Lunas rack up 99th win on Senior Night
LAHAINA – Lahainaluna High School’s girls basketball team will be shooting for the stars this week as the Lady Lunas, rated number one in the state, are headed for their tenth consecutive Maui Interscholastic League championship and an all-sport standard of 100 straight victories.
Led by the veteran coaching staff headed up by Todd Rickard, the Lady Lunas racked up win number 99 last week by running away from their nearest MIL competitor, King Kekaulike, in a 77-14 victory on Senior Night at the Jimmie H. Greig Gymnasium on the Lahainaluna campus.
The Luna band played on, the loyal Lahainaluna ‘ohana rocked out, and the crowd honored the team’s lone senior, Loke Basques Rosenthal, in a touching ceremony following the final buzzer of the blowout win.
The island tradition of recognizing departing seniors is nowhere as sentimental as at Lahainaluna. Photos and decorations lined the walls of the gym and, most of all, Loke’s family and friends cheered her on as she poured in a career high of 17 points and left the floor to a rousing ovation at the end of the contest.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as the crowd lined up to drape colorful lei around her neck and give her a farewell hug.
Family and friends, young and old, congratulated the speedy guard on her contribution to the Lady Luna cause throughout her four years on the roster.
The season is far from over, however. There is now the challenge that the team has been preparing for since last February: the state tournament.
Lahainaluna will fine tune during the MIL tournament this week, and then it’s on to Honolulu for the big dance. Imua, Lahainaluna!