KALAHEO — Liana Hasegawa of the Westside Blue tucked in six second-half points to push the seventh grade girls team to a 30-23 edge over the Kaulupono seventh graders Tuesday night during the youth basketball summer league series at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Hasegawa’s second-half performance enhanced the presence of Tavina Harris, Hailey Mata and Katelyn Colipano on the floor, and she finished the night as the Westside Blue’s top scorer. Harris, Mats and Tyreen Unciano each contributed four points to the win.
Ani Acosta topped the game with 10 points to lead the Kaulupono forces that saw its strong guard Kiaura Ortiz-Rita add seven marks to the effort, and forward Shylah Bagaoisan-Rita finish with three points while teaming with Chalea Lancaster-Fabro to contain Harris in the paint.
The match was one of four contested at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, where Naylea Machado scored the only pair for the Kauai Ballers in the fifth grade girls match that opened the night.
Machado’s bucket prevented a total shutout for the Eastside team as they succumbed to the Kauai Lynx, 60-2. Lailah Vinhaca-Kalani topped all scorers with 22 points followed by Grace Alana and Kate Lynn Colipano each netting 10 points.
Kaulupono ninth grade girls pushed to a 10-point lead over the Kauai Ballers in the first eight minutes of play and never looked back during its 56-27 romp over the greenshirts.
Kaye Serapio topped the Kaulupono scoring on 17 points, including one from outside the three-point arc. Kierstin Gummerus added 14 marks, including a first-half three-ball. Braelyn Cayaban dropped nine points — all treys.
Lilya Cummings topped the Ballers’ effort with 10 points followed by Hailey Overmyer providing a lot of inside strength with her six points. Tristee Souza ended with five, including a first-half three-ball.
Lilly Kaohelaulii closed the night with 16 points to lead the Westside White fifth grade girls to a 42-10 roll over the Rebel Girls, who got eight points from Mikylah Labanon.
The boys got their time on the court Monday when three games were contested at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Tyrus Ka‘auwai, Ian Rapozo and Connor Kitamura tickled the twine with eight point apiece to lead the Laker Purple to a 46-38 win over the Thunder in a seventh grade boys division matchup where Joshua Rego soared to a game-high 27 points for the Thunder.
Jailey Medeiros worked for a game-high 14 points to lead the Raiders to a 40-21 win over the Ballers in a seventh grade girls match Monday night. Skylyn Fagarang helped the win with seven points.
Tristee Souza netted 11 points and Auli‘i Takanaka added six points to the Ballers’ efforts.
Pono Sullivan scored 15 points and Kekila Kealoha added 10 points to lead the Rebels to a 30-26 edge over the Ballers in the fifth grade boys division matchup where Reinaldo Camacho finished with 12 points for the Ballers and Anu Souza added eight marks.
More games are on tap for today when four matches are scheduled to tip off at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center starting at 5:30 p.m. when the Hotshots take on the Ballers in a fifth grade boys division game.
The Thunder go up against Na Koa White in a seventh grade boys division match at 6:20 p.m. followed by another seventh grade boys matchup when the Hotshots take on the Warriors Volt at 7:10 p.m.
The Rebels fifth grade boys close the night against the Warriors at 8:30 p.m.
To date, only one game is scheduled Saturday at the Bernice Hundley Gym when Na Koa takes on Kilauea in a fifth grade girls division contest starting at 8:30 a.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
