KALAHEO — The Kaulupono Girlz and Kamikaze wrapped up the county’s 13 and Under girls basketball with wins, Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Mariyah Oliver and Nicole Palacio combined for 15 points in Kaulupono’s 25-15 edge over the
KALAHEO — The Kaulupono Girlz and Kamikaze wrapped up the county’s 13 and Under girls basketball with wins, Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Mariyah Oliver and Nicole Palacio combined for 15 points in Kaulupono’s 25-15 edge over the Angels in an intense defensive slugfest.
Lele Silva and Gilian Gregorio each netted six points and Kawai Calderon finished with five points to lead the Kamikaze to its 21-14 showing over Westside in another defensive struggle.
Throughout the night, both games were a test of coaching skills and strong defense as teams worked to keep shooters at bay.
Kekai Gonsalves, the strong guard for the Angels, notched the only bucket in the first frame, which was answered by Oliver for the 2-2 deadlock at the buzzer that sent Palacio on the floor.
Palacio slipped in a bucket and Renee Yanagihara was a perfect two-for-two on the line and Kaulupono built up a 7-4 frame which held for the remainder of the game.
Oliver, key as the Kaulupono low post, topped the scoring with eight points and Palacio ending with seven points, going four-for-four at the charity line in the final period. Guard Jenaiah Banasihan added three and pairs from Casey Fernandez, another guard who scrapped for balls midcourt, and Melia Okura all came from the free-throw line.
Uilani McCabe, whose sisters are key players with the Kapa‘a High School wahine Warriors, topped the Angels’ scoring with five points, a bucket and a three-ball coming in the final period as the Angels piled up seven points, its most productive in the game.
Heu-Lupe Langi added four points and pairs from Gonsalves, key to feeding the inside and moving the ball on the floor, Analeigna Toloai and Kayla Jimenez rounded out the scoring.
Silva and Gregorio, each netting six points, anchored the inside game for the Kamikaze along with Shaylee Huni, who finished with four points.
Calderon’s five points came in the second half on a pair of drives down the paint as the Kamikaze relied on passes to get the ball inside.
But the Kamikaze defense effectively contained the Westside’s strong forwards, limiting Alyssa Miyamoto to just a pair and leaving Caitlynn Owen to take the lead in scoring, finishing with six.
Brandee Burton, Tianalee Apilado and Junell Tolentino joined Miyamoto with pairs.
With the completion of the county’s 13 and Under league, the 11 and Under teams take the floor next week with the boys playing Mondays and Wednesdays and the girls taking the court Thursdays and Saturdays.
On Monday, Papalina I take on the Westside Hornets starting at 6 p.m. at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Lihu‘e tangles with the Westside starting at 7 p.m.
Games move to the Kilauea Neighborhood Center, Wednesday when Team Central goes up against Papalina II starting at 6 p.m., followed by the Kaua‘i Ballers taking on Hanakila at 7 p.m.
The girls open Thursday in Kalaheo when the Angels open against Kaulupono starting at 6 p.m., followed by Lihu‘e tangling with the Kamikaze at 7 p.m.
There are eight boys 11 and Under teams and five girls 11 and Under teams.
