KALAHEO — A charity pair with 6.3 seconds by Kiarra Palacio sealed a 19-18 Kaulupono win over the Kamikaze, Wednesday, in the first of three Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association games. Calculated play on both sides of the ball and a
KALAHEO — A charity pair with 6.3 seconds by Kiarra Palacio sealed a 19-18 Kaulupono win over the Kamikaze, Wednesday, in the first of three Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association games.
Calculated play on both sides of the ball and a barrage of three-balls in the opening frame pulled Hanakila A to a 40-23 win over Westside Basketball in the second matchup, a Boys 14 and Under game.
Fresh legs was the key to a second-half surge by Kalaheo in its 47-28 win over the KHS Alumni in the nightcap, a Women’s 18 and Over game.
“We lost, again,” said Kaelee Esposo of the Kamikaze, who finished the night with a pair along with Sandrea Chung and Sierra Fernandez.
The Kamikaze, after staying close 6-6 in the opening frame, came back from an 11-6 halftime deficit to pull to within a digit 13-12 at the end of three quarters.
Chung’s putback of a Kalia Shimabukuro three-ball attempt in the final 11 seconds of play kept the Kamikaze in the game, 17-16.
On the inbound, Kaulupono muffed the play giving the Kamikaze another opportunity with 10.5 seconds showing only to have an inadvertent foul send Palacio to the line for the closer.
Monday, the Kamikaze came close, dropping a one-point heartbreaker on missed free throws.
Melia Okura, tough on the inside, topped the Kaulupono scoring with eight points, while Palacio and Jasmine Santella finished with four points each. A pair from Kaena Kaohelaulii and a digit from Schae-Marie Tavita figured in the win.
Ashley Lucas, who along with Shimabukuro and Macy Tamura anchored the Kaimkaze offense, finished with eight points to lead the Kamikaze effort. Shimabukuro ended with four points.
Tryston Dela Cruz launched a pair of treys and Dave Aguinaldo added another as Hanakila A pulled out to a 16-4 opening frame en route to its win over Westside Basketball.
The calculated Hanakila defense held Westside to buckets from Jamin Fernandez, his only score of the match, and Koa Lagapa .
“This is the best the boys have played all season,” said Mike Stevens, the Hanakila coach. “We always knew they had the ability, and tonight, they surprised everyone. They played really well, not throwing away the ball and just being on top of the play.”
Dela Cruz topped the Hanakila scoring with 11 points, including a trio of treys, followed by Angelito Roslin adding nine points. Rashaan Kuhaulua and Aguinaldo each chipped in seven points and Jed Ragudo added six points.
Briggs Agu and Lagapa topped the Westside effort with seven points each, followed by Christian Acob getting five final-period points. Pairs from Fernandez and Bobby Oliver rounded out the effort.
Mollie Connelly headed up a trio of height to finish with 10 points to lead Kalaheo in its Women 18 and Over win. Erin Connelly and Aiko Grande, the other two rebounding keys for Kalaheo, added five and four points, respectively. Sera Pascual also finished with five points and guard Cheyanne Duarte ended with four points, amusing the spectators with her gonzo charges through traffic.
Leilani Laranio and Kelsey Cadiente, key guards to the Kalaheo speed, each netted six points along with Chelsie Villatora. Kori Sakamoto, the field general from the bench, added a first-half digit.
Belinda Butac and Cliflynn Bukoski topped the KHS Alumni scoring with eight and seven points, Butac being the victim of multiple-player defense from Kalaheo. Cissy Dennis added six points, Marycel Garcia ended with three points and a pair from Kira Taylan rounded out the effort.
“Some of the girls playing for Kalaheo are the first generation of Kaulupono,” said Pedro Saligumba, the Kaulupono coach who stayed to watch the nightcap. “These were some of the girls we took to Las Vegas to play.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
