G.E.K. unleashed nine bombs from outside the three-point arc in the second half Friday, but the effort came up seven points short at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. G.E.K. fell to The Kings 70-63 before an audience filled with Koa Kea
G.E.K. unleashed nine bombs from outside the three-point arc in the second half Friday, but the effort came up seven points short at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
G.E.K. fell to The Kings 70-63 before an audience filled with Koa Kea hotel employees and families supporting the Kings’ players, many of whom work at Koa Kea.
Players from other teams in the Mens 18 and Over basketball league also added to the excitement, the players doing their part in supporting the title game.
Tab Matsumoto, selected one of the league’s Most Valuable Player, finished with 26 points, including a first quarter three-ball, in leading the Kings to its edge. The top-seeded team built a 15-8 lead after the opening quarter.
The Kings, capable of launching the three-balls, instead opted for control, staying ahead of G.E.K. and limiting the game to just three treys. Olin Claussen and Axefaio Brewer joined Matsumoto with treys.
The Kings posted a 31-19 halftime score, fueled by nine of its 18 field goals in the game. But G.E.K. came back in the third quarter to outscore the Kings, 19-14 behind three treys, including one from Aaron Hesapene who led G.E.K. in scoring with 19 points, netting seven points in the third frame.
Hesapene found open ground in the final period, launching four more three-balls for a total of five toward his 19-point showing. Chris Acoba bombed a trey in the third toward his game-total eight points, tying Hans Reeves who also finished with eight points, including a trey in the fourth frame.
Kevin Kailikini, Mike Sanders and Gilbert Castro each finished with five points. James Talich, Kawika Smith and Alden Lahip each ended with four points and a digit from Willy Abihai accounted for the G.E.K. math.
Following Matsumoto’s lead, Axefaio Brewer finished with 14 points, 10 of which came in the second half, and Justin Sparks added a dozen points on four buckets.
Claussen finished with five second-half points along with Tony Brewer, Dustin Fontanilla added four fourth quarter points, all coming from the charity stripe, Trent Thompson finished with three fourth-quarter marks and a digit from Ruben DelaCruz rounding out the math.
