LIHUE — Coach Clarence Sales was drained — physically, and emotionally — Sunday afternoon at the Kauai High School gym as the dust started to settle on four days of Kauai Hoops Classic basketball games contested at three different sites around the island.
Besides administering the tournament’s numerous games and coordinating travel logistics from off-island teams, Coach Clarence was at the helm of the Kauai Lynx 12th grade girls division in the title match against the Kauai Ballers with Coach William Aki.
Amalya Sales set the pace for the Lynx, firing off a pair of three-balls and dropped a bucket to lead the girls, many of whom are familiar to Kauai Interscholastic Federation fans, to an 18-9 halftime lead in the physically tough contest where the Lynx were sent to the foul line 11 times.
But the Ballers were not ready to roll over and reversed the tables in the second half, forcing the Lynx into a defense that saw the Ballers go to the line 12 times in regulation, and four times in overtime.
Lilya Cummings dropped a charity pair in the second overtime, a sudden death affair, and Hina Grance capitalized on the resulting throw-in for a quick pair that swayed the trophy to the Ballers’ bench, 36-32.
“What a great way to end the tournament,” Coach Clarence said. “We had a good game to start play, Thursday, and this great game to close.”
Bailey Perreira netted her only pair in the game in the first OT for the Lynx go-ahead, 32-20 with 1:20 showing in the three-minute period. But the Ballers answered with 15 ticks showing on the clock when Hailey Overmyer forced the second OT after netting a rebound off a pair of charity shots.
That second OT saw the Lynx come up empty and the Ballers claiming the trophy off Cummings’ charity pair and the Grance bucket.
Amalya topped the Lynx effort with 11 points, including three from outside the three-point arc, Marissa Layosa added a balanced six points, and Cezar fifnished at five marks.
Cummings topped the Ballers’ win with 13 points, 11 coming in the second half comeback, and Grance ended with eight points, including two treys in regulation and the icing bucket. Casem finished with five points, and Overmyer’s OT bucket, her only score, helped fuel the victory.
During the 12th grade boys division title game, the Honolulu Lions’ Jake Holtz finished with 14 points and Jydon Hall added 11 points as the Lions came back from a six-point deficit at the break to take a 54-44 win over the Hoop Dreams coached by Randy Apele.
Kiai Apele, leading the Hoop Dreams to its 21-15 lead over the Lions at the break, topped the effort with 13 points, including three treys. Kaupena Yasso finished with 10 marks, and Jerek Prudencio added nine points.
Results of the 7th grade boys, girls, 9th grade boys, and girls division play were not available at press time.
