAA swimming and diving 10 a.m.—State championships, dive prelims, at Kihei Aquatic ...
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3UoqWer6NjsLC5jqynqKqkqHytu8Kao2aroKS%2Ftb%2BOa2drbF9lf3DDwKupoqeiqHq1u89mqpqalafAbrzUp5qhZaSesKyx02arqGWjqa61sdJo