KALAHEO — Tyrus Ceria-Lux finished with a game-high 23 points to lead Southwest Boyz A to a 45-43 edge over Wailua in Kalaheo. En route to his 23 points, Ceria-Lux launched five bombs from outside the three-point arc to lead
KALAHEO — Tyrus Ceria-Lux finished with a game-high 23 points to lead Southwest Boyz A to a 45-43 edge over Wailua in Kalaheo.
En route to his 23 points, Ceria-Lux launched five bombs from outside the three-point arc to lead Southwest back from a 23-18 halftime deficit.
Joining Ceria-Lux, who had two of his three-point buckets in the third period, Chris Salvador added another as Southwest outgunned Wailua 16-11 in the period that turned the tide in the contest.
“Tyrus is really good,” said Karen Matsumoto, one of the leaders for the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association. “He’ll be going to Las Vegas for a tournament where he’ll be playing with the Iolani boys later this summer. That should be good for him since he’ll be a senior when school opens.”
Matsumoto organized the KYBA 18 and Under program after that age group was dropped from the 3 G’s Nation program.
“We had about two weeks to put everything together,” she said. “We had the uniforms ordered and everything when they said there wasn’t going to be any 18 and Under program.”
Matsumoto said there are four boys teams and four girls teams in the KYBA 18 and Under program which runs through Aug. 4. The league celebrated its opening night Tuesday with two games at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Following Ceria-Lux, Alden Lahip and Kyle Achuela chipped in 7 points apiece. Salvador and Brycen Kato added 3 points each and a pair from Brenden Cristobal rounded out the win.
Wailua got 11 points from Curran Doctolero and 10 points from David Mendes in the effort. The pair was followed by Brandon Chong adding 9 points followed by Evan Lotu netting 6 points. Cody Abigania finished with 4 points, Kimo Aiu added a pair and a digit from Matt Lindsey rounded out the effort.
Earlier in the evening, Travis Stine caught fire for the Kalepa Hillsiders who held off a strong Southwest Boyz B second-half comeback effort. Stine finished with 14 points to lead the Kalepa yellowshirts followed by Kaleo Cummings adding 8 points. Ian Lactaotao netted 6 points, Alex Lamadrid finished with 3 points, Pono Cummings added a pair and a digit from Kilika De-ttloff rounded out the effort.
James Sagucio finished with 7 points to lead the Southwest Boyz B effort followed by Kasey Okihara adding 5 points. Sean Inouye, Braxton Garma and McDonald Alop each chipped in 3 points and a pair from Kalen Kali-Abihai rounded out the effort.
The next set of games will have the Kalepa Hillsiders, coached by Peter Rayno, taking on Southwest A followed by Wailua, coached by Talbert Tacbian, taking on Southwest B starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Both Southwest teams are coached by Steven Matsumoto. Tip off for the first game is at 10 a.m.
The four 18 and Under girls teams will open their schedule Monday in Kilauea when Wailua, coached by Tacbian, will take on the Lihu‘e Kamikaze coached by Keven Hanano. That game will be followed by Kilauea, coached by Mits Yokotake, hosting the Kaulupono Girls coached by Bobby Kama-kele and Pedro Saligumba. First game tips off at 7 p.m.
