Story and photo by

Randy Dela Cruz
Contributing Writer

With only one week remaining before the playoffs, the Pearl Harbor Lakers showed why they might be the team to beat in the Termite Division (ages 8-10) playoffs by defeating the visiting Suns from Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe, 56-16, in a Hawaii Military Youth Athletic Association (HMYAA) basketball game at Bloch Arena Annex Gym, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, on Feb. 13.

The HMYAA is an inter-base youth organization that includes teams from Pearl Harbor, Hickam Air Force Base and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The win improved the Lakers' perfect record to 6-0 with just one more regular-season game to play prior to the post-season.

Led by sharp-shooting Cole Bailey, the Lakers delivered a show-time performance by racing out to a 21-0 lead in the first period, before finishing off the never-say-die Suns, who fought on despite coming to Pearl Harbor with only six players.

Bailey started off the game by connecting on a three-point bomb and scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the first period.

Solofa Falaniko also scored in double figures for the Lakers with 10 points, while teammates Garrett Estrada chipped in with nine and Ethan Shropshire added six.

Meanwhile, Kelcey Howard led all Suns with 11 points, which included a three-point shot just before the horn sounded to end the first half.

Besides the Lakers' strong opening period, the team tallied double digits in each of the next three quarters with 10 in the second, 14 in the third and 11 in the fourth.

Falaniko's basket, with 4:10 on the clock, gave the Lakers a commanding 31-point advantage in the third period.

Chief Information Systems Technician Clarence Prince and Chief Information Systems Technician Terrence Bailey, who is Cole's father, are the co-head coaches of the Lakers.

In an attempt to keep the score down, the coaches rotated their players frequently, but due to the overall depth of the Lakers, the baskets kept piling up for the home team.

"We always try to encourage sportsmanship," said Prince. "We look and see which players aren't getting shots and try to make sure that they get to shoot. At the same time, we're trying not to run up the scores."

Although the visitors from K-Bay fell behind early, Suns head coach Gunnery Sgt. Jaylon Maranan said that he told his players to just give their best effort, have fun and don't pay any attention to the numbers.

Maranan noted that many of his players have never played hoops prior to this season and are learning about the sport for the first time.

"It's all about having fun," said Maranan. "At this age, I probably wouldn't even put up a scoreboard. I'm encouraging the whole squad and teaching them the fundamentals."

While the Lakers have been wearing out the league, Bailey said that both he and Prince believe that teaching the game to the kids is far more important than posting wins.

"We can be 0-6 and it really wouldn't matter as long as the kids are learning and having fun," said Bailey.

To keep the children interested, the coaches use a system of games to teach the basics of shooting, dribbling and passing.

One drill, called hotshot, helps kids improve their free throw shooting by dividing players into groups and pitting them against each other.

"A lot of times, they don't even realize that they are working on building their skills," said Prince. "We're teaching basic fundamentals and having fun at the same time."

With the Lakers running on all cylinders, Bailey said that he doesn't see much change in the team's approach to the game, as it prepares for the upcoming playoffs.

If the Lakers continue to play together, Bailey feels assured that the kids will do well.

"We'll probably do the same things that we've been doing all year long," stated Bailey. "The players are healthy and we'll continue to encourage them to have fun."