KALAHEO — Kiaura Ortiz-Rita peeled off 16 points and Shylah Bagaoisan-Rita added eight marks to lead the Kaulupono girls, seventh grade division, to a 28-22 edge over the Kauai Ballers Thursday night during the latest round of youth basketball, summer league games at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Tristee Souza and Jada Nakamura led the Ballers’ effort with 10 and nine points, respectively during one of three games contested at Kalaheo.
Kaye Serapio and Kierstin Gummerus were double-digit scorers in the evening’s nail-biter where the Kaulupono eighth grade division girls were a 38-37 better than the Kauai Lynx who got an evening-high 16 points from Jessica Sales.
Zoe Santa Maria and Bailey Perreira added nine and eight points, respectively to the Kauai Lynx effort.
Kaye Serapio topped the Kaulupono win on 14 points followed by Gummerus dumping 10 points. Hazel Serapio and Layla Tapucol each poured in six points.
Another Gummerus, Alyssa, fired up the Kaulupono fifth grade division girls with 12 points to open the night on a 48-4 win over the Ballers who got all four of its marks from Tiare Nunas.
Alyssa Gummerus finished the night with a dozen marks followed by Wailana Christian and Taira Samiano each netting 10 points.
These were the only matches contested for this week because of unsafe floor conditions from Tuesday night rains forced league officials to call the games at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
During Saturday’s matches at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, Kaulupono seventh grade girls dropped 13-17 to the Raiders who got six points from Annie Nizo and five marks from Jaley Medeiros.
Ortiz-Rita and Bagaoisan-Rita topped the Kaulupono effort with five points apiece.
During the second match, Saturday, the Westside Blue, fifth grade division girls picked up a 23-18 win over the Kauai Lynx behind seven points from Hailey Mata and six points apiece from Stephanie Companero and Katelyn Constantino.
Kate Lynn Colipano led the Lynx’s effort on nine points.
During the Saturday finale,Kaulupono fifth grade girls Cyani Bagaoisan-Rita and Ari Acosta each netted three points to come up a point short, 11-12 against the Westside White girls who got four points each from Lilly Kaohelaulii and Xyrah Kua.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.