Kaulupono undefeated in county hoops

KALAHEO — With the end of the county’s Youth Basketball League looming on Monday, the Kaulupono girls in the Division I, or students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, remain undefeated after holding off the Kauai Ballers, 42-32, Monday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. It was the Kauai Ballers’ first loss.

“It’s starting to sink in. The girls are starting to see what happens when they work hard,” said Bobby Kamakele, Kaulupono coach.

Utilizing an aggressive man defense, the Kaulupono girls held the Ballers scoreless through the first two minutes of the second period before Lilya Cummings finally found the hoop.

But the Kaulupono lead was cemented in the final 22 ticks of the first period when Ramos took a pass from Braelyn Cayaban to seal a 10-0 first period lead.

Coming off a halftime deficit of 21-12, the Ballers persisted, and in the fifth period, capitalizef on the Kaulupono defensive change which saw the blueshirts take up a zone defense. Fueled by four points from Cummings, the Ballers outgunned Kaulupono, 6-2 in the period.

The Ballers firepower was limited to just three players — Kayla Tangalin dropping 12 points, Talia Washington dropping 10 points, and Cummings finishing with 10 points.

Kaulupono’s Tiana Joy Ramos finished with a game-high 13 points. Kierstin Gummerus added 10 points, eight dropping in the second half, and Kaye Serapio ending with nine points.

Earlier in the evening, Alena Bernardo scored14 points to lead the A‘o Aku Rebels to a 22-17 showing over the Kauai Lynx A to open the night’s triple bill.

Alena got the sole digit in the defensive first period before setting the twine on fire in the third period with six points to give the Rebels an 11-4 bulge.

Cienna Morishige added four points with Logan Kashima and Brianna Bernardo each tucked in a pair for the win.

Angeline Nizo topped the Kauai Lynx A scoring on seven points with Katrina Cadiz adding five points.