KALAHEO — Guards play an important part in a team’s success, and Noah Sasil may have nailed just three points, but was pivotal for Papalina-White, Monday night. Papalina-White held off a tough Lihu‘e team to take a 33-27 edge in
KALAHEO — Guards play an important part in a team’s success, and Noah Sasil may have nailed just three points, but was pivotal for Papalina-White, Monday night.
Papalina-White held off a tough Lihu‘e team to take a 33-27 edge in the nightcap of a doubleheader in the county’s 11 and Under boys basketball program at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Similarly, Briggs Agu, with experience playing up in the county’s 13 and Under program, brought that to the court as Westside held off the strong pressing Kaua‘i Ballers, 17-14, in the opener.
Danez Haley and Joel Sariano were solid for Westside in the first half, leading the team to a 10-4 halftime lead. But the Kaua‘i Ballers came back, scoring 10 of their game-total 14 points in the second half and putting the pressure on the Westside.
Agu stepped up his play, notching five of his game-total seven points in the second half to keep the Ballers at bay, while continuing to feed the ball into the low post.
Agu led the Westside scoring, followed by Haley, Sariano and Kasen Castro netting a pair in the final period. Zachariah Ponting rounded out the win on a digit.
Jonah Howard topped the Kaua‘i Ballers scoring with five points, followed by Cullen Kitamura adding four points. Kurt Napoleon and Hunter Bethel each added a pair and a digit from Noah Rall rounded out the effort.
Faced with an 8-4 deficit created by Lanakila Wilson’s four points in the opening frame, Papalina-White guard Noah Sasil ignited the audience with a three-ball at the 4:30 mark of the second period to pull the whiteshirts to within a point, 8-7.
That feat was followed by a quick bucket from low post Daniel Fee to give Papalina-White a 9-8 edge. The lead changed hands just once more as Wilson bucketed a technical foul for the 14-13 lead at the half.
Kai Lewis turned on the heat for Papalina-White in the second half, netting six of the team’s 11 points in the fourth period to stay ahead of Lihu‘e for the remainder of the game.
Lewis topped the Papalina scoring with a dozen points, 10 coming in the second half. Cyrus Tanigawa netted nine points to add to the win with Fee finishing on eight points plus numerous boards on both sides of the court. Sasil was limited to his three-ball, but was key to the team’s ball-movement. Bill Souza rounded out the win on a digit.
Wilson was the counterpart for Sasil for Lihu‘e, leading the blackshirts with 14 points along with several key steals and strong passing. Bryan Perreira added four points, while John Lloyd Corbillon, Travis Girand and Shiloh Nobriga each paired. A digit from Blaise Banquel rounded out the effort.
The league wraps up Saturday with two games on tap as Lihu‘e opens against Team Central starting at 9 a.m. followed by Hanakila taking on Papalina II starting at 10 a.m.
More Saturday action is on tap as the county’s 11 and Under girls have one game, as Westside tangles with Kaulupono at 11 a.m.
Piopio Bears set to weekend on Kaua‘i
The Piopio Bears are coming!
Big Island Councilman and coach of the Piopio Bears basketball program, Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, will be arriving with a team of 12 and Under girls basketball players for a series of goodwill games against Kaua‘i teams, according to Karen Matsumoto of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association.
Taking advantage of a long Prince Kuhio weekend, the Bears arrive Friday morning and host two games Friday evening at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center starting at 6 p.m.
Saturday, the Bears will watch the final games of the county’s 11 and Under boys basketball program, a county 11 and Under girls basketball game before taking on two more games.
Friday night, the Bears will open against the Kaulupono Girls coached by Bobby Kamakele and Pedro Saligumba in the 6 p.m. tipoff.
The Bears will follow that game against Westside girls coached by Josh Burton starting at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s game includes a match against Lihu‘e, coached by Max Manera, starting at noon and a re-match against Kaulupono at 1 p.m. before leaving for home Sunday morning.
There is no admission to view the competition and the public is invited to come support Kaua‘i’s neighbors from the Big Island.
