Brandee Burton finished with a game-high six points, but the Westside Girls dropped a 13-12 cliff-hanger to Lihu‘e Basketball Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. That was one of two games scheduled for the county’s 11 and Under Girls
Brandee Burton finished with a game-high six points, but the Westside Girls dropped a 13-12 cliff-hanger to Lihu‘e Basketball Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
That was one of two games scheduled for the county’s 11 and Under Girls Basketball program, and Bobby Kamakele of the Kaulupono program said it picked up a win when the Gee’s Angels forfeited its match.
“But the Lihu‘e/Westside game was a really good game,” said Kamakele, helping at the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation qualifying track meet. “It eventually came down to a free throw after the Lihu‘e player took away a Westside inbound and was fouled.”
Tiana Apilado helped the Westside Girls’ effort with four points, and Kristin Kawamura and Motu Taumalolo sparked the Lihu‘e Basketball win with four points each.
Karen Matsumoto of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association that helps with the scorekeeping for the county’s programs, said KYBA will be hosting its 6th annual Girls 14-Under basketball invitational during the Memorial Day weekend.
Leo Wainui of Hawaiian Hearts from Moloka‘i, Nathan and Jonathan Furtado, a father-son coaching team, of the Kula Stars of Maui, and Donald and Danielle Shepherd, a father-daughter coaching team, of Kalama Hills in Makawao, Maui have committed to play during the May 22-24 tournament at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
These three Outer Island teams will square off against the Kaulupono Girls coached by Kamakele and Pedro Saligumba, the Gee’s Angels coached by Cecil Gee, the Kamikaze coached by Kevin Hanano.
“There was one other team from Central Maui that expressed interest but will have to wait until next year,” Matsumoto said. “The cost to travel is a burden for everyone, now, and we’re very happy that the three teams from Maui County will be here.”
Matsumoto said the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center’s gym floor is scheduled to be re-worked between April 14-24, and a re-opening ceremony is scheduled for May 2 prior to the start of the 11 and Under games at 9 a.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
