KALAHEO — John Patch came up with 10 of his game-total 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead Go EZ to a 20-16 period over H1 and 1, Friday night. But that was the only quarter the orangeshirts outscored
KALAHEO — John Patch came up with 10 of his game-total 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead Go EZ to a 20-16 period over H1 and 1, Friday night.
But that was the only quarter the orangeshirts outscored H1 and 1, who upset the top-seeded Go EZ, 72-59, to clinch the Men’s 18 and Over finals at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
That was the only defeat Go EZ suffered during the Kaua‘i Summer Youth Basketball league hosted by the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association and the County of Kaua‘i.
Manny’s Sports rebounded from a 22-20 halftime deficit to squeak past the Kaua‘i Ballers, 54-52 at the buzzer to clinch third place in another nail-biter which opened the action.
Lance Miyashiro exploded for 15 of his game-total 17 points in the second half to lead the Kaua‘i Ballers’ scoring followed by guard Willis Batol and Kekoa Colipano each netting eight points. Colipano, netting one of two treys for the Kaua‘i Ballers in the third frame, was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Mike Lindsey, named one of four Most Valuable Players of the night, topped the Manny’s Sports’ scoring with 20 points, including five critical fourth quarter points when Manny’s pulled ahead of the Kaua‘i Ballers and hung on for the edge, at one point holding an eight-point bulge.
Matt Lindsey finished with 14 points, Bradley Coloma and Spam Lindsey each adding six points in the win, setting the stage for the showdown between No. 2 H1 and 1 and the top-seeded Go EZ.
H1 and 1 lost little time honing its defense. Working to contain the Ian Kahn threat of Go EZ, H1 and 1 went to a man defense at the tipoff and Olin Claussen broke the lock on the scoreboard, netting a three-ball, one of seven marked by H1 in its win.
That lead stood for the entire game, H1 taking an 18-14 lead following the first quarter and increasing the margin 36-24 at the half fueled by eight points each from Claussen and Trent Thompson.
By the end of the third quarter, H1 held a 56-39 lead, outgunning Go EZ 20-15 in the third frame fueled by 11 points, including three treys from Tab Matsumoto who was voted MVP for H1 at game’s end.
The lead grew precariously slim in the final stanza when Go EZ whittled the lead dow within five points in the final three minutes.
Matsumoto, guarding Kahn for most of the game, finished with 24 points to lead the H1 and 1 scoring, Claussen ending with 13 points, including three treys. Sean Allen marked seven of his 11 points in the second half and Thompson finished with 10 points and solid paint performance.
David Medeiros, key defender, added six points, James Dingus and Canaan Higa, also strong on the defensive showing, each finished with four points.
Kahn, heavily defended on to where he was caged by three H1 defenders, broke open for a game-high 29 points, sub-par to his showing throughout the league where he tucked in 51 points in one game. He was voted MVP for Go EZ.
Patch followed with 14 points, guard Micah Bermoy was held to eight points, Jared Auna, key boarder for Go EZ, added five and an opening trey from Levi Berton rounding out the scoring, Berton fouling out in the final 27 seconds.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
