From TGI Staff Reports In a spirited contest that ended much closer than it began, Matais defeated Lizard Lounge 61-57 to win the championship of the Kaua’i Men’s Open Basketball League on November 12 at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Behind the
From TGI Staff Reports
In a spirited contest that ended much closer than it began, Matais
defeated Lizard Lounge 61-57 to win the championship of the Kaua’i Men’s Open
Basketball League on November 12 at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Behind the
jump shooting of guard Kelii Bandman, Matais jumped out to an early lead.
Bandman connected on three 3-pointers in the game’s first five minutes, doing
his part in Matais’ 21-10 advantage. Bandman finished with a game-high 24
points, dropping six 3s in all.
But Lizard Lounge, having fought its way
through the tournament’s loser’s bracket, refused to quit. The team called on
its size and the crafty play of guard Stephan Pascua to claw its way back into
the contest.
Pascua ended the game with a team-high 19 points as he scored
on tough running jumpers and deep 3-pointers alike.
Lizard also began to
utilize big man Blake Anakaleo. he scored 10 of his 12 points in the first
half. By halftime, Lizard had cut the Matais lead to 36-28, and appeared to be
playing with full confidence.
Lizard kept that confidence after the
intermission.
Just minutes into the second half, it tied the score at 42,
and the scene was set for a feverish finish.
But where Bandman had led
Matais in the first half, guard Nash Albert picked up the slack in the
second.
Albert scored 12 of his 16 post-intermission, connecting for most
of that as the game wound down.
Matais did its best to keep Lizard in the
game, missing on three consecutive 1-and-1 attempts, but eventually gave itself
the cushion it needed to win.
Matais team members were: Bandman, Albert,
Rich Colipano, Jason Gallic, Alan Calumag, Kevin Kailikini and Jeff
Sullenbarger; player-coaches were Alan Ing and Charles
Ortiz.
Championship Game scoring
Matais (61): Bandman 24, Albert
16, Sullenbarger 6, Gallic 5, Calumag 4, Colipano 4, Kailikini 2
Lizard
Lounge (57): Pascua 19, Rafael Andaya 14, Anakaleo 12, Ray Kahaunaele 5,
Aurther Hernandez 5, Juan Padila 2
Special to TGI
kaua’i men’s
open basketball champions Matais pose after their title-sealing victory over
Lizard Lounge last Sunday at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Front row (left to
right): Jason Gallic, Nash Albert, Kelii Bandman, Alan Caumag. Back row:
Charles Ortiz, Alan Ing, Jeff Sullenbarger, Rich Colipano, Kevin
Kailikini.
