So Cal Teams Advanced to NAU State Finals
Saturday, April 26, 2008

Photos by MARIO G. REYES/Rafu Shimpo
Garrett Mitsuuchi of Silent But Deadly dishes off to Mark Niitake in their NAU Aye Major Southern Cal title game against the Westside Tigers on Sunday.

Tigers Red’s Sean Odou slips through Shaun Shimizu and Jim Kawahito of Nakatani in the Double Aye So Cal final. Nakatani won, 84-68.

The 2008 Southern California finals in the Nisei Athletic Union basketball league were played Sunday at Gardena High School, with teams in four divisions advancing to next weekend’s State fi nals. The North-South Finals will take place next Sunday, also at Gardena high, beginning at 10 a.m.

The Aye Major So Cal final saw two squads battling to the finish, with Silent But Deadly pulling out a 68-63 win over the Westside Tigers.

Mark Niitake scored 19 for SBD, including a perfect 6-for-6 performance at the free throw line. He also added four steals and a three-pointer in the win.

Mike Pakele finished with 16 for SBD, despite playing late with four fouls, and Garrett Mitsuuchi sank a pair from beyond the arc in a 12-point performance.

Don Kim netted 21 for Westside with four three-pointers in the loss.

SBD now moves on to face the Northern Cal Aye Major champ, Gametime, who downed the Sacramento Samurai, 88-69.

In the Aye Minor So Cal final, Magic Ayes had their game working against the Highland Duffers, cruising to a 66-48 win.

Donnie Tippie led the Magic with 15 points, while teammate Ryan Yamaka scored 14, with four 3-balls.

Addison Lee led the Duffers with 14 points and five steals.

The Magic will play for the State Aye Minor title Sunday against the San Francisco Drakes Black, who quelled Tsunami, 83-70.

===

The Lakers and Nakatani are on their way to the 2008 North-South Basketball Finals in the Nisei Athletic Union, after wins Sunday in the Southern California title games.

In games played at Gardena High School, the Lakers took the Aye Plus crown, while Nakatani is the Double Aye champ. Both teams advance to next weekend’s North-South State finals, also at Gardena High.

The Aye Minor championship–the first of games in four divisions–begins at 10 a.m. Aye Major plays at 11:45 with the Aye Plus and Double Aye contests to follow at 1:30 and 3:15.

The Aye Plus So Cal final was a lopsided affair, with the Lakers blowing through Yellow Storm, 70-56. All five starters were in double figures for the Lakers, with Daniel Son’s 14 points and two steals off the bench leading the scoring.

Stephen Wada finished with 12 points, Brett Ishibashi and Kirk Nakagawa each scored 11 while Alan Morris and Scott Shimizu netted 10 apiece for the Lakers.

Alex Mak led the Storm with 20 points.

The Lakers now advance to face Northern California Aye Plus champ.

In an offense-filled thriller, the San Francisco Associates outlasted Shonenz,
107-92. Again, game time is 1:30 Sunday.

In the Double Aye So Cal final, Nakatani took care of business, blasting Tigers Red, 84-68.
Jim Kawahito and Shaun Shimizu led Nakatani with 24 and 23 points respectively. Shimizu hit for five threepointers and added a pair of steals for Nakatani.

Sean Odou scored 20 and Erich Chung had 18 for Tigers Red in the losing effort.

Nakatani will play for the State Double Aye title Sunday against the Northern Cal champion Sacramento Barons, with tip-off scheduled for 3:15.