KALAHEO — Ariel Cummings had the biggest pair of treys in the league, Monday night. Shai Anne Abigania, voted the Most Valuable Player for the Girls 14 and Under summer league, came up with four critical second-half points to lead
KALAHEO — Ariel Cummings had the biggest pair of treys in the league, Monday night.
Shai Anne Abigania, voted the Most Valuable Player for the Girls 14 and Under summer league, came up with four critical second-half points to lead the Kaua‘i Ballers to a 21-10 edge over Westside Basketball.
The win gave the title to the Kaua‘i Ballers in the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association summer league, Westside Basketball, led by four points apiece from Tiana Apilado and Brandee Burton, getting second place.
Kaulupono guard Kiarra Palacio came up with four of her game-total six points in the second half to lead the team to a 19-13 edge over the Kamikaze to lock up third place.
Cummings launched her first three-ball in the opening stanza to pull the Kaua‘i Ballers back into the fray. A second bomb from outside the three-point arc at the buzzer pushed the Ballers to an 8-3 lead.
The Westside Basketball team could never overcome that deficit despite a concerted effort from both squads, the Ballers staying just ahead of the comeback effort.
Cummings dropped out of the action midway through the fourth period with a game-high eight points. Violet Martin, a strong guard for the Ballers, followed with six points and Abigania added four marks.
Kunani Tuttle, strong in the paint for Baller boards, added three points, a pair coming in the first period.
Following Burton and Apilado, Alyssa Pigao and Clarrisa Yadao each added a digit in the Westside effort.
Earlier in the night, the Kamikaze were victimized by the strong defensive press put on by Kaulupono, who left to participate in the NJB tournament on O‘ahu, Tuesday.
The Kaulupono defense kept the Kamikaze out of scoring range for most of the game, but turnovers on both sides saw the Kamikaze stay close.
Palacio topped the scoring with six points, followed by Lauren Lagoc adding four. Melia Okura and Kaena Kaohelauli‘i each finished with three points and a digit from Schae-Marie Tavita rounded out the win.
Kalia Shimabukuro, one of the go-to pillars for Kamikaze, and Kaelee Esposo, coming on strong in the second half, each netted four points for the Kamikaze. Sandrea Chung, attracting the ball in the second half, netted three third-quarter marks, followed by Ashley Lucas, the other go-to player on the inside, netting a pair, belying her value of moving the ball with Macy Tamura.
The Kamikaze coach had time to change his jersey, exchanging the red Kamikaze for the SupaStars in the Men 18 and Over game where the SupaStars marked another win, 74-70 over Tropang-L.
Ian Khan, who has some 40-point outings in the SupaStar showings, was limited to 28 points while Hanano ended the night with 13 points.
Free throws proved to be the margin of victory as the normally hot-shooting SupaStars were outgunned by Tropang-L.
But even in that arena, the SupaStars knocked down 27 of 43 attempts while Tropang-L netted eight of 13 attempts.
In the other areas, Tropang-L outscored the SupaStars, getting 22 buckets to 18 from the SupaStars.
Tropang-L also netted six from outside the three-point arc to the SupaStars’ three.
With the completion of the Under 12 and Under 14 leagues, KYBA hosts four Men 18 and Over games, Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, starting at 5 p.m.
