KAPA ‘A — Vinda Carineo, Jr. hammered an early pair, and Kahea Prem added a bucket in overtime as the Westside Heat nosed out the Kanuikapono Hustlers, 43-41, Tuesday night as the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association (KYBA) Boys 12 Under
KAPA ‘A — Vinda Carineo, Jr. hammered an early pair, and Kahea Prem added a bucket in overtime as the Westside Heat nosed out the Kanuikapono Hustlers, 43-41, Tuesday night as the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association (KYBA) Boys 12 Under teams visited the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a.
Kawelo Lindsey and Kanoa Nartatez led the Kanuikapono Hustlers with a combined seven points in the third quarter as they closed in on the Westside Heat in the final two minutes of the frame, the Kanu finishing just three points off the pace after being outgunned 7-1 by the Heat in the first four minutes.
Despite the strength of Lindsey, Jude Cruz, and Maka Pa in the paint combining with the speed and quickness of Andrew Panoke and Natatez, the Heat stayed just a few points ahead due in part to the long passes generated by Carineo who could get the ball downcourt to a waiting Ashten Agor or Jake Corona underneath while Kahea Prem drove the rubbish truck.
This combination was good enough for a 20-17 halftime lead, but the engine sputtered in the final two minutes of the third quarter as the Kanu overcame a deficit that at one point topped a dozen points.
With Lindsey leading the charge and Nartatez riding shotgun, the Kanu outshot the Heat, 12-6 in the final frame.
With 30 seconds showing in regulation, Lindsey went 1-1 at the charity stripe to pull Kanu within two, 39-37 to set the stage for the dramatic final seconds.
Eight ticks remained on the clock when Nartatez swept in at midcourt to pick the Heat’s pocket and tie the contest, 39-39.
Another Kanu pluck with the clock running down saw Pa intercept a Carineo pass, but Pa failed to convert at the buzzer forcing the three minute OT.
Carineo lost little time scoring, wrapping up a nice series of quick passes by the Heat with less than ten seconds peeled off the clock. Exchanging turnovers, Kanu could only muster 2-3 from the charity stripe from Lindsey while the Heat iced the win on a second effort bucket from Prem.
As the overtime ticked down, Kanu was not out yet as Panoke picked the Heat’s pockets, again only to come up empty at the basket. With less than nine seconds remaining, the Heat was again picked, this time by Nartatez who fed Lindsey for a long bomb attempt that went wide at the buzzer. Agor finished with a dozen points to lead the Heat, Prem added ten points, followed by Corona contributing eight points, and Carineo finishing with six. Rommel Pascual had a pair and a digit from Clifton Callejo rounded out the scoring.
Lindsey finished with a game-high 20 points to lead the Kanu effort with Panoke adding eight points. Kapono Cummings and Nartatez each finished with four, Pa added three, and a pair from Cruz rounded out the Kanu effort.
In another close contest, Eastside controlled Hanamaulu 38-25 after surging ahead in the second half.
John Das fired 10 of his game-total dozen points in the second half with Keane-Shane Agoot adding six of his game-total 16 points as Eastside outshot Hanamaulu, 20-12, the Hanamaulu boys in blue hammering the hoop that somehow developed a cover as shots simply would not drop.
Agoot topped the Eastside with his game-high 16 points followed by Das’ dozen. BJ Melchor added six and a fourth quarter pair from Hunter Hudson closed the books.
Canaan Higa came up with five of his game-total nine points in the fourth frame to lead Hanamaulu with Kahale Fagarang adding six points. Daylan Huni finished with four, Kaimana Jaquias had three charity points, and a pair from Travis Taylan rounded out Hanamaulu’s math.
