Jordan Florence finished with 10 points to lead Team Lihu‘e to a 30-28 edge over the Kaua‘i Ballers in one of three Boys Under 14 matches played in the Kaua‘i Summer Youth Basketball league, Thursday night at the Bernice Hundley
Jordan Florence finished with 10 points to lead Team Lihu‘e to a 30-28 edge over the Kaua‘i Ballers in one of three Boys Under 14 matches played in the Kaua‘i Summer Youth Basketball league, Thursday night at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a.
This was one of three sites where basketball was being played, the summer league being hosted by the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association and the County of Kaua‘i.
“We had two Boys 14-Under games scheduled because our coaches were not planning on participating in this week’s tournament schedule,” said Karen Matsumoto of the KYBA. “But it turned out some coaches entered teams using players from the summer league teams so it was pretty hectic for everyone. At least there were no forfeited games.”
Coaches Willy Aki and Max Manera came from Kalaheo and the ZZ Basketball/Rotary Club of West Kaua‘i tournament to coach their boys, the KYBA coordinator said.
Roger Domingo, an assistant coach with Hanakila, came with the boys’ team who won its game in Puhi at the Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic and won its second game in Kapa‘a, taking a 67-12 win over the West Kaua‘i Hornets.
James Stevens pocketed 28 points in the Hanakila victory with Christian Roslin adding 12 points.
John-Ry Tagaca topped the Hornets’ scoring with six points.
“Having two basketball tournaments on the same weekend is a bit much,” Matsumoto said. “But at least the players seem to be having fun.”
Matsumoto said Hanakila continued its evening with the encounter with the Bus Drivers in a Mens 18 and Over match which went back and forth, tied 29-29 at the half.
But three basketball games in a single day took its toll on Hanakila as the Bus Drivers put the pedal to the metal and outscored the North Shore blackshirts 21-9 in the fourth period en route to a 64-54 win.
Lance Atkins marked a game-high 27 points in the Bus Drivers’ win followed by Brandon Palacio, recipient of the Coach Dennis Agena Clinic’s “Above and Beyond” award last week, adding 19 points.
Stevens again led Hanakila with 15 points followed by James Paik adding 12 points.
The summer league resumes Monday with two games, both Girls 14 Under, at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center starting at 6 p.m.
Team Lihu‘e opens against Kaulupono followed by the Kaua‘i Ballers going up against the Kamikaze.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
