KALAHEO — Kalaheo and the .U..NCH. will battle for the crown of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association Women 18 and Over summer league, Friday night. The two teams were matched up following victories in Monday night’s playoff games, Kalaheo taking
KALAHEO — Kalaheo and the .U..NCH. will battle for the crown of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association Women 18 and Over summer league, Friday night.
The two teams were matched up following victories in Monday night’s playoff games, Kalaheo taking a 45-35 edge over the Kaua‘i Ballers and .U..NCH. staying ahead of the Kamikaze, 54-35.
Despite the final scores, all four teams played aggressive, physical defense in an effort at keeping shooters at bay.
But the Kaua‘i Ballers were hurt by the absence of their sparkplug, Jessilyn Aki, and despite step-up play from guard Kira Nakamura, a part of the Kapa‘a High School lineup from the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation league, the Ballers were kept to defensive play through most of the night.
Kalaheo, one of its key power forwards not suited up, relied on the ball handling skills of Cheyanne Duarte to keep the ball moving, and on occasional windows from the outside, popped off the ball.
Duarte finished with a dozen points, including nailing two of Kalaheo’s four treys in the game.
“I don’t believe it,” Duarte said following the game. “This is the best I’ve scored in the league, yet.”
Joining Duarte at the top, Sera Pascual popped a critical trey in the second period en route to finishing with nine points. Guard Janessa Grady, demonstrated hustle in traffic to power the ball inside. She finished with a trey en route to her seven points.
Kelsey Cadiente relied on her speed to break away, playing a physical game en route to her six points. Sister Kathleen Cadiente also finished with six points, four coming in the final stanza when Kalaheo just stayed ahead of the Ballers.
Leina‘ala McCabe, another Kapa‘a player from the KIF, topped the Ballers’ scoring with 13 points, including nailing the sole pair of three-balls for the team.
Ma’ilika Napoleon followed with six points, low post Lauren Claypoole added five points and Raquelle Matayoshi finished with four points to round out the Ballers’ leaders.
The Kaua‘i Ballers meet the Kamikaze starting at 5 p.m., Friday for third place at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
That game will feature Mahea Hanie-Grace of the Kamikaze playing against the team coached by her father.
“I might have to wear one half blue and the other half red,” said Mahea’s mother after finding out the matchup.
Hanie-Grace and Kristle Henry, both KIF standouts from the 2009 season, paced the Kamikaze effort with eight and 10 points, respectively.
But their output was measured more in effort than the individual scoring as both girls anchored the floor, one taking the left side and the other on the right.
Kristyn Lorita gained court experience for the Kaua‘i High School team with her strong defensive hustle and nailing the Kamikaze’s only pair of three-balls en route to her eight points.
Similarly, Lacey Lucas stepped up her play in the absence of Bristy Ann Agu, moving into the power forward spot to finish with seven points. A final period pair from Jasmine Mariano rounded out the effort.
Natalie Mata exploded for 11 of her game-high 14 points in a final period scoring surge to lead .U..NCH. Rachael Taira was limited to three buckets with a 6-for-9 showing at the charity stripe toward her game-total dozen marks.
Erin Garlie finished with 10 points and Cherisse Rapozo added eight points. Carie Inouye ended the night on seven points, including one trey.
Kalaheo, second-seeded in the league, will tip off against .U..NCH. starting at 6 p.m.
The KYBA Men 18 and Over will also play its finals, Friday, with the third-place game starting at 7 p.m. followed by the title game at 8 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
