Dennis Fujimoto the garden island PUHI — The Kalepa Hillsiders came from a 10-point deficit to lock up a 47-40 win over Ali‘i Basketball to claim the Boys 14 Under championship Sunday at the 2009 Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic.
Dennis Fujimoto
the garden island
PUHI — The Kalepa Hillsiders came from a 10-point deficit to lock up a 47-40 win over Ali‘i Basketball to claim the Boys 14 Under championship Sunday at the 2009 Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic.
Joe Duronslet, Lewis “Spam” Lindsey and Duke Pauli were ready to do battle for Team Central.
What got in their way was the tough NJB Warrior defense that literally shut down Team Central en route to taking a 44-31 victory for the Boys 16 Under championship at Island School.
“These boys have been playing since they were 7 and 8 years old,” said NJB coach Randy Apele. “They’ve been to Honolulu, Las Vegas and the other islands.”
With almost nine years of experience playing with each other, the team moved as one, its defense shutting down Team Central and its offense punctuated with crisp passes and plays.
“When the kids were 9 years old, we came to play in a goodwill tournament at Waimea High School and the kids got beat pretty bad,” Apele said. “But, it’s a learning experience. This tournament is a really good one — well organized and a lot of good teams playing ball. We look forward to coming back next year.”
Apele said when NJB returns, they may be losing a few players, but there are other players who were not able to make this trip, and they’ll be ready.
Richard Hardy led the NJB effort with a game-high 21 points, his best showing coming in the third period when he netted eight of the team’s 12 points, NJB outscoring Team Central 12-5 in that frame.
But Team Central did not lay down, despite being outscored in three of the four periods.
Lindsey sparked a 16-13 second period with a three-point bomb, a field goal and two free throws for his game-total seven points.
Another trey announced Duronslet who finished with five points en route to his game-total dozen points that included another three-ball in the final period. That was the high score for Team Central.
With the inside closed by the tough NJB defense, Team Central took to the outside shot, and got treys from Tyren Hepa and Brian Andres, the three-balls being their only scores of the game.
Pauli was limited to just four first-half points.
Following Hardy’s 21 points, Lanaki Apelle added eight points and Jacob Kackley finished with six points.
Kaili Schumacher-Lagundino hobbled off the floor in the third period, and slumped to the floor, pulling his knee to his body.
That pivotal point launched an Ali‘i offense that ended a see-saw battle and the visitors from Honolulu quickly built a 10-point lead, paced by six points from Shayne Wolfe and five, including a trey, from Isaiah Visoria.
But with six minutes remaining, and faced with a 39-32 deficit at the start of the final period, the Kalepa Hillsiders came alive and turned the tide.
During the final period, the Hillsiders, still wearing the blue of the ZoomZoom tournament, kept the Ali‘i to just one-of-five charity shots, its only score in the period.
Schumacher-Lagundino dropped the tail end of a charity pair to pull Kalepa ahead 42-40 at the 1:24 mark followed by a Kameron Perez bucket at the :50 mark for the 44-40 bulge.
Another Schumacher-Lagundino charity pair saw the lead grow 46-40 at the 22-second mark.
But the Ali‘i still had a chance when Kalepa opened the door of opportunity by fouling Adam Higashino in three-point land with just over 11 ticks on the clock.
A successful showing at the line would pull Ali‘i back into the game, but all three balls refused to sink.
Schumacher-Lagundino finished with a game-high 19 points in the win followed by Kerwin Morano getting 10 points.
Jayden Matsumoto and Wolfe paced the Ali‘i effort with nine points each.
“Kaili is a real good player,” coach Peter Rayno said following the awards ceremony.
“He has ability, but more than that, he has a good attitude. He should go far in high school.”
Merv Lopes Classic
July 12 — Island School
14 Under Championship
Kalepa Hillsiders 47, Ali‘i 40
Kalepa scoring: Kaili Schumacher-Lagundino 19, Kerwin Morano 10, Trey Aguano 7, Dylan Balisacan 5, Kameron Perez 5, Kevin Esteban 1.
Ali‘i scoring: Jayden Matsumoto 9, Shayne Wolfe 9, Noe Kinimaka 6, Micah Takashige 5, Isaiah Visoria 5, Adam Higashino 3, Kameron Ng 3.
16 Under Championship
NJB Warriors 44, Team Central 31
NJB Scoring: Richard Hardy 21, Lanaki Apelle 8, Jacob Kackley 6, Isaak Janado 4, Shaun Kagawa 2.
Team Central scoring: Joe Duronslet 12, Lewis “Spam” Lindsey 7, Duke Pauli 4, Tyren Hepa 3, Brian Andres 3, Cameron Simao 2.
Game 1 BU14
Hanakila 36, Team Central 33
Hanakila scoring: James Paik 10, Kelii Koa Baclayon 8, Colby Baliaris 7, Mike Stevens 5, Marlon Cudiamat 4, Angelito Raza 2.
Team Central scoring: Cameron Simao 9, Matthew Cummings 9, Ryan Moura 6, Aaron Moura 4, Joseph Camelo 3, Mana Cummings 2.
Game 2 BU16
G-Unit 31, Papalina 27
G-Unit scoring: Willis Batol 13, Winston Gee 6, Princeton Gee 4, Tyler Fernandez 3, Kea Nacolatabua 3, Keoni Kinzie 2.
Papalina scoring: Brandon Palacio 9, Curren Dela Cruz-Cadanova 6, Garrett Cadiente-Gushiken 5, PJ Oligo 4, Cason Kaholelaulii 2, Neil Magayanes 1.
Game 3 BU14
Swoosh 38, Papalina 33
Swoosh scoring: Jordan Paulo 8, Jacob McEnroe 8, Joseph Augafa 7, Slade Tullata 7, Majah Taoa 3, Kayson Smith 3.
Papalina scoring: Donovan Harrison 12, Vhincel Bolleser 6, Peterson Lahip 4, Tystin Gummerus 3, Javan Torres 2, Vaughn Thompson 2, Kainoa Simao 2, Kelson Andrade 2.
Game 4 BU16
Swoosh 53, Kalepa Hillsiders 27
Swoosh scoring: David Daniel 14, Shane Aquino 14, Kapono Cummmings 13, Mackenzie Togotan 7, Michael Camacho 3, James Rapozo 2.
Kalepa scoring: Jimar Domingo 9, Mark Acoba 5, J.P. Langanina 5, Kawika Bandmann 3, Kerwin Morano 3, Kameron Perez 2, Kaili Schumacher-Lagundino 1.
BU14 All-Tournament Team
Noa Kinimaka (Ali‘i), Kaili Schumacher-Lagundino (Kalepa), Donovan Harrison (Papalina), Jayden Matsumoto (Ali‘i), Jacob McEnroe (Swoosh), Kameron Perez (Kalepa), Isaiah Viseria (Ali‘i), Cameron Simao (Central), Jordan Paulo (Swoosh), Mike Stevens (Hanakila), Vaughn Thompson (Papalina)
BU16 All-Tournament Team
Isaak Janado (NJB), Brian Andres (Central), Willis Batol (Gee), Lanaki Apelle (NJB), David Daniel (Swoosh), Richard Hardy (NJB), Lewis Lindsey (Central), Tyren Hepa (Central), Kaili Schumacher-Lagundino (Kalepa), Brandon Palacio (Papalina), Kapono Cummings (Swoosh)
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
