KAPAA — The Green-and-White basketball game was far more than a fundraiser for the Kapa‘a basketball program. This year, the event expanded on all fronts, and served as a launchpad for the Kapa‘a High School pre-season boys basketball tournament that
KAPAA — The Green-and-White basketball game was far more than a fundraiser for the Kapa‘a basketball program.
This year, the event expanded on all fronts, and served as a launchpad for the Kapa‘a High School pre-season boys basketball tournament that starts on Thanksgiving Day afternoon.
The day started with two featured games highlighting the county’s community basketball program when players from the Kaua‘i Ballers and Hanakila Basketball were offered the gym for two afternoon games followed by the Kapa‘a junior varsity, the girls, and the varsity programs.
Teams from Maryknoll and Nanakuli will be at the Bernice Hundley Gym on the Kapa‘a High School campus starting on Thanksgiving Day for three days of action against all four of the Garden Island’s varsity squads.
Thursday action starts at 5 p.m. when the Kapa‘a White JV opens against the Waimea JV followed by the Kapa‘a Green JV tipping off against the Kaua‘i JV starting at 6:30 p.m.
The Thanksgiving highlight game will feature Nanakuli going up against Kapa‘a starting at 8 p.m.
Friday’s action starts at 3:30 p.m. when the Kapa‘a Green JV takes on the Menehune JV followed by the Kapa‘a White JV going up against the Kaua‘i JV at 5 p.m.
Varsity action starts at 6:30 p.m. when Maryknoll takes on Kaua‘i followed by Waimea tipping off against Nanakuli starting at 8 p.m.
Saturday’s action starts at 3:30 p.m. when the Kapa‘a White and Green JV squads battle followed by the Waimea JV taking on the Kaua‘i JV at 5 p.m.
Nanakuli will take on Island School starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by Kapa‘a hosting Maryknoll starting at 8 p.m.
“We had a good turnout this year,” said John Kaneholani, a coach. “There were more than 30 girls coming out for the girls program, and the boys had a good number coming out, too.”
Kaneholani said the Green-and-White serves as an opportunity to see what the players can do before a crowd.
“We’ve got a good crowd here, tonight,” Kaneholani said. “But it takes a lot of people to get this thing off the ground.”
Basketball fans had an opportunity to help the Warriors’ fundraising through the food booth, special Thanksgiving centerpieces, and Moloka‘i Sweet Bread which helped the girls program offset expenses for a pre-season tournament on Maui.
Reggie McCabe, who has two daughters playing for the Kapa‘a girls program, said the team will be on Maui for the Seabury tournament from Dec. 2-5.
William Aki is the coach for the Kapa‘a varsity girls basketball team while Chuck Hanie is at the reins of the girls junior varsity program.
Philip Baclayon, Kaneholani, and Lew Lindsey are at the helm of the Warriors’ boys program.
