KALAHEO — Coach Phil Tacbian of Wailua had himself a busy Wednesday night as Wailua played in three of the four games at the KYBA series at the Kalaheo Neighborhood center.
Not only was Tacbian busy, but one of Wailua’s key players, Leilani Laranio had two games to contend with as Wailua finished by winning just one of their three games, escaping a late-game buzz from the Westside Hornets, 36-34.
A late-game trey by Victoria Espino and a bucket from the pocket from Jaime Horikawa for the Westside Hornets almost pulled things off for the Hornets Girls Under 16 squad in the finale.
But, the effort came a little too late as charity shots from Kennilyn Nakamura and Chanita Makanui put away the 36-34 Wailua win at the buzzer.
Nakamura finished the night with a game-high 14 points followed by Leilani Laranio adding eight, and Chelsie Villatora marking six points. Hanalei Gomes added four, Roselyn Ebinger chipped in a pair and a digit from Makanui rounded out the win.
Hornet guard Sheana Mata finished with nine points to lead the squad with Espino firing all her five points in the second half. Cherilyn Kua finished with four along with Christine Banach, Horikawa ended with three. Kierra Barba, Meredith Hudson, and Brytney Yadao-Lanning each chipped in a pair, and a digit from Josey Jacinto accounted for the Hornets’ math.
Hank Ibia came up with the shot of the night as he pulled Hanamaulu into the lead 36-34 with 1:14 showing in the second overtime of the KYBA Boys Under 12 game, Wednesday night.
But, the Westside Heat answered as both teams exchanged leads throughout the second half. The big difference is that this time the Heat faltered as Kahea Prem came up empty on a one-and-one at the charity stripe.
Snagging a turnover, Prem traveled to turn the ball over to Hanamaulu as the clock wound down with Ibia running the baseline waiting the buzzer on their 36-34 win.
Earlier, Kaimana Jaquias forced the overtime with a bucket that pulled Hanamaulu into the lead 26-25 with three minutes showing.
The Heat answered as Ashten Agor nailed a bucket for the 27-26 lead.
Ibia nailed a trey for the 30-27 Hanamaulu lead with 30 seconds showing only to have the Heat’s Vinda Carineo, Jr. nail a charity shot, and an Agor shot from the outside deadlocking the contest for the OT.
Jaquias and Ibia combined for 30 of their points, Jaquias finishing with 18 markers and Ibia chalking up 12 with Kahale Fagarang adding four, and Canaan Higa finishing with three in their victory.
Carineo, Agor, and Clifton Callejo led the Heat’s offense with nine, seven, and eight points respectively. Kahea Prem finished with six, and pairs from Neil Nabeshima and Ariel Lahip rounded out the math.
Christina Banach and Kierra Barba combined for 21 of the Westside Hornets’ 27 points in their come from behind 27-20 win over Wailua II in a make up game.
Barba notched six of the Hornets’ third quarter nine points with Banach leading the final frame with four points in their eight point total as the Hornets outgunned Wailua II 17-7 in the second half.
Leina‘ala McCabe chalked up five of Wailua’s 13 points in the first half to take a 13-10 halftime lead.
Banach finished with 11 points and Barba adding 10 points. Breeann Cox-Abuan, Nahoku Rabot, and Charlyn Ortiz each added a pair for the Hornets.
Behind McCabe, Wailua II got three points from Kira Nakamura, and pairs from Lynsi Nakamura Reggie McCabe, Kaira Kupihea, Darlene Jarquio, and Lehua McCabe.
Lorrine Lagoc-Agrade had eight points, Jayme Jacinto finished with seven, and six points each from Sera Pascual and Natalie Mata contributed to their 36-32 win over Wailua II in the second contest.
Leilani Laranio came up with a game-high 13 points to lead Wailua with Hanalei Gomes adding eight, Chanita Makanui chipping in five. Chelsie Villatora added three, and a pair from Gabby Matayoshi closed the books.
In addition to the front runners, Waimea got three points from Sunni Acosta and a pair from Kayla Werner.
