KALAHEO — “This is the second time,” coach Daniel Simao told one of the spectators as he watched his C-Town boys warm up for the championship game, Thursday night in Kalaheo.
“The first time was for the 12 and Under, and maybe tonight it will be different,” Simao said.
But, despite a strong concerted effort by the boys in black, Lihu‘e On Fire under coach Billy Ramos denied the C-Towners, 53-42.
Guard Justin Ramos, who was awarded the KYBA MVP award following the game, was at the peak of his performance with a game-high 15 points and numerous feeds and assists as he did throughout the season.
Utilizing a full court press early on, Lihu‘e On Fire quickly established an 18-7 first quarter lead only to have C-Town roar back in the second quarter, 18-12 behind a trey from Kekoa Prem, and two buckets from Kekoa Colipano, the scoreboard resting on a 30-25 lead after C-Town trimmed the 11-point opening quarter margin down to just five points.
Buckets from Teila Huni, Chad Koga, and Prem pulled C-Town up 7-5 in the third frame where Ramos accounted for the entire On Fire math with a trey and a field goal.
With over five minutes remaining in the contests, the heavy defensive showing began taking its toll as Ramos fouled out, leaving the final minutes to the other On Fire guard Clareson Torres who matched up with Kaleo Cummings to lead their 18-10 final quarter charge with six points apiece.
Prem topped the C-Town scoring with 11 points before an overflow crowd that coach Paul Barba said, “You can’t leave your seat because it’s not going to be here when you come back.”
The supportive crowd lined the walls of the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center and overflowed out the door as both Lihu‘e squads went head-to-head before the smoke settled with On Fire clinching the title despite losing three of their five starters to fouls.
Following Prem, C-Town got five points from Kyson Curammeng and Silas Tacsiat with Teila Huni, the sole foul victim for C-Town, and Colipano each chipping in four points.
With Ramos leading On Fire with a game-high 15 points, Torres finished with 13 points, Matthew Koyama, the No. 3 player, adding eight points, and Kainoa Bryan and Cummings each finishing with six points to round out the On Fire leaders.
Samuel Randolph notched a game-high 16 points, including a six-point final quarter showing, to lead the Hanama‘ulu Boys to a 44-32 third place slot over a strong Wailua squad earlier in the evening to set the stage for the On Fire/C-Town showdown.
Cameron Largusa added 10 points for Hanama‘ulu with Paleku Yasay contributing six points. Jordan Garcia and Preston Ikehara-Yasay each added four points for the win.
Davin Chong bulled through the Hanama‘ulu defense to finish with a dozen points to lead Wailua, Tyler Cram adding eight points along with a strong in-the-paint showing, and Cody Abigania contributing seven points.
Jordan Nuivo may have drawn first blood for the Gee’s Angels in the finale, but balanced scoring by Kori Sakamoto, Sera Pascual, and Chaelyn Briones saw the Angels succumb, 31-12 in the finale, a girls 16 and Under event.
Aiko Grande topped the Waimea performance in her low post position with 10 points with Sakamoto finishing with seven points, Pascual and Briones each notching six points in the win.
A pair by Joanna Andres rounded out the victory.
Nuivo finished with seven points for the Angels followed by Justine Holt adding three, and a pair by Sonya Tupou closing the books.
