KALAHEO — The basketball players ranged from high school students, college students to mothers from different careers, Monday. “They needed a league like this,” said Paul Barba, one of the Waimea High School coaches from the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season,
KALAHEO — The basketball players ranged from high school students, college students to mothers from different careers, Monday.
“They needed a league like this,” said Paul Barba, one of the Waimea High School coaches from the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season, and whose daughter Kierra was playing in the the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association’s Girls 18 and Over league. “The ladies have never had a league where they could play. There’s a lot of talent out there and it’s amazing how they balanced the teams.”
Four teams make up the G18O league that opened Monday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Six teams make up the Boys 18 and Over league that will start its league play Saturday afternoon at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a.
“I’ve never seen some of these girls since high school time,” said Charlie Ortiz, one of the game referees. “They came out of the woodwork for this league.”
The F-N-G, coached by Tristan Shigematsu, Kilauea coached by Mits Yokotake, Pop It coached by Jerrick Fabro and Wailua with coach Talbert Tacbian make up the G18O league.
Parity in the league was demonstrated when Ashley Mier and Ashlee Vea combined for 17 points to lead Pop It to a 28-26 edge over F-N-G. Natalie Mata, a local roundball player who went on to graduate from Farrington High School, returned to the Kaua‘i hardwoods to lead F-N-G with 11 points, matching Mier’s 11-point game. Erin Garlie, a high school standout in the paint, continued that showing with nice defensive posting in the first half and went on to finish the game with five points.
Cecil Gee and William Aki coach the G-Unit, Eric Powell coaches Illmatic, Peter Rayno is in the coach’s box for Kalepa, R.J. Pillos is the coach for Mixed Plate, Russell Bocalbos is the coach for Notorious and Brendan McDaniels is the coach for Team 1 when the Boys 18 and Over league starts play, Saturday.
Earlier in the evening, Lauren Claypoole netted 14 points as Gee’s Angels handed the Kamikaze its first season loss in one of two GU14 matches.
The Kamikaze ran into foul trouble when one of its two ball handlers, Mahea Hanie-Grace fouled out with 11 points.
But the Kamikaze had a shot at winning when Kristle Henry, the remaining guard, was fouled in three-point land.
When the first shot bounced off the rim, the audience still had hope, but when the second rattled in-and-out, hopes of salvaging a win sank. Henry sank the third shot in a losing effort at the buzzer for a 30-28 loss.
Henry finished with a game-high 16 points including a pair from outside the three-point arc in the first half. Hanie-Grace followed with 11 points including three from three-ball land.
Following Lauren’s 14 point lead for the Angels, Reggie McCabe added eight points, Uinise Paua finished with four, and a pair from Joy Claypoole brought coach Gee to his feet in celebration.
Low post Sanoe Kaohelaulii, who seems to glide from one end of the court to the other, paced Kaulupono with 13 points in its 39-27 win over Waimea. Cheyanne Duarte added eight points with Jennifer Grady and Nicky Banasihan each contributing five points.
Paige Connelly and Bristy-Ann Agu finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively, to lead the Waimea effort.
Games in the KYBA league continue Thursday at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center when Team Central tangles with Hanakila in a BU14 match starting at 6 p.m. followed by the debut of the two remaining G18O squads starting at 7 p.m.
