KALAHEO — The people make you feel like you belong, said Jayden Almeida, a returnee with The Pride, Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. “The people on Kauai are very welcoming,” Almeida said. “They make you feel like you
KALAHEO — The people make you feel like you belong, said Jayden Almeida, a returnee with The Pride, Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
“The people on Kauai are very welcoming,” Almeida said. “They make you feel like you belong here.”
Almeida was one of seven players from The Pride, a team visiting from Upcountry Maui for the County of Kauai, Kauai Youth Basketball Association, and Team Lihue 13 and Under and 16 and Under basketball tournament, which opened Thursday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
“Jayden said the good part of Kauai is the people are very nice,” said Tatiana Medeiros, who was enjoying her first visit to the Garden Island. “I’m just happy I can be here.”
Coach Donald Shepherd said he’s been bringing The Pride to play basketball on Kauai for about 10 years.
“We switch out the girls,” he said. “Some of them have never been to Kauai, and traveling is always a good experience. On this trip, I believe we have four girls who have been here before. For the others, this is their first trip.”
The girls said they represent three different high schools on Maui: Kamehameha-Maui, Seabury Hall and King Kekaulike.
Led by Almeida, who netted 15 points, The Pride got an early lead over host Team Lihue and went on to win its opening match, 36-22.
Helping Almeida, Rebeka Revelle dropped seven points and Keolani Falcum finished with six points.
Ashley Lucas topped the Team Lihue effort with six points and Lani Neves added five points.
Earlier in the night, the Kauai Ballers 16 and Under squad opened the first of its two-game sweep with a 23-11 win over Kaulupono behind the balanced scoring of Shai-Anne Abigania and Autumn Warnock netting seven and six points, respectively.
Tegan Keep returned to the hardwoods, joining low post Melia Okura in leading Kaulupono with four points apiece.
Warnock was the difference in the Kauai Ballers 16U’s second win, dropping the tail end of a charity pair after the buzzer to break a 30-30 stalemate and take the 31-30 edge.
Jaliyah Casem played a pivotal role in the waning minutes of the game, capitalizing on several key turnovers to set the stage for Warnock’s post-game free throw.
Warnock finished with 11 points to lead the Kauai Ballers’ 31-30 edge over Waimea, Abigania helping with seven points.
Nicole Palacio and Caitlyn Owen set the pace for Waimea with eight points apiece followed by Brandee Burton adding six points.
“For some of the Kauai Ballers, this is their third game,” said Kaulupono coach Bobby Kamakele, while watching the tight Kauai Ballers 16U match against Waimea.
The tournament runs through Sunday with the title game for the 13 and Under starting at 11 a.m. followed by the title game for the 16 and Under division tipping off at noon at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
