PUHI — Cody Udarbe launched a long distance bomb with 7:58 showing in regulation to pull the Downtown Warriors into the win column Tuesday during the opening day of the five-day Isle Hoops Basketball Holiday Classic at the Wilcox Gymnasium at Island School.
Udarbe’s trey was his sole score as the Downtown held off Papalina on the top end to take a 27-25 edge at the buzzer behind the high point of Nicholas Gandeza who finished with 11 points in the Boys Grade 5 division contest.
Zaimana Labanon added four points, Udarbe finished with three, and Jaiden Balubar and Kios Nathan each tucked in pairs for the win.
Liam had high point honors for Papalina with 11 points followed by Efrin and Ikeloa each netting four points.
In the contest that followed, a Girls Grade 5 division contest, Halia Vicoy-Fulmaono hit a pair to keep the Kauai Ballers from being shut out as the Westside Girls took a 28-2 lead at the break behind seven points from Alyssa Gummerus and six points apiece from Kaesha Silva and Adriana Vidal.
Action in the Isle Hoops Holiday Classic continues today through Sunday with the first pf seven matches tipping off at 3:50 p.m. when NaKoa 6 takes on Papalina followed by Papalina going up against IsleHoops at 4:40 p.m.
The Rebels, one of three teams entered by Coach John Quinones, goes up against the Lynx6, one of two teams entered by Coach Clarence Sales, start the evening action at 5:30 p.m. followed by Nakoa7 going up against Papalina at 6:20 p.m.
The Thunder takes the floor against Westside in a 7:10 p.m. matchup followed by the Ballers and Rebels tipping off at 8 p.m. UpTown closes the gym against Nakoa8 starting at 8:50 p.m.
Jack Viohl, one of the tournament leaders, said the champions from last year’s Classic, the Con3Jacks from Maui, make its first appearance, Thursday against the Thunder in a 6:20 p.m. contest. The Con3Jacks close the night against the Hoopstars in a 8:50 p.m. tipoff.
The Isle Hoops basketball Holiday Classic for middle school students features 25 teams participating for a total of 55 games — all at Wilcox Gymnasium.
Championship contests start at 4:40 p.m. Sunday.
