KALAHEO — Galen Lee erupted for four of his game-total eight points in the final stanza to keep the Kalaheo 76ers in the lead, 42-37 against a tenacious Waimea 2nd to None squad Wednesday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center
KALAHEO — Galen Lee erupted for four of his game-total eight points in the final stanza to keep the Kalaheo 76ers in the lead, 42-37 against a tenacious Waimea 2nd to None squad Wednesday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center where two of the four games in the county’s 12 Under Boys basketball league were played.
Lee netted a trey in the opening frame for Kalaheo, but a 1-for-4 showing at the free throw line saw Waimea take the lead 8-6 behind Hino Kanahele’s pair of buckets.
Kalaheo surged ahead in the second period 11-7 behind a six-point showing from Kekoa Prem, Waimea being led by four points from Rilen Bayot.
Jarrett Aquino took the reins for Waimea in the third period with five points as the team coached by Kim Nichols outgunned the 76ers 9-5 for a 24-22 halftime bulge, Kalaheo being held to just a field goal by Kalen Kakutani in that period.
Waimea continued to hammer away in the second half, but came up short as they went cold on the free throw line in the critical closing minutes.
Kalaheo got a dozen points from Kea Lopez and 11 from Kekoa Prem in the win with Waimea being led by Hino Kanahele who came up with a cheer-raising late bucket and finished with 10 points in the loss.
Aquino finished the night with nine points, Zac Gardien added seven, and Rilen Bayot finished with six.
Kyle Wong proved to be a pivotal point for the Lihu’e On Fire as the center stood hands above the field in their 45-20 win over the Lihu’e Lakers who were out-heighted, and outrun in their loss.
Despite a two-point showing, Wong was instrumental in securing rebounds on both ends of the court as well as feeding the inside.
Jarett Fujioka posted nine points in the balanced On Fire attack with Scott Taylor blasting in a pair of treys towards his seven game-total points.
Justin Ramos finished with six points and Lester Alacar added five in the win.
Manas Kshrisagari and Davane Florence led the Lakers’ defense that constantly hounded the On Fire, Florence netting four points before being injured late in the game.
Marcus Barnes and Tommy Moreno finished with five points apiece to lead the Lakers’ attack, the crowd cheering as Makana Waipa netted a field goal in the fourth period, and following it up with a charity point.
Hank Ibia also got a rousing cheer from the crowd as he came up with a trey in the final stanza.
The county’s 12 Under Boys basketball program continues with games on Monday and Friday evenings, and Saturdays at either the Kalaheo or Kilauea neighborhood centers.
