Va‘afuti Tavana and Josh Bradbury have been leading a special Kaua‘i team of basketball players who were 2-1 as of Friday on O‘ahu at the 12th Annual NJB Hawai‘i Hoops Tournament. According to Karen Matsumoto of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball
Va‘afuti Tavana and Josh Bradbury have been leading a special Kaua‘i team of basketball players who were 2-1 as of Friday on O‘ahu at the 12th Annual NJB Hawai‘i Hoops Tournament.
According to Karen Matsumoto of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association (KYBA) who went along on the trip with her husband Steven who is one of the coaches, the Kaua‘i squad went on to finish with a 3-3 record after splitting their Saturday pair of games, and dropping their Sunday match to Hawai‘i Ali‘i, 49-41.
Matsumoto noted that nine teams in the Boys 17 and Under division competed with Kaua‘i fielding the only neighbor island team. The other teams involved in the tournament were from the Honolulu area, but included players from Hawai‘i Kai to Wahiawa.
“It was a great experience for the boys,” Matsumoto said. “We have a great team!”
After dropping their first game 35-28 against KBB (Kaiser) at the Palolo Gym on Wednesday, Kaua‘i rebounded, Thursday to take a 51-41 overtime win against the Crusaders (St. Louis) with Tavana leading the charge with 13 points followed by Bradbury adding 10 points.
Bradbury took the lead, Friday, with an 18-point showing as Kaua‘i picked up their second win, 53-48 over Ikaika Basketball. Tavana added 16 points in that victory.
Saturday’s action saw Kaua‘i split their pair of games, dropping their first game, 74-68 in overtime to the Gametime Kings before rebounding for a 53-48 win over the Westside Warriors.
Tavana recorded a trip-high 32 points in their opening loss with Chris Newcomb adding 12, and Bradbury finishing with eight points.
Bradbury took the lead in their game against Westside, finishing with 15 points followed by Tyrus Ceria-Lux and Braxton Garma each notching nine points. Tavana was limited to just five points in that contest.
The finale came out on a losing note, Sunday as Kaua‘i fell to Hawai‘i Ali‘i, 49-41 led by Bradbury’s dozen points, and Chad Barba adding nine points.
The tournament team includes Calsen Agrade, Barba, Bradbury, Jeivin Mararagan, Irah Nishi, Ceria-Lux, Newcomb, Tavana, Kaleo Perez, Garma, and Alden Lahip.
Steven Matsumoto and Mel Mararagan are the team coaches.
