Jacob Genegabus fired off 17 points and Jodd Carter added 15 points for Keaukaha to lead the Big Island team to a 64-36 win over the Kaua‘i Ballers for the title of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association boys 17 and under tournament, Saturday at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Coached by Jay Mandaquit, a former state all-star and current coach at Hilo High School, the visiting Hilo team initially lost to the Kaua‘i Ballers 62-58 on Thursday night, Lance Miyashiro netting a game-high 21 points for the Ballers and Faaaliga Fuiava getting 17 points, including two three-balls, to lead the Keaukaha effort.
Genegabus, who along with Carter was named to the Most Valuable Player All-Tournament team by coaches and KYBA officials, was joined by Kamu Patnaude in scoring 12 points each in the opening-night loss.
Miyashiro got help from Noa Colipano, who ended with 14 points.
Makana Aki added 13 points and Willis Batol, later named to the MVP team for Kaua‘i Ballers, added 10 points in the opening night win.
Carter flew in Friday to join Keaukaha, the effort paying off as Carter notched high-point honors behind two three-balls toward his game-high 14 points, leading the Big Island squad to a 47-26 showing over Hanakila Friday night in Kalaheo.
Brison Nacapuy, who was named to the MVP team for Hanakila, set the pace for Hanakila with six points, followed by Mark Roslin and James Stevens who finished with four points apiece in the effort.
Earlier Friday, Miyashiro took the lead with 13 points and Aki added 11 points to lead Kaua‘i Ballers to a 57-26 edge over Waimea, who got eight points from Bobby Oliver, the Waimea representative to the MVP squad, and six marks from P.J. Oligo.
In the final day of pool play Saturday morning, Aki took the lead with 15 points, followed by Miyashiro adding 11 points in leading the Kaua‘i Ballers to a 55-45 win over Hanakila, Nacapuy ending with a game-high 19 points and Matthew Cummings adding 10 points in the effort.
The Kaua‘i Ballers’ win advanced the team coached by Willy Aki to the finals, facing Keaukaha, a 55-12 winner over Waimea, for the second time in the tournament.
But Miyashiro, leading the Kaua‘i Ballers since Thursday, became a victim of the physical play in the title game and was sent to the showers after drawing double technical fouls in the opening quarter.
Genegabus and Carter took advantage of the situation, piling up 17 and 15 points, respectively, in the 64-36 win, earning tournament trophy for the second year in a row.
Noa Colipano set the pace for the Kaua‘i Ballers with 10 points.
Nacapuy set the pace for Hanakila with a game-high 23 points in its 55-26 win over Waimea for the tournament’s third place, Koa Baclayon adding 12 points in the win.
Duke Yadao, leading Waimea with five points in its 55-12 effort against Keaukaha, continued to fuel the Waimea squad with six points in the third-place game.
Kori Sellers and Oliver, a 3-point contributor against Keaukaha, each pocketed five points.
