Kadena Panthers guard Taiyo Robertson has his path to the basket blocked by two Oroku defenders during Sunday's championship game in the 3rd Okinawa-American Shootout. The Trojans outscored Kadena 47-22 over the final 13:47 and dethroned the Panthers 76-61. (Dave Ornauer / Stripes)
Kadena Panthers guard Taiyo Robertson has his path to the basket blocked by two Oroku defenders during Sunday's championship game in the 3rd Okinawa-American Shootout. The Trojans outscored Kadena 47-22 over the final 13:47 and dethroned the Panthers 76-61. (Dave Ornauer / Stripes)
Kadena Panthers center Jordan Ray puts up a shot in front of an Oroku defender during Sunday's championship game. (Dave Ornauer / Stripes)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Kadena coach Bob Bliss has no doubt his team can play good basketball; he’d just like to see the Panthers put two good halves together.
That was his message after the Panthers built a 10-point third-quarter lead, only to have Oroku, a Japanese team, outscore them 47-22 in the last 13:47 and dethrone Kadena 76-61 in Sunday’s Okinawa-American Shootout championship game.
“When you’re up against teams of this quality, you can’t let down for a minute,” Bliss said after Oroku, No. 2 in the Okinawa Basketball Association rankings, forced six turnovers in the last 5:47 of the third quarter and 10 total in the second half.
“We didn’t execute well, find the open man as we had been. We have to learn how to put two good halves together, find that consistency,” Bliss said.
It was Kadena’s only loss in six games in a tournament that brought Kadena and Kubasaki together with 12 of the island’s Japanese powers. It was the first time neither Kubasaki nor Kadena won the boys title.
All-Tournament selection Kevin Paranal’s inside play (22 points) coupled with LaGary Hubbard’s outside touch (21 points, five three-point goals) helped spark the Panthers early when it appeared Kadena was en route to a title repeat.
The Panthers led 39-29, on Hubbard’s three-pointer 2:13 into the third period.
“I told the guys, we were lucky they didn’t shoot well in the first half,” Bliss said.
From there, Oroku threw a series of zone and man-to-man defenses at Kadena, forcing turnover after turnover. A 21-6 run put Oroku up 50-45 with just more than a minute left in the third quarter. The Trojans never let up, leading by up to 16 down the stretch.
“Their pressure was tough, but the main thing was the way they shot the ball in the second half. They shot from everywhere. They played a great second half,” Bliss said.
