In a fast-paced faceoff, the Lunas’ girls basketball team edged the Maui Warriors, 51-40, at Kahekili Gymnasium, Dec. 13.

Lahainaluna was the only Maui Interscholastic Team to defeat the Warriors last season, when the two teams went 3-0 in the Lunas’ favor in the regular season, but they may be within the Warriors’ reach this year. The 9-point loss is a big improvement over the 35-point average spread from last season’s games.

The Lunas’ Braeanna Estabillo said, “We didn’t perform at our best. Honestly we weren’t a team today,” but Lahaina led at the end of each period.

The Warriors ended the first quarter with 14 points, scored by Ashley Peralta, Kaylee Cambra, Kimani Fernandez-Roy, and Mikiala Sniffen.

The Lunas had 22 points at the end of the first quarter, made by Estabillo, Rachael Balagso, and Erin Hookano.

In the second quarter, the Lunas widened their lead by adding 11 points to the Warriors’ 5, and the halftime score was 19-33.

“We [need to] minimize [our] mistakes,” the Warriors’ Peralta said.

In the third quarter, the Warriors scored 9 points, and they held the Lunas to a gain of 3. The score aat the end of the quarter was 28-36.

The Lunas outscored the Warriors in the last quarter, scoring 15 versus Kamehameha’s 12 points, making their final score 51-40 for the Lunas.

The win was too close for comfort.

“I [think the playing] was mediocre. [We] can get better [and] play… better defense, and intensify our practice,” Lunas head coach Todd Rickard said.

The Warriors’ team leader Ashley Peralta thought her team played well.

“We had great energy this game. This is the best game we’ve ever played despite the score. … We are way more confident in ourselves with the way we played. This was anybody’s game,” she said.

Watch the Warriors scrimmage the Lunas this Saturday, Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m., at Kahekili Gymnasium.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Photo by Holly Honda

Breanna Estabillo makes a pass to Rachael Balagso with Kaylee Cambra defending.