KILAUEA — There were only six of them, dressed in smart black with orange piping. That left a bench of one as they strode onto the court to face the Lihu’e Comets, all nine of them, to tip off the
KILAUEA — There were only six of them, dressed in smart black with orange piping.
That left a bench of one as they strode onto the court to face the Lihu’e Comets, all nine of them, to tip off the county’s 12 Under Girls contest at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center Thursday night.
“Defense! Get your hands up!” a voice boomed from across the way.
“Shoot! That’s the way,” the shot came up empty as the Comets controlled the ball, and the scoreboard to a 4-0 opening frame.
“Way to go, Kapa’a!” You would’ve thought it was the girls in black controlling the lead as the buzzer sounded.
And, when the first bucket dropped for Kapa’a, the fan erupted off his seat, hands clapping, voice whooping in cheer – “That’s the way, Kapa’a!”
Not at any time did the fan utter a discouraging word as the Comets overpowered the smaller Kapa’a squad, 32-10 behind a 12-point fifth frame, Sanoe Keliinoi dropping six of the squad’s dozen markers.
Ash-Lyn Lee, the leading scorer for Kapa’a, mitered her shots, inching against the Comet defense small step, by small step, firing only when the window was open, all the while accompanied by the banter from the stands.
Lee finished the night with eight points , Brandi Silva rounding out the Kapa’a score with a pair, but embelished by the praise bestowed from the fans led by one Brian Barretto.
Keliinoi topped the Comets’ offense with 10 points with Brandi Gomes and Ma’lika Napoleon adding four points apiece. Ashlyn Ubongen, Dolly Cubangbang, Naomi Taylon, and Kathleen Cadiente each added a pair in the win.
Tanisha Defabian finished with six points to lead the Westside Hornets to a 23-8 showing in the first game of the night, Brandi Briones and Danielle Taylor each adding four points to the win.
Kimberly Evans wowed the crowd with a trey and a charity pair for five points to lead Kilauea.
