KALAHEO — With just two weeks remaining in the county’s 13 and Under boys basketball, Saturday’s three games promises one of the season’s more exciting series at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center.
Ho‘ouila, taking a 49-31 win over Westside Monday night, will open the day against Hanakila, a – against Lihu‘e, starting at 9 a.m.
The two teams met in the season opening game where Hanakila rolled over the Hanama‘ulu goldshirts.
But a lot of games have taken place since then and Ho‘ouila has been toughening up with each outing.
“They play street ball,” said Steven Matsumoto of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association who has been helping with scorekeeping chores in the league. “Even their smallest players have quick hands.”
In Monday night’s outing against Westside, Kerwin Morano, Ho‘ouila’s leading scorer with 13 points, came up with two clean steals from Westside’s Chavis Garma and Peterson Lahip.
“That’s pretty hard to do since the Garma boy is pretty quick on the floor,” Matsumoto said.
The Westside got 10 points from Vhincel Bolleser and eight from A.J. Martinez who held his own against the defensive posting of Ho‘ouila’s Angelo Ramento, Morean Clement and Paulwin Tommy.
Following Morano, Ho‘ouila got eight points from John Paul Laganina and six from Benzon Dante.
Papalina had the night off, but that didn’t stop its boys from checking out the action as Sean Andrade watched the Team Central-G Unit matchup from the stands.
“We play the G Unit one more time in the season so it doesn’t hurt to doublecheck the stats and see what they’re doing on the floor,” Andrade said.
Papalina will meet the G Unit, a 37-19 winner over Central, in the second game, Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
Makana Aki paced the G Unit win over Team Central with eight points, including a third period trey. Fresno Masaniai added six and Shane Deponte, playing center and outside post, finished with five points .
Kanalu Simao was nine-for-15 on the free throw line to lead Team Central with 13 points followed by Kaimana Cummings adding six points, including five-for-six shooting from the charity stripe.
Colby Baliaris netted 14 points with Koa Baclayon and Marlon Cudiamat each tucked away 10 points to lead Hanakila to a 59-18 showing over Lihu‘e in the final contest, Monday night.
Chanse Ramirez had 9 points for Lihu‘e that will take on Team Central in Saturday’s third game starting at 11 a.m.
The undefeated Kamikaze-White will tip off against the Z Girlz in a single girls match starting at noon.
