KALAHEO — It was in the fifth period that the crowd at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center came alive as Kalaheo’s Shelly Koerte launched a trey at the county’s 12 and Under girls basketball game. But, it was not just a
KALAHEO — It was in the fifth period that the crowd at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center came alive as Kalaheo’s Shelly Koerte launched a trey at the county’s 12 and Under girls basketball game.
But, it was not just a bomb from three-pointland as the point guard launched another to ignite the audience on both benches, including Westside Hornet coach Maynard Shaw.
“Give Shelly the ball. Shoot, Shelly, shoot!” the mother of a Hornet player encouraged.
And Shelly shot. Planted firmly at 12 o’clock, the sphere arced perfectly before being snared by the twine as the act generated cheers and applause.
In fact, Shelly launched three more bombs from almost identical positions, all within the fifth period to finish with a dozen points for Kalaheo in an effort that came up short as the Hornets sewed up a 34-20 win.
“Sure, we want to win,” Coach Shaw admitted following the game, “But, not at the expense of running up the score on someone. We want the girls to have fun. That’s the main thing.” Apparently, everyone agreed at the post-game pa‘ina as parents and team members from both squads joined together for fellowship along with the game referees.
Christina Banach topped the Hornets scoring, equaling Koerte’s dozen-point performance with Tanisha DeFabian and Charlene Ortiz each helping out with six points apiece, Ortiz netting one from beyond the arc.
Searra Kaohi and Brandi Briones each finished with four and a pair from Nanea Nobrega, whose mom was enthusiastically cheering on not only Hornet, but Kalaheo players equally, rounded out the effort with a pair. Following Koerte’s lead, Kalaheo got four points from Shaylin Parker, and pairs from Melissa Miner and Fiare Moe to round out the math.
Jazzelyn Bradbury, Lindsey Wong, and Christina Pearson may not have marked in the scorebooks, but figured heavily in moving the Kalaheo ball.
Earlier in the evening, Jaymie Jacinto finished with seven points to lead the Waimea B&G who overcame a 13-9 halftime deficit to edge the Lihu‘e Pacers, 22-18.
Balanced scoring led by four-point showings from Bristy Agu, Erin Connelly, and Brandee Victorino helped Waimea with their 13-7 second-half surge, Waimea shutting down the Pacers, 4-0 in the final stanza.
Paige Connelly wrapped up the Waimea showing with a digit.
Janessa Grady and Randee Layosa had just come from accepting awards at the Kaua‘i Complex Regional Science Fair, and Grady continued her roll, finishing with a game-high nine points, eight coming in the first half, to lead the Pacers.
Layosa, Kylie Toguchi, and Kim Liberato each finished with a pair, and Dayna Fujii chalked up three to round out the Pacer effort.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the game between Lihu‘e and Wailua was not played.
The 12 and Under girls meet again for two more games, Tuesday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.