KAPAA — Kaiwa Grubbe took the shot with six seconds remaining to push the Voyagers to a 34-30 win over the Supersonics in the second overtime Thursday at the Bernice Hundley Gym on the Kapaa High School campus. “Go for
KAPAA — Kaiwa Grubbe took the shot with six seconds remaining to push the Voyagers to a 34-30 win over the Supersonics in the second overtime Thursday at the Bernice Hundley Gym on the Kapaa High School campus.
“Go for the two,” said John Kaneholani, the site supervisor for the summer league basketball games. “Under league rules, the first team that reaches three points ends the game. The Voyagers’ three-point shooter, Ethan Inanod, fouled out so the Voyagers need to fire off two two-pointers and can take the game.”
Grubbe, open outside the paint on the leftside, did exactly that, fielding a pass from the inside and launching the sphere that dropped in without clanging the rim.
“I had three fouls at the half,” Inanod said. “When I fouled, I thought it was only my fourth, but I guess it was my fifth foul so I had to sit out the overtime.”
The foul came seconds following his three-point bomb that put the Voyagers up 28-25 with 2:35 remaining in regulation.
Mayson Broyles is one of the key shooters for the Supersonics, relinquishing his shooting chores to George Gojkovic until the second half when his key shots kept the Supersonics in the chase. His first field goal knotted the game 30-30 and despite two last-second attempts, the Supersonics could tip the scoreboard and forced the overtime.
“This was a learning experience for us,” said Supersonics coach Fran Constantino. “We had our chances — many times. Our shooters were open, both inside and on the outside, but I guess the boys couldn’t see them and kept the ball on the other side.”
Voyagers’ coach Archie Achuara Jr. was jubilant, joining his players and enthusiastic parent supporters at the final buzzer.
“This is just our second win in the summer league season,” Achuara said. “During the Merv Lopes classic (Kauai Hoops Classic), we lost to them by more than 40 points, so to even play close would have been great.”
The Voyagers’ coach, whose only other summer league win came against a Kauai Thunder team, said the win came down to the boys focusing on fundamentals.
“That’s all we do at practice,” Achuara said. “Passing, dribbling — fundamentals. That helped cut down on our turnovers.”
Gojkovic led the Supersonics with 16 points. Broyles added five points and Aden Ringor finished with four points.
Dwight Apao, Luke Hunadi, and Inanod topped the Voyagers with eight points apiece. Josh Dobashi added five points.
Earlier in the evening, the Dream Team younger girls coached by Luther Yam posted a 26-7 win over the young Kaulupono girls. Olivia Malafu led the effort with 15 points and Lele Gonsalves adding eight points. Liana Hasegawa netted six points for Kaulupono.
Two games at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center rounded out the night of basketball.
Kelani Lewis netted a game-high 13 points, but the Westside fell short 18-15 to the Lihue Warriors who got six points from Kai Riopta in a boys division 4 matchup.
Angeline Nizo and Jazmine Balauro-Constantino combined for 14 points to lead the Kauai Lynx to a 26-0 shutout over the Rebels A team in a girls division 4 matchup.
Seven games are on tap Saturday at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapaa starting at 8 a.m. Monday has three games scheduled for the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center when Kaneholani will bring his Kapaa team to take on Papalina starting at 6 p.m.
