KALAHEO — Natalie Mata of .U.N..CH and Ian Khan of the SupaStars were announced as the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association Most Valuable Players, Friday. Mata, culling a game-high 18 points, led the U-No-Can-Handle girls to a 42-37 edge over Kalaheo
KALAHEO — Natalie Mata of .U.N..CH and Ian Khan of the SupaStars were announced as the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association Most Valuable Players, Friday.
Mata, culling a game-high 18 points, led the U-No-Can-Handle girls to a 42-37 edge over Kalaheo to clinch the KYBA Women 18 and Over summer league final.
“He (Capt. Jeff Connelly) would’ve liked to have a win in this game, but I guess that didn’t happen,” said Teri Connelly, the Kalaheo coach. “But the girls played hard and had fun and that was the most important thing.”
Khan fired off one trey in the team’s nine long balls, netted 12 buckets and was 5-for-7 on the charity stripe for 30 points to lead the SupaStars to a 91-67 win over C-Town for the KYBA Men 18 and Over title.
“They are just too deep,” said Tab Matsumoto, a C-Town player who fouled out with 15 seconds remaining in the game, but contributed 20 points including two treys.
Austin Simao led the C-Town effort with three treys en route to his game-total 25 points, including a 5-for-6 showing at the foul line.
Following Khan, Darin Millard launched three treys and was 9-for-12 at the charity stripe en route to his 20 points.
Ian Clements knocked down four launches from the outside en route to his 14 points. Big man Nathan Smith ended with six buckets on the inside for his 14 points. Jon Ching and Travis Ware each finished with four points and David Medeiros launched his trey in the opening frame.
Following Mata’s lead for .U.N..CH., Rachel Taira fired off a trey toward her game-total six points, the first frame being critical for .U.N..CH. when it surged to a 13-4 bulge over Kalaheo.
Carie Inouye netted the other trey for .U.N..CH. in the third frame, adding a bucket in the period for five points. Cherisse Rapozo had two buckets in the second frame for four points and Elisa Inouye got her two buckets in the opening frame for four points.
But Kalaheo battled back to a 14-8 second period to pull to within three points, 21-18 at the half, led by Kelsey Cadiente with four points en route to her game-total 17 points. Cheyanne Duarte was 3-for-4 at the line in the period and Mollie Connelly added three points to help fuel that drive.
The see-saw continued as .U.N..CH. came back with a 15-6 third period. Kalaheo then made a final push with a 13-6 final stanza, but ultimately fell short. Cadiente ended the fourth frame with 11 points.
Mata was held to just four points in the first half, but exploded for eight points in the third period for .U.N..CH., being joined by Carie Inouye. Mata also scored the team’s only six points in the final frame.
Kaua‘i Ballers guard Kira Nakamura finished with 19 points to lead her team to a 43-27 win over the Kamikaze to settle in third place for the Women 18 and Over program.
Following Nakamura, Leinaala McCabe and Leihua McCabe finished with nine points apiece.
Mahea Hanie-Grace topped the Kamikaze effort on a dozen points with Kristle Henry, the other key guard for Kamikaze, being tied up with the Kaua‘i Challenge volleyball tournament.
Jocelyn Jensen, the visiting Alaskan player, ended with six points, followed by Bristy Ann Agu adding five points and Lacey Lucas ending with four first-half points.
Matt Lindsey and Michael Lindsey set the pace for Manny’s Sports with 14 points apiece in their 74-60 win over the Nite Owls for the KYBA Men 18 and Over third-place spot.
Manolito Pescador finished with 13 points, Bradley Coloma and Willis Batol each added nine points to the win. Spam Lindsey finished with seven points.
Kaleo Cummings battled through heavy traffic to finish with 22 points to lead the Nite Owls’ effort, followed by James Sagucio adding a dozen marks and Brendan McDaniels finishing with 11 points, including firing off three of the team’s six treys.
