KALAHEO — Girls from the West stayed in control to close the county Parks and Recreation Winter Basketball League 13 and Under Girls’ season, Monday night. Despite a short outage where players had to wait for the lights to come
KALAHEO — Girls from the West stayed in control to close the county Parks and Recreation Winter Basketball League 13 and Under Girls’ season, Monday night.
Despite a short outage where players had to wait for the lights to come back on, Kaulupono got 11 points from Melia Okura to stay ahead of the Kamikaze, 28-16 in the opener.
Marissa Martinez was held to a dozen points as the tenacious Westside Girls Basketball held off Team Lihu‘e, 25-16 in the nightcap.
Both games were rescheduled from earlier in the season when rains forced postponement at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, and the sound of thunder was ominous as visiting girls from the Kaiser High School softball team poked their heads in the door for a glimpse of the action.
“Melia is going to enjoy this game because she’s playing against two of her cousins,” said the low post’s mother. “Kalia Shimabukuro and Macy Tamura are her cousins so she’s looking forward to the match.”
Okura anchored the paint for Kaulupono, grabbing rebounds and putting away second efforts to lead the blueshirts coached by Bobby Kamakele.
Schae-Marie Tavita added five points and Lauren Lagoc lent four points to the win.
Shimabukuro was wide open in the final 11 ticks of the opening period to put the Kamikaze on the board after taking a good cross-court pass. She continued to lead the Kamikaze, finishing with 10 points on a strong assertive showing in traffic. Hinarava Tafiti tapped in four points and Tamura added a pair in addition to her major role of moving the ball.
Alyssa Miyamoto sparked the Westside Girls Basketball match, bulling through a physical Team Lihu‘e defense and finishing with six points. Brandee Burton added five points and Alyssa Pigao finished with four points in the physical slugfest.
Martinez topped the Team Lihu‘e showing with a dozen points, followed by Malyssa Manera adding four points.
The boys 13 and Under league continues with four games on Saturday and a trio of games Monday before the county opens its 11-team 11 and Under program with three games next Thursday at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
