KALAHEO — The Kaua‘i Lady Ballers closed their Parks and Recreation Winter Basketball League in winning form, coming back from a 23-18 halftime deficit to take a 34-31 edge in overtime, Wednesday. Another nail-biter followed as the Kamikaze lost little
KALAHEO — The Kaua‘i Lady Ballers closed their Parks and Recreation Winter Basketball League in winning form, coming back from a 23-18 halftime deficit to take a 34-31 edge in overtime, Wednesday.
Another nail-biter followed as the Kamikaze lost little time establishing itself over Team Lihu‘e in a 27-21 win at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
“This was the Kaua‘i Lady Ballers’ last game,” said Karen Matsumoto of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association, which coordinated the scorers and officials for the county. “There are only four teams in the league, and next Wednesday, is the make-up of a rained out game, but the Ballers are done for this season.”
Chipping back from the five-point deficit, the Kaua‘i Lady Ballers capped a 7-0 fifth frame with a buzzer beater to take the lead 28-27 for the first time in the game.
The torrid defense that dominated the sixth and final regulation period produced just three points from the Ballers and four from Kaulupono as both teams tried to keep an edge while managing the clock.
Kaulupono’s Melia Okura, going on to finish as its leading scorer, pocketed a putback for the 31-30 lead at the 1:59 mark.
Ariel Cummings, ending as the Ballers’ leading scorer with 11 points, had an opportunity to put it away in the final 30 ticks, but three chances at the foul line came up empty, the board reading 31-30 in favor of Kaulupono.
With just seven ticks left in regulation, Shai-Anne Abigania forced the two-minute overtime when she dropped the opener of a charity pair, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Samantha Colona, one of the smaller girls on the team, stoked the crowd with a bucket and Cummings dropped the tail end of a charity pair with 10 seconds remaining to close the season on a winning note.
Following Cummings, Abigania dropped nine points and Colona ended with four points to lead the Kaua‘i Lady Ballers.
Okura topped the Kaulupono effort with 13 points, followed by Schae-Marie Tavita and Jasmine Santella each finishing with six points.
Kalia Shimabukuro powered for eight points to lead the Kamikaze out of the blocks, followed by Ayzlin Kealoha-Albarado dropping six points and tenacious utility Macy Tamura adding four points in addition to a lot of hustle on both sides of the ball.
Guard Marissa Martinez topped Team Lihu‘e’s offensive showing with seven points, followed by Laura Koga dropping six points and Motu Taumalolo adding five points.
The girls enjoy one more outing next Wednesday when Kaulupono take on the Kamikaze starting at 6 p.m. at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Team Lihu‘e will go up against Westside Basketball starting at 7 p.m.
