KAPA’A — Missed free throws and a play from the rules book that is rarely seen broke the back of In Yo’ Face Monday night as the Kapa’a Mystics took a 13-12 win in the county’s 14 Under Girls basketball
KAPA’A — Missed free throws and a play from the rules book that is rarely seen broke the back of In Yo’ Face Monday night as the Kapa’a Mystics took a 13-12 win in the county’s 14 Under Girls basketball program.
An equally exciting second game saw the Lihu’e Comets hold off a strong Wailua comeback effort for a 24-18 victory, the Comets’ first win in the fledgling season.
Playing before a very vocal audience in the Bernice Hundley Gym, the Lihu’e In Yo’ Face surged to a 7-6 halftime lead behind an Ashlyn Ubongen basket only to have the Mystics answer in the fifth period with a 5-4 run, Kapa’a’s go-ahead nod coming on a Jennalyn Gomes free throw.
Shutting down any In Yo’ Face scoring in the final frame, the Mystics catalyzed the audience as the go-ahead bucket tickled the twine from Alexandra Gauspohl.
With the seconds ticking down, In Yo’ Face went to the free throw line only to come up empty, their evening’s charity percentage finalizing at 3-for-13 while the Mystics finished 3-for-8 at the line.
Gauspohl sparked the Mystics’ scoring with eight points, two of which came from the free throw line. Rebecca Duncan finished with a pair along with Teeana Valpoon, and Gomes adding the all-important digit in the win.
Jodi Das led In Yo’ Face with four points followed by Nicole Fujimoto adding three. Jondi Das and Ubongen each added a pair.
A trey by Shelsie Villatora sparked Wailua to a 7-4 first period lead only to have Kathleen Cadiente answer for the Comets to pull them to a 7-7 deadlock following two periods.
Rachel Hamamura notched an inside bucket, and along with Cadiente’s three points, pulled the Comets to a 12-10 lead at the half, Wailua’s scoring coming on a Hanalei Gomes bucket and a Leilani Laranio charity point.
Hamamura continued to burn the twine, leading the Comets to a 6-2 final period run in the win, finishing with seven points.
Kathleen Cadiente led the Comets with a nine-point showing, but adding the court leadership along with Hamamura in the win.
Kelsie Cadiente’s court hustle yielded three points with Naomi Taylor and Lauren James each adding a pair in the win.
Laranio led Wailua in the loss, notching five points in the outing with Gomes and Villatora helping with four points apiece.
Britney Salvador and Mai’lika Napoleon finished with a pair.
