Trey Taba launched a pair of three-point bombs in the third period to pull Papalina-Orange out of a 13-10 deficit on Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. The trey gave Papalina-Orange its first lead of the night, the half
Trey Taba launched a pair of three-point bombs in the third period to pull Papalina-Orange out of a 13-10 deficit on Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
The trey gave Papalina-Orange its first lead of the night, the half ending on an 18-15 Papalina bulge en route to a 38-33 Papalina-Orange edge over the Kaua‘i Ballers in the final regular season match in the county’s Division II boys youth basketball league.
Taba topped all scorers with 14 points, and Gunnar Burkman added a dozen points to lead the Papalina-Orange scoring.
Teili Fonua and Hunter Bethel led the Kaua‘i Ballers’ scoring with 10 points apiece.
Jacob Lombardo finished with a game-high 13 points for Team Lihu‘e Bulls, but the the effort came up short as Hanakila went to Lexton Camat and Noah Rall combining for 15 points to take a 35-18 showing over the Lihu‘e squad — coached by Rafael Corpuz and Reid Tamanaha.
Coach Philip Baclayon wrapped up a successful season for Hanakila as Hero Roslin joined the scoring leaders with five points.
T.J. Apilado set the pace for Westside Basketball in the final game of the night, netting a game-high 16 points in a 32-11 showing over Team Lihu‘e Heat.
D.J. Pabre, normally the high-pointer for Westside, followed Apilado with eight points.
Kekoa Wehner set the pace for Team Lihu‘e Heat with four points.
Karen Matsumoto of the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association, assisting the county with scorekeeping, said with the exception of Hanakila, all teams on the floor had another game on Saturday.
Tab Matsumoto, a former standout with the Kaua‘i High School program, will be starting a Men’s 18 and Over league later this month.
Full schedules will be forthcoming.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
