PUHI — Wednesday night’s Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation junior varsity exhibition basketball game had a special significance for Guy Higa. Higa, one of the coaches for the Island School basketball team, said it was not only one of their home games,
PUHI — Wednesday night’s Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation junior varsity exhibition basketball game had a special significance for Guy Higa.
Higa, one of the coaches for the Island School basketball team, said it was not only one of their home games, but it was the first time the game was played with the bleachers in the gym installed.
Fans no longer need to lean against walls, or sit on temporary seating as the smell of the new equipment melded with the warmups and arena play.
“We’re not as big as the high school gyms,” said Kaipo Kealalio, the Island School athletic director. “But we can seat about 600 people, comfortably. It’s not bad for a small gym.”
Since its dedication last year, the Island School gym has hosted basketball clinics, and was one of the sites for the Kaua‘i Challenge volleyball tournament that attracts numerous teams to the island in late summer.
“It feels pretty good,” said Don Taylor, the father of Island School player Brandon Taylor, as he gingerly made his way up to the uppermost row of seating for the best vantage point of the contest.
Brandon finished with a game-high 17 points in Island School’s 44-38 loss to the visiting Kaua‘i High School JV squad.
Willis Batol and Joe Duronslet paced the Red Raider team with 11 points apiece, Batol netting seven of his digits in the first half and added a three-point bomb in the third frame.
Bryan Adres added seven points, John Das and Kapono Cummings finished with six and five points, respectively.
Kyle Lee followed Brandon with 10 points for Island School with Canaan Higa adding eight points. Makana Ledesma and Jesse Voorhies rounded out the effort with a pair and a digit, respectively.
Island School will next host Waimea on Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m.
