WAIMEA — Some time away from the pool didn’t put a damper on Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s hot streak in the water.
After nearly three weeks without games, Ka Makani didn’t miss a beat, coasting in a 26-5 win over Konawaena on Wednesday.
Ava Jean Johnston found the back of the net six times, while Taylor Doherty and Louisa Duggan each added four for Hawaii Prep.
“We had a lot of girls stick around, so we were able to have some pretty intense practices during that time off,” Hawaii Prep head coach Greg McKenna said. “We are getting more comfortable in the water and are able to play the game a bit more technical.”
The result against Konawaena continued the theme of dominance for Hawaii Prep (4-0) this season. In their first three games, Ka Makani outscored opponents 57-22, including a 20-7 victory over a shorthanded Kamehameha team — the six-time defending BIIF champion.
“The point of the game is to score and we are looking to get as many people involved as possible to create opportunities,” McKenna said. “I think we have seen a lot of improvement since our first three games.”
McKenna also commended the efforts of hole players Elizabeth Jim and Janelle Laros for helping open up the perimeter offense.
“Everything is slowly coming together,” McKenna said. “We have six more games and are looking to improve every step of the way.”
Hawaii Prep exited Dowsett Pool with an undefeated record intact, but Konawaena’s day was not over. The Wildcats still had a date with west side rival Kealakehe on the docket.
In the definition of a knock-down-drag-out game, the Waveriders (3-1) edged Konawaena 20-15 behind a six goals effort from Hannah Tomlinson.
However, the Wildcats (1-4) made it anything but easy for Kealakehe in the physical affair. The rowdy Konawaena bench never stopped cheering — even counting off the final seconds of the game — and the players in the water never stopped fighting, clawing back with a comeback charge led by Aaliyah Butler and Bailey Walters. The Wildcats made it as close as 17-13 in the fourth quarter, but Kealakehe pulled away in the closing minutes.
Butler tallied nine goals in the game — including five in the fourth quarter — and Walters scored five, most high-arching shots from distance. Luckily for Kealakehe, there is no three-point line in water polo.
“Konawaena is an aggressive team and have some big arms,” Kealakehe head coach Derek Monell said. “I think I counted five or six goals that just sailed into our net. If they can catch us napping like that, it’s a great strategy.”
Kealakehe also had the long layover between games, and while Monell admitted his team needed a few minutes to shake off the rust, he came away relatively satisfied after the win.
“Our defense is solid but we need to work on running our offense,” he said. “For a while, we started to look like a bunch of Smurfs out there, all bunched up. If we get back to our spacing we will be OK.”
The Waveriders needed some separation and confidence heading into their next few games. Kealakehe will take on Kamehameha this Saturday and then have a double-feature against Konawaena and Hawaii Prep in Kona on April 6. That contest will be the first time the Waveriders see the first place Ka Makani this season.
“That Wednesday will be interesting,” Monell said. “It will be interesting to see if we hang with Hawaii Prep. That will be a battle.”
