KALAHEO — As the final buzzer sounded on the championships of the KYBA 10 Under game, it was hard to tell who was more excited – the players, the parents, or the coach. As the Magic were presented their championship
KALAHEO — As the final buzzer sounded on the championships of the KYBA 10 Under game, it was hard to tell who was more excited – the players, the parents, or the coach.
As the Magic were presented their championship bowl and medals following a 39-26 win over the Team Big D from the Kapa‘a Boys & girls Club Monday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, coach Cecil Gee’s excited courtside posture was replaced by a smile bigger than the supportive audience that applauded the team.
“It’s been five years,” a proud Gee said as the team adjourned to the center’s atrium to make room for the next game on the four-game agenda.
“These kids have been playing since they were five,” Gee noted, his arms sweeping the nine-member squad that has developed from the days of Termite basketball.
Topping the roster was Christina Banach, obviously the tallest member of the team who finished the night with 14 points, taking numerous feeds on the inside while sweeping the boards for rebounds and using her height effectively to generate turnovers on the outside.
Ashlyn Ubongen’s quickness yielded ten points in the victory as the tiny guard’s scrappy court play generated Big D turnovers that was fed to Banach.
Where Banach came up empty, Princeton Gee picked up the putbacks, finishing with eight points in the win followed by Taryn Alisna who added four Magic markers, and Kalen Kimura rounding out the scores with three.
Ash-lynn Lee may have not made the scorebooks, but was tough in defense against Banach on the inside as Maluhia States paced the Big D offense with a game-high 15 points in the loss.
Patrick Kavangh finished with four points, his offensive showing not indicative of the defensive effort put forth in combination with States and Lee.
Keane Agoot battled heavy Magic traffic to net three fourth quarter points, and Lynsi Nakamura took advantage of a window outside the paint for her second quarter pair.
Jude Cruz, playing with a heavily bandaged wrist rounded out the Big D scoring with a digit.
Westside Hornets 24, Lihu‘e Sparks 15
Kelsey Cadiente came up with a game-high eight points for the Lihu‘e Sparks, but the effort fell short as the Westside Hornets clinched third place in the KYBA 10 Under division 24-15 behind six-point Michelle Shea four, with Jondelle Aceret-Ipac, Kathleen Valmoja, Arlene Valmoja, and Searra Kaohi Randee Layosa finished with three, Dayna Fujii and Kayla Shim ended with a pair each to round out the Sparks’ scoring.
Waimea 23, Kaua‘i Fire Raiders I 11
Ashley Mier fired four treys to lead Waimea to a 23-11 win over the Kaua‘i Fire Raiders I, finishing the night with game-high 14 points in the win.
Hoku Magno-Knapp ended with four, Tiana Samio added three, and a pair by Jianna Soto rounded out the Waimea scoring.
Janee Correia led the Raiders with seven points with Hoonani Dennis and Lindsey Sugihara each chipping a pair in the loss.
Bus Drivers 29, Kaua‘i Fire Raiders II 4
Kristi Arinaga had eight points, and Charise Ponce added six markers to pace the Bus Drivers to a 29-4 win over the Kaua‘i Fire Raiders II who got third period baskets by Tahnee Shigematsu and Cherisse Rapozo.
Val Aficial and Sarah Curnan finished with five points each to help the Bus Drivers with a pair by Lorraine Lagoc rounding out the scoring.
In games played on Tuesday night, the Kaua‘i Fire Raiders 2 took a 23-21 win over the Fire Raiders 1 in a girls 17 and under game.
Stephanie Kashiwabara scored seven points for the winners while Cherisse Rapozo added six for the Fire Raiders 1.
In the boys 17 and under playoffs, the Westsiders edged Northshore 56-47 as Aukai Dennis led all scorers with 26 points for the Westsiders.
Kaylan Dolor scored 16 points for Northshore.
The Southside Boys also advanced with a 52-45 win over the Lihu‘e Kings. Jeremy Manuel scored 15 points for the Boys while Alec Reichle added 13 for the Kings.
In a girls 17 and under playoff, the Bus Drivers took a 37-18 win over Waimea. Delsa Tavana scored eight points for the Bus Drivers while Ashley Mier was the leading point getter for Waimea.
