The Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association and the County of Kaua‘i hosted five games in less than two days at both the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center and the Kilauea Neighborhood Center.
Friday night, Ian Khan netted 28 points to lead Go EZ to a 99-57 win over Tropang-L, which got a game-high 30 points from Jr. Punzalan in the losing effort.
Micah Bermoy added 22 points to Khan’s lead for Go EZ and Jaymark Serapio finished with 14 points to bolster Punzalan’s lead for Tropang-L.
This was the first of two Men Over 18 games at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, Friday night.
Brandon McDaniels came up with 17 points and Rod Corpuz added 11 points to give GEK a 70-65 edge over Westside Pride, which was led by Ronald Villanueva pocketing a game-high 19 points and Donald Balualua adding 14 points in the effort.
Saturday morning, James Stevens, rebounding from an 18 Over game Thursday, netted 16 points and Denmark Aladin added 13 points to lead Hanakila to a 47-30 win over the Kaua‘i Ballers in a single Boys 14 Under game at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center. Michael Booth and Junard Mata each netted nine points to lead the Kaua‘i Ballers effort.
Rianna Ralston finished with a game-high 11 points to lead Team Lihu‘e to a 27-13 showing over the Kamikaze, who got five points from Siokapesi Paua and four marks from Kaelee Esposo in one of two Girls 14 Under games.
Kekai Gonsalves and Autumn Warnock combined for 19 points to lead the Kaua‘i Ballers to a 34-14 win over Kaulupono in the second Girls 14 Under match.
Gonsalves finished with 10 points and Warnock added nine in the win.
Nicole Palacio topped the Kaulupono effort with six, followed by Melia Okura and Jenaiah Banasihan adding four points apiece. The team is coached by former Kaulupono players Kori Sakamoto and Natalie Mata, both home from college for the summer.
“I just sit back and observe,” said Kaulupono coach Bobby Kamakele who was enjoying the Waimea High School graduation with fellow coach Pedro Saligumba, Friday night. “This is the next step for the girls. We want them to be able to do all phases of the game. We don’t want them to just come in and play ball.”
KYBA will host three games, Monday at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Team Lihu‘e will open against the West Kaua‘i Hornets in a Boys 14 Under game starting at 6 p.m., followed by Team Lihu‘e taking on Kaulupono in a Girls 14 Under game starting at 7 p.m. Tundaz will tangle with Waimea in a Women Over 18 in the 8 p.m. finale.
There is no admission charge to view the competition.
