Bellingham HS Red Raiders in the house

KALAHEO — The Bellingham High School Red Raiders from Washington state came to play.

About a dozen players from the school’s Junior Varsity and Varsity teams are on Kaua‘i, where head coach Randy Kaui was born and raised.

Kaulupono Basketball drew the opening night with modifications in the game format.

“We wanted them to get a feel of tournament play on O‘ahu where they will be heading, Tuesday,” said Karen Matsumoto of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association, coordinating the goodwill series. “Instead of the usual 6-minute quarters, we set the clock for 16-minute halves for tonight’s games.”

Matsumoto said that is the format played at the NJB Summer Classic tournament where Kaulupono will be traveling to participate in.

Working through two games, Kaulupono fielded its Under 12 squad against the JV and some Varsity players with the Under 14 team going up against the remaining girls.

At the last minute, coach Bobby Kamakele of the Kaulupono program had some of his older girls call their friends to form a third team that included several of the boys who were in attendance for a final pick-up game.

Matsumoto said Kaui was planning to take his girls to a tournament on O‘ahu, but due to injuries, the teams cancelled on the tournament and came to visit Kaua‘i.

The goodwill series continues through Wednesday with the Tuesday schedule featuring the Kapa‘a Titaz, a Girls 18 and Over team, taking the floor against the visiting Red Raiders starting at 6 p.m. That match will be followed by the F-N-G, another Girls 18 and Over team headed by former Kaua‘i Red Raider Rachael Taira, starting at 7 p.m.

Gee’s Angels will open the Wednesday series, the final night, starting at 6 p.m. followed by Waimea tipping off at 7:30 p.m.

Kaui and the visiting Bellingham High School Red Raiders will be on Kaua‘i through July 17.