This was the fifth season of the league, and Coaches Daniel Sykes (left) and Sean Ganhinhin have mentored the Raptors throughout those years.

LAHAINA — The joy of youthful excitement has returned to the Lahaina Civic Center, as the Maui Basketball Association held its 2023 Spring Tournament last month.

Teams from Lahaina, Kihei, Kahului, Wailuku and Upcountry renewed the hoop dreams for youngsters that for decades had rocked the LCC until the pandemic lockout turned out the lights for the past three years.

With that pent-up energy in full force, the youth teams in U-6, U-8, and U-10 divisions gave it their all over the seven-game regular season and the championship tournament.

The Lahaina Raptors 6-U team, coached by Daniel Sykes and Sean Ganhinhin, went undefeated at 7-0 during the regular season to enter the championship tournament with positive momentum.

The Lahaina team defeated Upcountry 56-10, and the Warriors 38-16, to reach the finals versus Upcountry. The Raptors rolled to a hard-fought 36-28 win over the Upcountry Heat Black in the championship final. Every player scored and contributed in all the games.

The Lahaina Raptors 6-U roster was made up of Aceyn Sykes, Kainoa Sumer, Nixon Lopez, Kanekoa Dapitan, Romeo O’Riordan, Mason Ganhinhin, Kadence Shaw, Calen Hiapo, Finn Hayden and Kanawai Pratt. Sumer, Ganhinhin and Dapitan were the team leaders in spirit, scoring and defense.

Team spokesperson Hallie King reported that games were played at Kihei Recreation Center and Lahaina Civic Center, with the championship tournament played here on the West Side. Congratulations Raptors!