Mililani Girls Under 14 hoopsters come to visit

KALAHEO — When Kaulupono coach Bobby Kamakele learned of the visit by a Mililani, O‘ahu Girls 14 and Under basketball team, he could not pass up the opportunity to offer a challenge for Kaua‘i’s Girls 14 Under teams.

Thursday night, the four-team tournament opened at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center with the host Kaulupono challenging the Kamikaze, coached by Keven Hanano.

The visiting Mililani squad, coached by Mike Oyama, Chris Justo and Jennifer Brooks, were tasked with playing the Kaua‘i Ballers, coached by Cecil Gee.

“One of our team parents, Lyle Tamagawa, is a Kaua‘i boy,” Justo said. “That helped bring the girls to Kaua‘i.”

Ross Shimabukuro, Kaua‘i High School’s athletic director, said Lyle was one of his students at Kaua‘i High School and the visiting team took on a controlled scrimmage with the Kaua‘i High School Junior Varsity girls basketball team before heading to Kalaheo.

“The girls might be small, but they were a good match for the JV team,” Shimabukuro said.

Team members of the visiting O‘ahu squad include Jacie Kuniyoshi, Taylor Walker, Marisa Matsuo, Taysia Canon, Tay Souza, Kayla Torres and Kristen Tamagawa.

Scorekeeping duties were handled by former Kaulupono players who are currently on the roster of the Waimea High School girls basketball team and Cheyanne Duarte, a former Kaulupono player who is home for winter break from college.

Pool play wraps up Saturday with two games on tap, Kaulupono taking on the Kapa‘a Ballers starting at 9 a.m. followed by the Kamikaze tangling with the visiting Mililani starting at 10 a.m.

Following three days of pool play, the battle for third place tips off Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center followed by the tournament title game starting at 12:30 p.m.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.