The Rotary Club of West Kauai held its Second Rotary Youth Good-will Basketball Tournament this past weekend at the Kaua‘i High School Gymnasium. With the invaluable support of the ZZ Youth Basketball Club and Kaua‘i High School, the Rotary club
The Rotary Club of West Kauai held its Second Rotary Youth Good-will Basketball Tournament this past weekend at the Kaua‘i High School Gymnasium. With the invaluable support of the ZZ Youth Basketball Club and Kaua‘i High School, the Rotary club successfully held the tournament for nearly 100 youth from O‘ahu and Kaua‘i in the 12- and 14-year-old age groups.
The Rotary Club of West Kaua‘i wishes to acknowledge Jeff Venzon of ZZ Basketball for his help with organizing the event, and Ricky Rita along with his daughter Loreen Rita for volunteering their time to manage the scoreboard, and perform all of the scorekeeping for the three-day tournament. Thank you to the officials, parents, coaches and especially the tournament participants for making this a great event.
The tournament culminated with exciting finishes in both the 12 and under and 14 and under divisions, with multiple title-holders in each division. Visiting Nanakuli Westside, coached by Brian Ka’a’a, shared the 14 and under title with Billy Ramos’ Lihu‘e Breakaway.
“We had an exciting, excellent finish in both divisions,” Leland Tottori, one of the West Kaua‘i Rotarians said. “Both division had co-champs. The Rotary club was able to accomplish a sense of unification among the Lihu‘e 12-Under teams. Unlike the normally hotly-contested season play-offs, each of the three teams came away winners, and champions.”
“In the 14 and Under division, our Kaua‘i team was able to show a Honolulu Championship team that they can hold their own and play ball,” Tottori added.
Three teams shared the title in the 12 and under division, with Fred Sasan’s Lihu‘e Maniacs, Daniel Simao’s Da Bullz and Edwin Yasay’s Hanama‘ulu Boyz finishing in a three-way tie for the first place trophy in round-robin competition.
Similar to its long standing annual High School Track and Field event, which this past year held its 58th Annual Meet, the Rotary Club of West Kaua‘i is planning to continue the Youth Basketball Tournament as a perpetual yearly event.
Aric Cansino and Koa Prem both finished with 14 points, but Cansino led the Lihu‘e Lakers to a 55-23 showing over the hosting ZZ squad.
Prem’s 14 points led the ZZ effort, both teams being part of the 14 and Under division.
Basil Walton sizzled for 21 points to lead the Lihu‘e Break-away to a 37-30 win over West-side who got eight points from Keoni Ka‘a‘a.
Scot Sasan finished with eight points to lead the Lihu‘e Maniacs to a 30-27 win over Da Bullz who was led by Branson Agu’s game-high dozen markers.
Preston Ikehara-Yasay finished with a game-high 11 points to lead the Hanama‘ulu Boyz to a 41-35 win over the Westside Heat who got nine points apiece from tiny hustling guard Ariel Lahip and Koa Prem.
Kupono Cummings chalked up a game-high 15 points as Kanui Kapono Hustlers hustled past the Kaua‘i Fire Raiders, 57-15, the Raiders getting seven points from Isaac Ramboyon.
Kahea Prem and Jake Corona each finished with eight points to lead the Westside Heat to a 44-19 showing over the Kaua‘i Fire Raiders who got four points apiece from Aeron Inouye, Ramboyon, Austin Oshiro, and Kameron Perez.
Kaleo Cummings led the second game of Kanui Kapono Hustlers with 17 points in their effort against the Lihu‘e Maniacs.
The Maniacs prevailed, 42-31 behind 13 points chalked up by Jordan Tottori.
Kekoa Colipano finished with 15 points to down the Hanama‘ulu Boys, 47-43 with Cody Morden finishing with 11 points to lead the Hanama‘ulu effort.
