KALAHEO — Hanakila’s Lawrence Abela had the biggest shot of the night, Monday, pulling the North Shore team to within a point of Papalina as the clock wound down.
With less than a minute in the game, Abela launched a three-ball from the wing that sparked a comeback and ignited the audience.
Hanakila had two more opportunities to take the lead as it fought the clock, but Keali‘i Colipano’s drive through heavy traffic up the middle came up empty, and despite capitalizing on a Papalina turnover, Hanakila had to settle for a 43-42 loss at the hands of the Papalina whiteshirts in the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association/County of Kaua‘i Boys 12 and Under summer league at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Abela finished the night with four points, his only other score coming on a one-for-two showing at the foul line in the opening frame, one in which Papalina surged to a 15-8 showing behind 11 points from tall man Kamea Palama-Alquiza.
Palama-Alquiza was one of three tall low posts for Papalina, joining Daniel Fee and all-around player Curren Dillberg in anchoring the inside game.
Palama-Alquiza finished with 19 points in the Papalina win, 17 coming in the first half. Dillberg’s most productive frame came in the third quarter when he netted a trey en route to his game-total 11 points. Guard Noah Sasil and Joseph Cumlat ended with four points apiece, Fee added three and a pair from Taylon Yadao rounded out the win.
Dante Dikeman topped the Hanakila effort with 13 points, followed by Colipano ending the night on 10 points. Abela, Kai Maroney, and Triston Inanod each contributed four points, Sabre Fairbanks added three and pairs from Lexton Camat and Jacob Dykehouse rounded out the North Shore effort.
Earlier, in the first of three games, Jamin Fernandez was tapped to handle the ball by coach Dino Pabre of Westside Basketball, the versatile strong guard moving in for shots as well as playing defense against Team Central.
Fernandez finished the night with 10 points, just three shy of Briggs Agu, another powerful guard, who topped the scoring at 13 points. Bobby Oliver, the low post and a spectator favorite, netted four points and a pair from Joel Soriano rounded out the 29-18 showing over Team Central.
James Mostoles took the brunt of the Westside hammering, ending the night with 10 points to lead the Central effort. Kaimi Texeira added four and pairs from Kaone Miguel and Lester Acojido rounded out the effort.
Reymund Mendoza was what one spectator described as a one-man show for the West Kaua‘i Hornets in its 38-33 loss to the Kaua‘i Ballers in the nightcap that went to the wire.
Mendoza bucketed a goal in the last five minutes to pull the Hornets to within a pair after overcoming a 21-15 halftime deficit.
But the Kaua‘i Ballers answered on strong drives to widen the margin, and despite a three-ball from Bernny Ned in the final nine seconds, the Hornets settled on the 38-33 final.
Mendoza topped the Hornets’ scoring with 20 points, being outdone by the Kaua‘i Ballers’ Jonah Howard who finished with a game-high 21 points.
But free throws literally sank the Hornets, who finished 4 for 25 at the charity stripe, Mendoza getting 3 for 10 in the first half and 0 for 7 in the second half. The Kaua‘i Ballers finished 6 for 14 at the free throw line, Howard going a perfect 5 for 5.
Following Howard, the Kaua‘i Ballers got four points each from Willo Batol and Thomas Yam, five points from Brooks Bethel, and pairs from Llewellyn Woodward and Michael Booth.
Following Mendoza, Ned added 11 points, and a pair from Seaton Farias rounded out the Hornets’ effort.
The boys next take the floor on Tuesday when a single Boys Under 12 game is part of three games scheduled for the Kapa‘a High School gym.
