KALAHEO – Va’afuti Tavana fired a free shot at the buzzer, Friday night to push the Kaua’i Basketball (Kalaheo) team into the championship circle. The Tavana free throw gave the Kaua’i Basketball team a 39-38 win over the visiting Puuloa
KALAHEO – Va’afuti Tavana fired a free shot at the buzzer, Friday night to push the Kaua’i Basketball (Kalaheo) team into the championship circle.
The Tavana free throw gave the Kaua’i Basketball team a 39-38 win over the visiting Puuloa Bandits who ended up fighting Ikaika Basketball, another visiting team, for third place, Saturday afternoon at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Waimea, the other combatant for the championship of the 8th Annual KYBA Kaua’i Invitational, reached its pinnacle by downing Ikaika Basketball, 56-37 on Friday night behind 16 points notched by Brendan McDaniels.
Josh Bradbury topped the Kaua’i Basketball scoring with 15 points in the Friday night win with Kahua Hollinger leading the Bandits with 14 points.
In the title finale, Waimea and Kaua’i Basketball exchanged point for point in a hard-fought contest, Kyle Pigao anchoring the paint for Waimea while Tavana alternated between the inside and outside game.
Waimea finished the first quarter with a digit lead, 12-11, only to have Tavana lead a 17-4 second quarter run, Tavana notching four with Tyrus Ceria-Lux fueling the drive with a trey for the 28-16 halftime lead.
With both squads again matching points in the second half, Kaua’i Basketball emerged victorious by going to their bench.
Tavana led the Kaua’i Basketball championship run with 13 points followed by Irah Nishi chipping in 11 points, and Bradbury contributing eight points. Ceria-Lux finished with seven.
Waimea’s hot hand came from Chris Newcomb who finished with 12 points followed by Brendan McDaniels adding 10 points, and guard Aaron Hesapene being held to just five points.
Bradley Frasco and Calsen Agrade each finished with six points for Waimea, both players being utilized for the inside run in the No. 3 slots.
Hollinger continued his high point run in the third place game as he finished with 21 points to lead the Puuloa Bandits to a 49-24 win over Ikaika Basketball.
Matt Gochenouer led Ikaika with nine points with Neal Okuma adding eight in the effort.
In other Saturday games, Greg Ragsac finished with a dozen points to lead Kapa’a to a 39-31 win over ZZ who got nine points from John Penn in the effort.
Toris Knight led the Gametime Kings to a 59-37 win over the Lihu’e Breakaway who were led by Johnathan Gebauer who tallied seven points in the effort.
The boys resume their regular KYBA season play Tuesday night when ZZ takes the floor at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa’a against Kilauea.
On Wednesday, June 15, Lihu’e On Fire will tangle with Kapa’a “A” at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center while Kalaheo takes on Kapa’a “B” at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
