The semifinals of the 2014 Akira Komai Memorial Playoffs in the Nisei Athletic Union were played on Sunday, with divisional matchups at Bell High School and Rancho Dominguez Prep.
In the Aye Minor division, Marina Tigers and Centinela Black advanced with wins and will face each other in this weekend’s Southern California finals at Rancho Dominguez.
In Aye Major, Precise scored a victory to earn a SoCal final berth against 38 Degrees.
Over in Aye Plus, Coast Tigers and Clippers will meet in the finals on Sunday, as will Nakatani and Pacific Pride in the Double Aye class.
AYE MINOR
Marina Tigers 54, Mavericks 49
At Bell High School, Eric Wun was tops in scoring with 18, but his Mavericks suffered a five-point loss at the hands of the Marina Tigers. Michael Nishida and Darren Wake each scored 11 for the winners.
Mavericks (49) – R. Wun 2, M. Suminaga, A. Wun, K. Wun 3, E. Wun 18, L. Kurosaki 2, A. Morris 11, K. Masuyama 4, A. Olson 7.
Marina Tigers (54) – S. Woo, Da. Wake 11, K. Kim 4, De. Wake 6, K. Yamamoto 8, J. Nakagiri 3, B. Nakagiri 2, J. Tsukahira 2, K. Quock, M. Nishida 11, G. Koyama 5.
Centinela Black 54, Higashi 45
Brent Mistuuchi and Mike Nagata had 13 points apiece, to pace Centinela Black to a win and a berth in the finals.
John Fu led Higashi with 16.
Centinela Black (54) – K. Waite 9, K. Tashiro, K. Nakagaki 2, C. Hiroshi-Castillo 5, B. Shin 10, D. Tangen 2, B. Mitsuuchi 13, M. Nagata 13.
Higashi (45) – J. Fu 16, B. Murata 3, A. Asari 14, F. Saito, P. Murata, B. Brunst 1, W. Chang 3, S. Saito 8.
AYE MAJOR
Precise 73, Westside Bears 69
In the early afternoon game at Bell, Ryan Yoshida torched the nets for a game-high 33 points, and Precise took care of business against the Bears.
Eric Yung had 22 for Precise, while Westside was led by Ryan Iwamoto’s 15.
Precise (73) – R. Chan 4, K. Ikami, K. Okamoto, E. Yung 22, R. Yoshida 33, T. Okumoto, M. Chun, Z. SooHoo 9.
Westside Bears (69) – R. Iwamoto 15, K. Kaji 3, A. Chou 14, T. Hseih 13, M. Thach 6, H. Takeda 11, B. Aliff 3.
38 Degrees 58, FOR Quicksilver 35
In the other Aye Major contest, 38 Degrees ran away from Quicksilver to punch its ticket to the SoCal finals.
Mike Noguchi posted a game-high 18 for the Degrees, with Evan Sugita adding 10.
Brad Tokita scored 10 for Quicksilver in the loss.
38 Degrees (58) – B. Sugita 9, E. Sugita 10, H. Fujino, K. Sugita 6, C. Sunada, R. Kochiyama 4, M. Noguchi 18, W. Wong 8.
FOR Quicksilver (35) – M. Carlson 3, B. Au 2, B. Ishida 7, J. Lin 3, B. Sibrian, T. Sibrian, K. Taniguchi 2, D. Han 3, B. Tokita 10.
AYE PLUS
Coast Tigers 57, FOR North Torrance Optometry 55
The day got off to a dramatic start in Aye Plus at Rancho Dominguez Prep, as Randy Lee’s shot at the buzzer in double overtime lifted the Tigers to a win over North Torrance Optometry.
Herbert Liu led all scorers with 23 for FOR, while Joe Tessler’s 13 was tops for Coast.
FOR North Torrance Optometry (55) – S. Young 14, J. Toji 3, C. Shimazaki 2, E. Watanabe 2, R. Komae, H. Liu 23, K. Kohigashi 9.
Coast Tigers (57) – Joe Tessler 13, J. Born, C. Jung 10, H. Kwan 3, K. Crumley 14, R. Lee 6, S. Onishi, Jon. Tessler 8, B. Shimasaki.
Clippers 80, Grinders 71
In the other Aye Plus semifinal, the Clippers had a balanced attack with three players scoring in double figures, en route to a victory.
Charlie Azzam netted 21 for the Clippers. Grinders’ Robbie Young had a game-high 24.
Grinders (71) – P. Gonzaque 14, R. Young 24, B. Matsui 2, B. Gonzaque 4, J. Ito 6, M. Ujimori, R. Kika 6, W. Isozaki 15.
Clippers (80) – E. Azzam 2, S. Yoshimoto, H. Sugano 7, B. Park 4, B. Setsuda 9, E. Nguyen 20, B. Young 4, C. Azzam 21, R. Kitabayashi 11, J. Toailoa 2.
DOUBLE AYE
Nakatani 65, Westside Lions 53
At Rancho Dominguez, Nakatani got 21 points from Jim Kawahito and advanced to the AA finals with a win over the Lions.
The Lions’ Robert Reynolds led all scorers with 24.
Nakatani (65) – K. Kitani 2pts, 6 reb; C. Kitani 4; G. Kitani 9; B. Akahiji 2; S. Shimizu 10; J. Miyasaka 7pts, 12 reb; S. Baik 10pts, 5 ast, 3 stl; J. Kawahito 21pts, 7 reb, 2 blk; J. Chen.
Westside Lions (53) – J. Fukuda 10pts, 8 reb; Da. Wong 7pts, 6 reb; M. Takata 2; De. Wong 8; J. Santos 2; J. Lui 5 reb; R. Reynolds 24pts, 5 ast.
Pacific Pride 74, Air One 55
In the later AA semi, Pacific Pride manhandled Air One to book its trip to this weekend’s SoCal championships.
Four Pride players were in double figures, including Jarrod Carroll’s game-high 19. Air One was led by Justin Deans with 15.
Air One (55) – B. Watanabe 13pts, 2 stl; G. Mitsuuchi 11pts, 6 reb, 2 stl; K. Wallace 5pts, 7 reb; J. Deans 15pts, 11 reb; R. Lee 6; K. Murata 5pts, 7 reb.
Pacific Pride (74) – M. Nitake 10pts, 7 reb, 2 stl; T. Hast 12pts, 2 blk; A. Davis 5pts, 8 reb, 2 stl, 2 blk; S. Carroll 7pts, 10 reb, 2 stl, 3 blk; P. Nitake 10pts, 9 reb, 3 stl; A. Carroll 2; J. Uchida 9pts, 5 reb; J. Carroll 19pts, 10 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl.