KALAHEO — The Waimea boys and the Waimea girls swept the opener of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association (KYBA) 19 and Under series Tuesday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center by combining balanced offense and an effective defense. Brendan McDaniels
KALAHEO — The Waimea boys and the Waimea girls swept the opener of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association (KYBA) 19 and Under series Tuesday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center by combining balanced offense and an effective defense.
Brendan McDaniels fired 14 points with Aaron Hesapene adding 13 as Waimea outdistanced the Lihu‘e Breakaway 40-29 in the first contest of the evening followed by the balanced scoring of Lorrine Lagoc, Natalie Mata, and Natasha Acosta leading the Waimea ladies to a 36-20 showing over the Lady Raiders in the finale.
Hesapene dropped a bomb from threepointland to pull Waimea to within a point of the Lihu‘e Break-away, and two quick buckets in the remaining 12 seconds gave Waimea their first lead that he wouldn’t relinquish throughout the night.
McDaniels continued to pace the Westside boys, scoring 10 of his game-high 14 points in the first half as Waimea kept building their lead over the Breakaway who were victimized by turnover as well as a tough inside game by Waimea led by Kyle Pigao, Chris Newcome, and Calsen Agrade.
Following the leaders, Thomas Batis finished with four along with Brysen Andaya and Newcomb to round out the Waimea scoring.
Basil Walton finished with 13 points to lead the Breakaway. Raldan Villanueva added four, Nate Berales and Jonathan Gebauer chipped in three apiece, and pairs from Jeremy Robinson, Justin Ramos, Matt Koyama, and Travis Stine rounded out the scorebook.
A balanced scoring attack led by Chantelle Briones and Lorrine Lagoc with help from Natalie Mata and Natasha Acosta kept the Lady Raiders off balance while comfortably holding the lead for Waimea in their 36-20 victory.
Briones finished with eight points, Lagoc added seven followed by Mata and Acosta each adding six points in the win.
The Lady Raiders’ Hoonani Dennis, a member of the KIF championship girls basketball team, topped the scoring with a game-high 11 points, but with a game lineup of just five players, no one else came close, and as the clock ground downwards, it was obvious that some of the younger players were feeling the rigors of playing non-stop through four quarters.
The Lady Raiders were victimized early by turnovers, but KC Gaitos pulled the Raiders back into the game with a three-point bomb at the first quarter buzzer to knot the contest 6-all.
But Waimea answered with treys from Briones and Lagoc in the second frame to stay in the driver’s seat, Joanna and Jessica Jacinto doing a nice job of shutting down the lane against Raider drives to the inside.
Jayme Jacinto added four to the total of the four leaders with Joanna Jacinto finishing with three along with Jessica Jacinto.
A pair from Sunni Acosta rounded out the math.
In addition to Dennis’ 11 points, Darcie Allianic added four, KC Gaitos finished with three, and a pair from Tahnee Shigematsu rounded out the effort. The 19-and-under action continues this summer!
