PUHI — The Kaulupono Basketball season is win-ding down after a pair of games played Wednesday at the Island School gym to set the stage for the 2009 Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic. “We got to play for a little
PUHI — The Kaulupono Basketball season is win-ding down after a pair of games played Wednesday
at the Island School gym to set the stage for the 2009 Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic.
“We got to play for a little while,” said Nicole Palacio of the Kaulupono Girls 12 and Under squad, following its 17-16 edge over Westside.
Palacio finished with a game-high 14 points of the team’s 17-point total in that matchup that earned Kaulupono the No. 3 berth in the league.
Tryston Dela Cruz led the Westside effort with nine points.
The Kaulupono win
comes on the heels of a defeat, Tuesday night at the hands of Papalina. Coach Sean Andrade of Papalina said the girls were in it for three quarters in the loss.
“It’s hard to smile when you lose,” said Clyde Vito, one of the Papalina coaches, following his team’s 34-25 loss. “But the boys played good, and Team Central has come a long way.”
Petersen Lahip and Tystin Gummerus paced the boys in blue with 10 and seven points, respectively.
Matthew Cummings, coming off the Kawaihau Community Little League Majors All-Stars’ District 1 tournament on O‘ahu, bounced back onto the floor to lead Team Central with a game-high 17 points in the win. He got help from Lansen Eto who finished with eight points.
Bobby Kamakele who, along with Pedro Saligumba, heads the Kaulupono Basketball program, said the only games remaining will be played Saturday with the younger players wrapping up play at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
League play, representing the Mitey Mite, Termite, and Extreme Termite age groups, was delayed due to the reflooring of the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
“Next year, we’re going to be on time,” Kamakele said.
