KALAHEO — Thunder rumbled through the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Thursday night when the Kauai Thunder held off the Hanapepe Hotshots, 35-18, during the Extreme Termites basketball games.
Joshua Rego, anchoring the swing forward position, ripped the net for 12 of his game-total 15 points to drive the Kauai Thunder to an early 18-0 lead following the first 6-minute period. He launched three bombs from outside the three-point arc and was joined by Isaac Mirey to see the Thunder hold a 27-0 margin following two periods of play.
Lindcey Constantino showed up for Hanapepe, making his first appearance on the hardwoods.
The Thunder’s defense was ready for the quick guard, holding him to a mere four points in the second half, including the 16-minute final stanza led by the efforts of Kala‘i Esteban, Trevyn Nishimura and Aukai Arruda — all termites when physically compared to Constantino.
Hanapepe came back to outscore the Thunder — 7-0 and 11-7 in the remaining quadrants — but came up short at the final buzzer.
Constantino finished at the top of the Hotshot scoring at four points in the effort, followed by Hotshot swing forward Christoffer Alicante netting three points. Jordan Macadangdang, Wyatt Vinhasa and Noah Valenciano added pairs in the final period and a digit from Javin Moises lit the boards for Hanapepe.
Rego topped the Kauai Thunder books with 15 points, followed by Mirey ending with nine points. Esteban, key on defense, finished with four points. Kailer Chow-Agor, Arruda and Matthew Estrada finished with pairs, and a digit from Austin Duterte rounded out the victory.
Earlier in the evening, Hunter Corpuz fired off eight of his game-total 10, and John Vincent Sibuma added seven points to lead the TL Warriors-Blue to a 17-14 frame over the Westside Boys who got scores from every player on its bench.
The Warrior-Blue effort could not overcome the 22-6 advantage built up by the Westside Boys, and the team, coached by Dino Pabre, walked off with a 36-23 victory behind 17 points netted by Josiah Delos Reyes, seven points from Kelani Lewis, and four points each from Lokahi Delos Reyes and Sheldon Jamoraban. Makai Simola-Bernhardt and Orion Magaoay finished with pairs.
Corpuz topped the Warrior-Blue effort with 10 points followed by Sibuma ending with seven points. Damien Tumpap added four points, and Michael Hinnebusch had a pair in the second quarter.
Tavina Harris netted 20 points and Harlee Montemayor added six points to lead the Westside A girls to a 34-10 win over the Westside B girls in the nightcap. Clara Valencia led the B team’s effort with six points.
The Extreme Termite basketball league nears the end of its season Monday when the Rebels tangle with Westside B in a 6 p.m. tip-off at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. The Dream Team goes up against the Westside A girls in a 7 p.m. match, and the Boys first seed and fourth seed enter the playoff arena starting at 8 p.m.
