KALAHEO — At least three of the Hanakila players were taller than the tallest Papalina player. Faced with those odds, Papalina fought a losing battle 34-21 in Game 2 of the county’s 11 and Under boys basketball league Tuesday night
KALAHEO — At least three of the Hanakila players were taller than the tallest Papalina player.
Faced with those odds, Papalina fought a losing battle 34-21 in Game 2 of the county’s 11 and Under boys basketball league Tuesday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Earlier in the evening, Lansen Eto finished with a game-high 17 points and Kelii Colipano added a dozen marks to lead the Gee Unit to a 39-25 showing over Westside.
But the crowd stayed to watch the Papalina-Hanakila matchup, the full spectator sections on both benches being augmented by the appearance of nearly the full squad of Kaulupono Girls and their coaches as well as players from the earlier Westside game and the Westside 13 and Under teams.
The contest did not disappoint, although Hanakila pulled out to an early lead behind 8 points from James Stevens who razzled and dazzled through the Papalina defense for an 8-4 first period read.
But Papalina settled down and the Hanakila lead hovered at the 4- to 6-point margin through most of the match.
Marlon Cudiamat netted 4 points in the final period, Justin Apilado added another 3 points and Hanakila surged to its final 34-21 reading, outscoring Papalina 9-2 in the final six minutes of play.
Stevens finished with 10 points to lead the Kilauea team followed by balanced scoring from the three tall Hanakila men: Apilado and Cudiamat each netting 7 points and Jackson McCouglough finishing with 6 points.
A.J. Cummings and Mason Salvador each netted pairs to round out the Hanakila math.
Kelson Andrade finished with 6 points for Papalina, including a bucket where he split through the Hanakila defense from the right side in the second half. Tystin Gummerus, trying to penetrate on numerous occasions throughout the game, was held to just 5 points, including a bomb from outside the 3-point arc late in the first half for a 13-9 deficit.
Kainoa Simao added four second-half points and pairs from Tryston Dela Cruz and Kalawaia Judd rounded out the Papalina effort.
Following the two scoring leaders for the Gee Unit, Tyler Fernandez added 6 points, with Austin Cook and La‘akea Aki-Hocson each netting pairs.
Briggs Agu and Kohana Rapozo paced the Westside effort with 7 and 6 points, respectively.
Nouel Plotado and Chavis Garma each finished with a 3-point bomb and pairs from C.J. Corpuz and Kaonohi Sullivan rounded out the effort.
