LIHU‘E — The visiting Ali‘i and Honolulu Sharks remained unbeaten as pool play wrapped up, Saturday at the Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic.
Following three days of pool play, the Ali‘i Basketball and Honolulu Sharks are both 3-0, leading their respective brackets.
“These are two tough teams,” said Clarence Sales, coach of Team Central and tournament coordinator. “Most of the kids in Ali‘i are at Kamehameha Schools’ intermediate program except for one who goes to Moanalua. The Honolulu Sharks are all Punahou players and they have an eighth grader who is 6’5”. When he comes in the gym, people are amazed that he’s only in the eighth grade.”
Ali‘i Basketball played a doubleheader, Saturday, opening with a 56-32 win over the Aiea Blazers and following that with a 62-29 win over Papalina.
Noa Kinimaka figured strong for Ali‘i in all of its wins, leading the pack with 11 points in Ali‘i’s 51-34 showing over Hanakila, Friday, and then adding another 11 points in its win over Aiea. In the Papalina matchup, Kinimaka finished second in scoring with 12 points, following team leader Jayden Matsumoto, who posted 17 points.
Joshua Burnett had the same position for the Honolulu Sharks, who also posted doubleheader wins, Saturday. Burnett was second in scoring in the Sharks’ 50-31 win over Up Country Kings with 14 points, just one shy of leader Eliet Donley.
In the Sharks’ 41-31 showing over Scorpions Basketball, Burnett led the team with 16 points along with Dayson Watanabe, who also chalked up 16 points.
During the Friday night 45-33 win over Team Central, Burnett paced the team with 17 points.
The Kaua‘i teams all suffered losses Friday after opening with two wins, Thursday. Papalina finished pool play with three losses, dropping to Hanakila 36-22, then to Ali‘i.
On Friday, Papalina dropped to the Aiea Blazers, 40-29, Tystin Gummerus and Vaughn Thompson leading that effort with six points apiece. Guard Peterson Lahip led Papalina against Hanakila and Ali‘i with eight and nine points, respectively.
“The Kaua‘i teams had it rough, Friday,” Sales said. “But this is the kind of play they need to realize the next level.”
Hanakila and Team Central finished pool play Saturday with 2-1 records in their respective brackets. Hanakila opens play at 11 a.m. Sunday against the Honolulu Sharks. Team Central opens against Ali‘i Basketball starting at 10 a.m.
Both the Sharks and Ali‘i Basketball are undefeated and victories against the Kaua‘i teams will send both to the championship game, which tips off at 3 p.m.
The vanquished from these two games tip off for third place starting at 1 p.m.
The Aiea Blazers and Up Country Kings are 1-2 in their brackets while Papalina and Scorpions Basketball are 0-3.
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