KALAHEO — The Hotshots hammered the hoops in the final five minutes of play to cap a 26-16 win over the Isle Hoops boys Tuesday night in the fifth grade division youth basketball summer league games at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
The Hotshots, coached by Elton Montemayor, pushed off early to gain a lead over Isle Hoops coached by Greg Myers. But with 7:23 showing in the first half, Lucas Summerhayes found the three-ball that pulled Isle Hoops ahead, 13-11, a reading that stood until the break following defensive skirmishes and exchanges by both teams.
Defense prevailed through most of the second half until the Hotshots pressed the offensive button when Rhenz Punzalan pulled the Hanapepe boys ahead, 19-16, with 5:03 showing on the game clock while the Hotshots’ defense held Isle Hoops to just three points — another trey from Summerhayes — in the second half.
Hotshots’ Cooper O’Laughlin added a three-ball of his own followed by buckets from Layne Montemayor and Diego Mariano that locked up the final 26-16 math.
The two remaining contests were called off after teams forfeited, said youth basketball coordinator Bobby Kamakele.
“A lot of the kids are traveling following schools closing for the summer,” Kamakele said. “Even the Hotshots and Isle Hoops have people missing because not all of their players aren’t here.”
The youth basketball summer league takes a break through the weekend because a lot of their teams are participating in the Kauai Hoops Classic which tips off with the Conboy Basketball camp Wednesday and the first games tipping off from 1 p.m. Thursday at the Kauai High School gym.
Players in six divisions will be playing more than 100 basketball games spread over the Bernice Hundley Gym at Kapaa High School, the Kauai High School gym, and the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Full schedules can be found at www.kauaihoopsclassic.com.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.