KALAHEO — The Kaua‘i Ballers remain the only undefeated team in the Boys 12 and Under division of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association summer league.
The win came following a 30-23 defensive slugfest against Papalina in one of three games played Wednesday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Lanakila Wilson of Lihu‘e posted a game-high 31 points in its 47-41 loss at the hands of the West Kaua‘i Hornets, and in an earlier matchup, Hanakila 12s, rebounding from a trouncing at the hands of its older Hanakila 14s Tuesday night, posted a 43-26 win over Team Central.
Strong guard Keali‘i Colipano put up 19 points to lead Hanakila with Triston Inanod adding nine points.
Team Central got 10 points from guard Kaone Miguel and low post James Mostoles added five points.
Michael Booth and Willo Batol each finished with 10 points to lead the Kaua‘i Ballers to its undefeated status in a game that can be seen on a delayed basis on Hawai‘i Stream Media.
“It’s going to be between Booth and Batol,” said Tab Matsumoto, one of the game officials prior to the tipoff.
But Papalina had its cache of weapons, relying on guard Noah Sasil, Curren Dillberg and tall man Kamea Palama-Alquiza to counter.
“Their heads were down,” Matsumoto said after the game. “When Kamea fouled out, Curren tried to do everything, but that didn’t work.”
Kaua‘i Ballers relied on their defense and quick passes to build a 6-0 lead early in the game, Papalina not being able to get on the books for four minutes.
With less than two minutes in the quarter, Dillberg launched back-to-back treys and a bucket to pull to a 10-8 deficit.
Palama-Alquiza took the spotlight in the second period, Papalina outscoring the Ballers, 6-2, the Papalina center netting all of the whiteshirt marks, and its defense holding the Ballers to just a charity pair from Booth to give Papalina a 14-12 halftime edge.
The seesaw tetered the other way in the third quarter when the Ballers capitalized on their passing game to outgun Papalina 13-3, the turning point in the game coming when Papalina was allowed just one field goal by Daniel Fee, a wobbly putback that rolled right.
Batol, tying the match at 17-17 on a breakaway, was the recipient of passes from everywhere, netting eight of his game-total 10 points in the period and authoring several passes of his own, one going to Thomas Yam for the 21-17 Ballers’ bulge and another going to Brooks Bethel with nine seconds showing for the 25-17 lead.
The Ballers’ defense held firm, keeping Papalina to just free throws in the 6-5 Papalina final quarter.
Palama-Alquiza topped the Papalina scoring with 10 points before fouling out in the final period, followed by Dillberg adding nine points, eight coming in the first frame. Fee ended with three points and a digit from Joseph Cumlat rounded out the effort.
Booth put up half of his game-total 10 points in the final quarter, accounting for all of the Ballers’ final-period marks. Thomas Yam and Jonah Howard added four points each and a pair from Brooks Bethel figured in the win.
Wilson was everywhere for Lihu‘e in the nightcap, scoring his 31 points over a 24-minute game format. He had an opportunity to score more points as he finished 50 percent at the free throw line, going 6 for 12.
Jhay Karl Dante, Daniel Tutop, Brennan Suniga, Michael Dasalla and Brandon Remigio each added pairs for the Lihu‘e effort.
Reymund Mendoza and Ned Bernny topped the West Kaua‘i Hornets’ win with 14 points each.
Keoni Gaoiran added eight points, Kingangelo Blanes finished with seven points and a pair from Ardino Ned rounded out the win.
Karen Matsumoto of the KYBA said following the results of Wednesday’s matches, Kaua‘i Ballers are at 5-0 for the lead of the Boys 12 and Under. Papalina follows at 4-1 with three more games scheduled before the end of the season. Hanakila and Westside Basketball are tied for third at 3-2 records.
