KILAUEA — Hanakila will meet the Kaua‘i Ballers for the title of the Kaua‘i Youth Summer Basketball league, Boys Under 14 division, Tuesday night at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center. Those spots were settled following the Ballers’ 61-25 win over Team
KILAUEA — Hanakila will meet the Kaua‘i Ballers for the title of the Kaua‘i Youth Summer Basketball league, Boys Under 14 division, Tuesday night at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center.
Those spots were settled following the Ballers’ 61-25 win over Team Lihu‘e and Hanakila’s 74-20 roll over the West Kaua‘i Hornets, Thursday night at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center.
Team Lihu‘e will open Tuesday night’s action against the West Kaua‘i Hornets in a battle for third place starting at 6 p.m.
Kelvin Ganotisi, finishing as Lihu‘e’s top scorer with nine points, sunk a late-game three-pointer, joining Lester Acojido who also hit a three in the second quarter as Lihu‘e chalked up two from outside the arc compared to the Kaua‘i Ballers who got just one from Wheeler Batol coming in the third quarter.
Wheeler Batol tied with Keli‘i Colipano for high-point honors for the Ballers, each player netting 11 points. Paul Oyama made four field goals for eight points.
Willo Batol scored five of his game-total seven points in the final frame with Joshua Blane, Mosese Fifita, Michael Booth and Junard Mata each adding six points in the victory.
Following Ganotisi’s lead, Lihu‘e’s Jordan Florence marked all of his six points in the second half, Mark Lacierna had five first-half points, Acojido had his trey and Cayson Lalin dropped a first quarter field goal in the effort.
“Those boys are really good,” said Mike Stevens, one of the Hanakila coaches who was spectating, Thursday night. “They never gave up. That’s the name of the game. Both the West Kaua‘i Hornets and Lihu‘e kept scrapping until the buzzer.”
The Hornets, playing under coach Antonio Pope who was kept busy trying to strategize with just five players, were held scoreless until the second quarter, scoring 10 points into the half.
Seaton Farias, the big man for the Hornets, was frustrated through the first period before finding his first bucket in the second quarter. He finished with a team-high 10 points followed by Noah Arruda, firing the only three-ball for West Kaua‘i, and Bernny Ned finishing with five points apiece.
Triston Hawelu-Inanod led Hanakila, finishing with 20 points, including two second-half three-balls when Hanakila increased its 20-point lead to more than 50 points at the final buzzer.
James Stevens, leading Hanakila in scorring as well as feeds, rebounds and assists, ended with 14 points followed by Matthew Cummings entering the arena for 12 points.
Christian Roslin fired one of six Hanakila three-balls en route to his game-total seven points, Kai Maroney added six and Lexton Camat ended with five points, including a final quarter trey.
Dante Dikeman made field goals in each half with Jacob Dykhouse and Jackson McCullough each adding three for the win.
Kainoa Colipano finished with 16 points to lead the Kaua‘i Ballers, garbed in “Warrior” jersies, to a 51-45 edge over Tropang-L in the finale, a Men 18 and Over game.
Kevin Esteban added 10 points for the Kaua‘i Ballers’ win.
Allan Pablo and James Badua led the Tropang-L effort with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Natalie Mata finished with a game-high 18 points to lead BAM to a 60-45 win over TUNDAZ in one of two Women 18 and Over matches played at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, Thursday night.
Sanoe Kaohelauli‘i finished with 12 points in the BAM win which saw Belinda Butac mark 16 points and Liona Hasegawa adding 14 points for the TUNDAZ’s effort.
Balanced scoring led by Janessa Grady saw Team 808 wrap up a 52-30 win over Bajingas, a team comprised of Waimea High School girls basketball players.
Aiko Grande, a former Waimea player, and Kristle Henry, coming from the Kaua‘i High School program, added nine and eight points, respectively, for the Team 808 win.
Vakeesha Lagazo topped the Bajingas scoring on seven points followed by Brandee Burton, Nikki Banasihan and Jullyn Ramos adding five points apiece.
The next KYBA game will be the championship for the Girls 14 Under division, Monday night at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center starting at 6 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
