KAPA’A – They fought through 17 turnovers and somehow left Bernice Hundley with a win. In the end, it was about how Amini Taufoou found his groove, and how he brought the Kapa’a Warriors along with him. Taufoou had 16
KAPA’A – They fought through 17 turnovers and somehow left Bernice Hundley with a win.
In the end, it was about how Amini Taufoou found his groove, and how he brought the Kapa’a Warriors along with him.
Taufoou had 16 points and 7 rebounds Friday night to lead the Warriors to a 60-37 win over Academy of the Pacific on day two of the Kapa’a Basketball Tournament.
The Warriors led by as much as 16 points before Pacific began chipping into the lead. Pacific capitalized on a string of Warrior mistakes to climb to within 8, but Taufoou hit three consecutive shots and Kapa’a followed with a 16-2 fourth quarter run to stave off a miracle comeback.
Randy Vicoy had 15 points and 4 rebounds for Kapa’a, Brandon Wong had 10 points, 2 assists and 2 steals and Ryan Cram added 8 points and 6 rebounds.
Kalima Leong had 5 points and Clesson Higashi and Kaylan Dolor each had 2.
Academy’s Masa Yamamoto, who sparked the comeback with three straight buckets in the third quarter, led his team with 10 points. Puna Kaopuiki had 8 points and 6 rebounds, Daniel Turner had 7 points and Ben Butler 6.
The Warriors are 2-0 at their home tournament. They defeated Assets Academy Thursday, 52-25. In other games Friday, Kaua’i defeated Assets, 72-9, and Waimea defeated Kapa’a B, 61-33.
The tournament will hold its final day of games today at Bernice Hundley Gymasium. Kaua’i plays Academy at 11:30 a.m., Waimea plays Assets at 1 p.m. and Kapa’a A plays Kapa’a B at 2:30 p.m.
