F-N-G pops Pop It’s undefeated bubble

Carie Inouye and Natalie Mata of F-N-G combined for 24 points to pop Pop It’s undefeated streak in the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association Girls 18 and Over summer league, Saturday night.

Inouye, a former Kaua‘i High School player, and Mata, home from her tenure at Farrington High School, finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively to lead the F-N-G victory.

Ashley Mier, a former Waimea High School standout and who has been waiting for several years for the 18 and Over league to materialize, topped Pop It’s scoring with eight points. She was followed closely by Ashlee Vea who finished with seven points.

Kapua Chandler, the strong ball handler for the Kilauea Hui, led the team to its second victory of the season, a 30-22 edge over the Wailua greenshirts.

Chandler, a consistent player for the Hui, teamed with Layna Christian, a former Piopio Bear, now turned Kapa‘a High School player, to pour in eight points apiece. Natalie Kuroiwa added seven points.

Kelsey Cadiente and Kira Taylan paced the Wailua effort with eight and six points, respectively.

With the results of Saturday’s final season games, Pop It, despite its final-game loss, sits at the top of the standings with a 7-1 record, allowing 181 points and netting 230 marks, heading into the playoffs that start Monday at 6 p.m.

Pop It will square off against Wailua, No. 4 seed with a 1-7 record, 288 points allowed, 200 points netted, starting at 7 p.m.

F-N-G, with its final-game win, improves to the No. 2 seed position with a 6-2 record, allowing 205 points and netting 249 points, the league’s leading performance.

The F-N-G blackshirts square off against the Hui, coached by Mits Yokotake and finishing third seeded with a 2-6 record while allowing just one more point than F-N-G at 182 points. But it could only net 177 points through eight games. starting at 6 p.m. at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.

The championship matches for the Girls Over 18 is Saturday starting at 6 p.m.