Boys ready for summer basketball

LIHUE — Team Lihue, coached by Max Manera, is ready for summer basketball.

“Bobby Kamakele of Kaulupono said to be ready by Thursday or Saturday,” Manera said. “I checked my email today, but no schedule, yet.”

Wednesday afternoon, the Team Lihue teams were practicing at the Isenberg Park courts.

“Team Lihue has only boys teams for the summer league,” Manera said. “The girls are all traveling, or have other plans. Even the boys, not everyone is here today because some of them are playing in flag football. Even one of our coaches, Nardo Nacnac, is helping coach Flag Football.”

Team Lihue will be fielding boys teams in the grades 4-5 division as well as teams in grades 6-7, and grades 8-9.

“This is Dominic’s third year he’s playing,” said Marvin Agrade, Dominic’s father, who watched from the sidelines as the boys in the youngest division went through their drills. “He started in the third grade with the Termite program, and now, he’s starting his third year. He likes basketball. It’s one of his favorite sports.”

On the other side of the court, the older division teams worked through their drills with Manera supervising from midcourt.

Samantha Coloma worked off to the side, the sole girl diligently shooting and chasing down the ball, heedless of the action.

“There’s no league for us,” said Coloma, who played for the Kapaa High School junior varsity team. “I’m in the 10th grade, and I’m here because I’m doing a sleepover at my cousin’s house. I would play if they had teams.”

Manera said with Wednesday being the final day of school, the boys are ready to play.

“It’s more than that,” Agrade said. “The summer league is a little looser than the winter and spring leagues. This means the boys need to work for their spots because there isn’t the restriction of mandatory play where everyone needs to play. It kind of comes down to an all-star squad. The coach can play anyone he wants.”

Meanwhile, Manera is still waiting on the schedule.