THE ALL-STAR AND HER COURT…Ihilani Yama, a KIF girls basketball all-star from Kapa’a High School stands back as coach Billy Ramos (hidden behind Yama) works with the Lihu’e Comets to break a 6-6 halftime stalemate against the Eastside Warriors in
THE ALL-STAR AND HER COURT…Ihilani Yama, a KIF girls basketball all-star from Kapa’a High School stands back as coach Billy Ramos (hidden behind Yama) works with the Lihu’e Comets to break a 6-6 halftime stalemate against the Eastside Warriors in the KYBA 10-Under basketball game played Monday night (June 17) at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center. A late third period trey by Austin James Simao pulled the Warriors into the leader column while the Eastside defense rose to support by shutting down the ball movement for the Comets.The 3-pointer became the Comets’ stumbling block as the Warriors handed the 10-Under all-girl team their first loss of the season, 15-10. “They had to learn how to lose,” coach Billy Ramos said philosophically following their defeat. The team had gathered outside the neighborhood center for their traditional snack potluck following the game, and Ramos scanned the collection of athletes, concerned that the loss would take the air out of their sails.”They need to learn how to have fun out there,” he said. “Even if they’re losing.” “We beat them (Eastside Warriors) on our first meeting. We had our chances (to win), but tonight, they deserved to win,” he said. “It’ll be a different game in the playoffs.” Simao’s trey coupled with a field goal to give the Warrior game-high scoring honors with 5 points in the win. Guard Kalia Mayer, the only female on the Eastside squad, followed with a 4-point contribution with Brandon Ventar, Kekoa Colipano, and Kaleo Cummings each adding a pair apiece. The Comets shared scoring honors all around as Rachel Hamamura, Sanoe Keliinoi, Jodi Das, Mele Yama, and Kathleen Cadiente each notched a pair in the loss. Other game reports from the past week will be printed in Thursday’s edition of TGI.
