KALAHEO — When the buzzer sounded on a 25-22 win over the Kaulupono Girls, Gee’s Angels had successfully kept their undefeated record intact. Coached by Cecil Gee, Gee’s Angels have two more opponents to face before they close county 12-and-under girls’
KALAHEO — When the buzzer sounded on a 25-22 win over the Kaulupono Girls, Gee’s Angels had successfully kept their undefeated record intact.
Coached by Cecil Gee, Gee’s Angels have two more opponents to face before they close county 12-and-under girls’ basketball league play.
Gee contains himself with the girls’ undefeated record, remembering some of the earlier games when his girls were not on the winning column of the scorebooks.
“The girls have come a long way,” Gee said.
But, the exciting news is that Gee’s Angels applied for, and were accepted, to participate in the upcoming Maui Classic, announced Gee.
“This is exciting for the girls,” one of the parents said following their victory. “Not only are they going to Maui, some of the teams that are in their division include teams from Detroit, Arizona, North Carolina, Oklahoma, California, and Maui.”
That tournament is scheduled for July 11 to July 16 on Maui, and Gee was still unclear on some of the tournament details.
He did say that it is a big tournament, and his under-12 girls will have an opportunity to play with teams from outside of Hawai‘i.
“One thing for sure, they’re not going for snacks,” he laughed in his good-natured manner that he displays following the games.
In their win against Kaulupono Girls, the Angels turned to Lauren Claypoole, who pulled in numerous boards on both ends of the court. Claypoole finished with a pair of points in the win.
On the offensive side, Jessilyn Aki topped the roster with 11 points, seven coming in the second half when she allowed teammate Mahea Hanie-Grace to take the lead, the tiny guard going up against taller Kaulupono defenders.
But, the effort paid off, as she ended the night with five markers.
Maile Dreier is the turbine behind the Angels, and although finishing with four points in their win over Kaulupono, Dreier has consistently led the team on both offensive and defensive showings, finishing with team-high scoring honors in some of their league games.
Other Angels include Kristle Henry and Raquel Matayoshi.
To date, the Angels’ final season opponent is Wailua, coached by Talbert Tacbian.
“That’s probably going to be our toughest opponent,” Gee said in a tone unlike the intense coaching he demonstrates on the court.
“And then, we gotta do fund-raising, fund-raising, fund-raising.”
Gee also coaches two boys’ teams, the Gee Unit A, and the Gee Unit B, who also compete in the county’s 12-and-under boys’ basketball league.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
