The slot machines weren’t the only hot tickets in Las Vegas last weekend, as Kaua‘i’s Futi Tavana and Josh Bradbury, along with a contingent of O‘ahu roundballers, mainly from I‘olani came away with the experience of a lifetime at the
The slot machines weren’t the only hot tickets in Las Vegas last weekend, as Kaua‘i’s Futi Tavana and Josh Bradbury, along with a contingent of O‘ahu roundballers, mainly from I‘olani came away with the experience of a lifetime at the Reebok Big Time Basketball Tournament.
Through the four games, for the Hawai‘i Raiders, Tavana averaged 16 points, six boards, and two blocks per game. Bradbury got to see crucial minutes as the sixth-man of the Hawai‘i team.
Playing in the B division, the Hawai‘i Raiders went 2-1 and were the first Hawai‘i team to ever place first in pool play.
In their first playoff game, the Raiders, coached by I‘olani j.v. girls basketball coach Conrad Shidaki, fell to I Can All-Stars out of California, 82-65. The Raiders were eliminated from the single-loss playoffs in the open division.
Hawai‘i led throughout the entire game, until the five-minute mark, when Tavana fouled out and the bottom fell out for the Raiders.
“We just ran out of gas,” Tavana said.
Tavana and Bradbury were able to gain some valuable experience by playing with some of the best basketball players in the country.
“The game up in the mainland is a lot faster and quicker, everyone can jump, run, and shoot,” Bradbury said.
Kaua‘i High School assistant boys basketball coach Kevin Medeiros, who paved the way for the Kaua‘i boys to attend the tournament has high praise for both individuals.
“With Futi and Josh, the sky’s the limit and this opens the door for all of the basketball players on Kaua‘i, who need experience and exposure,” Medeiros said.
The former I‘olani basketball standout says that only time will tell if the “big time” experience will help, but it definitely makes a difference.
