KALAHEO — Coach Max Manera of the Lihue Warriors watched intently, Tuesday night as Na Koa Green tangled with the Lakers Purple in a boys seventh grade division at the youth basketball summer league playoff game at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
“We play the winner of this game, Thursday night for the title,” said Manera, whose Warriors Volt team advanced following a 47-23 win over the Hotshots, Monday night. “This has been a long season with a lot of basketball.”
Na Koa Green prevailed over the Lakers Purple, 52-38 behind the depth of Mone Malafu who topped the scoring with 22 points followed by Grayson Shimamoto adding 12 points from the inside corner and Michael Questin moving the ball for 11 points. The team advances to meet the Warriors Volt, Thursday in a 5:30 p.m. opener of four games at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Bobby Kamakele, the youth basketball coordinator, also watched the night’s third game, not only as a floor official, but as a coach for Kaulupono.
“Kaulupono plays the winner of the Kauai Lynx and Dream Team for the title of the girls ninth grade division, Thursday night,” Kamakele said. “That game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. in Kalaheo.”
The Kauai Lynx built an eight-point margin over the Dream Team, 20-12, at the break behind nine points marked by Brianna Bernardino and a trey from Jasmyne Ballesteros.
But the Dream Team clawed back into the fray when Kiani Pia Salvador dropped a bucket to knot the contest 22-22, and Olivia Malafu putting the Dream Team into the driver’s seat 24-22 at the 11:30 mark. The jockeying continued until the final minute when the Lynx held on to a last-ditch fouling attempt by the Dream Team, ending the match a 38-36 winner.
Leading the scoring charge for the Lynx, Bernardino finished with 13 points followed by Ballesteros adding nine points, including six critical second-half points. Amalya Sales and Bailey Perreira each netted seven points.
Alexie Ann Yam topped the Dream Team scoring on 11 points followed by Olivia Malafu adding 10 points, eight coming in the rallying second half when the Dream Team outgunned the Lynx, 24-18. Alexie Yam finished with eight points, everything dropping in the comeback second half.
The victory pits the Lynx ninth grade girls against Kaulupono for all the marbles, Thursday.
Earlier in the night, Andy Pham dropped 14 points and Jordan Calulot added 10 points to lead the Warriors Blue to a 41-12 victory over the Lakers Gold who got 10 points from Bryan Brown and seven points from Dylan Watanabe in a boys seventh grade division matchup.
The second matchup of the night, a boys seventh grade division game, saw Joshua Rego net 11 points, including a first-half three-ball, and Isaac Mirey adding 10 points to lead the Kauai Thunder to a 33-20 win over Na Koa White who got six points from Ian Correa and five marks from Kaeo Melandish.
Four games are on tap, Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
