KALAHEO — Rachael Taira and Cherisse Rapozo each had big buckets for .U..NCH., Monday night. Natalie Mata, topping the .U..NCH. scoring on 19 points, knocked down her final field goal of the night at the 4-minute mark to break a
KALAHEO — Rachael Taira and Cherisse Rapozo each had big buckets for .U..NCH., Monday night.
Natalie Mata, topping the .U..NCH. scoring on 19 points, knocked down her final field goal of the night at the 4-minute mark to break a 36-36 deadlock with the Kaua‘i Ballers.
Taira and Rapozo had back-to-back buckets with three minutes showing to lock up the 44-42 comeback win over the Kaua‘i Ballers in the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association Women 18 and Over summer league.
The Kaua‘i Ballers turned to Jessilyn Aki, leading the Ballers’ attack with 19 points in the game.
Aki, who helped grab the 25-17 halftime lead with nine points, pulled the Ballers to within two at the 3:23 mark before Taira and Rapozo posted their buckets.
The point guard was not done yet.
With 1:42 showing, Aki launched the Ballers’ only three-ball of the game to pull to within three points, 44-41 only to have .U..NCH. safeguard the ball, allowing just one more point by Raquelle Matayoshi, her only point in the game.
The win keeps .U..NCH. undefeated while the Kaua‘i Ballers and Kalaheo, outlasting the KHS Alumni 44-28, are holding two losses each.
Earlier in the night, the Kilauea Hui came to within two points in the final period before the Kamikaze surged to a 47-37 edge to open the slate of games.
Kamikaze guards Mahea Hanie-Grace and Kristle Henry combined for 36 points, Hanie-Grace topping the scoring with 20 points and Henry adding 16 points, including the team’s only two treys.
Lauren Hanano added four points, Bristy Ann Agu, getting applause for her on-the-back rebound and pass in the second half, finished with three points. Kristyn Lorita and Jasmine Mariano each paired.
Sarah Tangalin, the Hui guard, topped the Kilauea effort with 12 points, followed by Lauren Wilson adding seven, Cheyenne Poorbear ending with six and Kapua Chandler adding five points.
Jacalyn Tomacder and Kehaulani Regidor scored their only points in the game in the first quarter, Tomacder getting four and Regidor adding three.
But that contributed to a 10-7 lead by the KHS Alumni over Kalaheo at the end of the first quarter.
Kalaheo, rebounding from a loss to the Kaua‘i Ballers, Saturday, spotted the Alumni seven points before finding the net.
But once they found the hole, Mollie Connelly finished with 10 points to lead Kalaheo to its win. Guard Cheyanne Duarte, getting two quick fouls in the opening frame, went on to finish with six points while moving the ball around.
Aiko Grande, after peeling off four treys, Saturday, had none on Monday. She and Arrisa Thronas, Erin Connelly and Kelsey Cadiente, who left the game with an injury, each added four points.
Cliflynn Bukoski topped the Alumni with seven points, followed by Denise Karrati, Kimberly Tada and Tomacder adding four points each. Regidor had three marks with Cissy Dennis, Belinda Butac and Chelsie Cansino each adding pairs.
The KYBA Women 18 and Over next take the floor, Friday starting at 6 p.m. when the Kamikaze tangle with .U..NCH. followed by Kalaheo hosting the Kilauea Hui starting at 7 p.m. The KHS Alumni go up against the Kaua‘i Ballers starting at 8 p.m.
