Friday, February 29, 2008

MAIVIA WILL MISS SPRING DRILLS

(Feb. 29): Bad new for Kaluka Maiava, who is seeking to establish himself as a full-time starting linebacker for USC this season. The ex-Baldwin standout has not fully recovered from wrist surgery and will miss next month's spring practice.

Maiava suffered a wrist injury in November and broke his thumb forcing a fumble during January's Rose Bowl win over llinois. Maiava played in all 13 of USC's game last season, including sevral as a starter. He had 44 tackles, with 4.5 for a loss, 2 sacks.

Closer to home, you can credit the UH basketball team for coming back and debit it for letting yet another game get away.
That was the familiar story last night at The Stanley as Hawaii suffered an 85-77 overtime loss to an Idaho team the had not previously won a road game all season.

Bill Amis led the Bows with 20 points, Bobby Nash added 19 and Matt Gibson had 18 points and nine assists despite not entering the game until midway through the first half because of a sore left knee.

The Vandals led by as many as seven with 6:26 left in regulation before UH, which had trailed by as many as 15 late in the first half, went on a late rally for a three-point edge with less than a minute left. But Hawaii squandered that lead, forcing an extra session.

When it was over, the Bows dropped to 11-15 overall and 7-6 in the WAC, while the Vandals improved to 7-19 overall, 4-10 in the WAC and 1-13 on the road.

Hawaii closes out its home schedule on Saturday against Boise State.

After going five painful games in a road loss the night before, the UH men's volleyball team were routed in three by No. 9 Stanford last night. The scores: 30-22, 30-23, 30-25.

Things went better for UH in women's basketball and baseball yesterday.

In hoops, Megan Tinnin scored 20 of her 25 in the second half, sparking the Rainbow Wahine to a 67-54 road win over Boise State.

In baseball, UH powered its way to a 7-3 win over Northern Illinois in an opening-round game of the Coca-Cola Classic in Arizona. Hawaii plays top-ranked Arizona today. The Sun Devils crushed No. 8 Michigan in another first-round game.


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Thursday, February 28, 2008

UNHAPPY FOOTBALL RECRUIT SUES U.H.

(Feb. 28): Welcome to the less-than-wonderful world of college recruiting, Daniel Smith.

You may not have heard of his name before, but Smith is the 17-year-old defensive back from Boise who is suing the University of Hawaii for allegedly revoking his scholarship offer after June Jones resigned at UH to take over at SMU.

The suit also names former UH defensive line coach coach Jeff Reinebold, who moved to SMU with Jones.

Smith says Reinebold instructed him not to speak to any other school when he offered the full scholarship last April, an offer that Smith says was reaffirmed over the next several months.

Smith said he gave up a scholarship from Portland State and declined offers to visit other schools before Reinebold told him in January that all scholarship commitments prior to Jones' resignation had been revoked.

According to Smith's lawsuit, the university has denied that Smith received a scholarship commitment. Hawai'i assistant coach Ron Lee, who is taking over as offensive coordinator, told Smith's mother that Reinebold did not have the authority to make scholarship commitments, according to the suit.

Smith said Lee has offered him the chance to try out for the team, but he wants his scholarship.

"I kept my end of the deal," Smith told the Honolulu Advertiser,. "I want the university to keep its end of the deal."

The problem for Smith, however, that in the less-than-wonderful world of college recruiting, there is no formal deal -- for either side of the process -- until a national letter of intent is offered and signed.


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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

ADVICE FOR WAC: LESS WHINING AND MORE WINNING

Enough of the whining, already.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson had the audacity to spend most of the weekly coaches conference call lamenting the lack of exposure his conference has received on ESPN this season, while coaches themselves grumbled about their lame pairings for the ESPN Bracket Buster event.

Reaction No. 1: The less seen of the WAC this season, the better. The conference stinks, with only the conference tournament winner likely to receive a bid for the Big Dance.

The WAC's cumulative record vs. Top 25 teams is 1-8 and only Boise State likely to finish the regular season with 20 wins. In fact, the WAC went 3-6 in the Bracket Busters, including surprising blowout losses by Boise State and Nevada.

Reaction No. 2: In each of the past two years, WAC ADs have rejected a chance to appear in a guaranteed 12 ESPN games that would triple the modest rights fees, holding out for more money and more games. As a result, the WAC will have only three-regular season and the conference tournament title game aired on ESPN.

Reaction No. 3: Spare us the lamentations of UH head coach Bob Nash about having to play in a less-than-compelling Bracket Buster matchup with UC Riverside. Especially, when the Bows suffered a 79-62 spanking at the hands of the lowly Highlanders, who are seventh in the nine-team in the Big West with a 3-9 mark and 7-17 overall.

A pair of simple solutions to the WAC's hoops woes: Agree to a TV deal with ESPN, and replace the whining with more winning.


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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

LUNAS WRESTLERS HAVE SHOT AT STATE TITLE

Could this be the year that a Neighbor Island team wins a state wrestling championship?

And is Lahainaluna the team to accomplish that unprecedented feat?

Those questions will be answered this Friday and Saturday at the Blaisdell Arena.

Five MIL wrestlers -- three boys and two girls -- received No. 1 seeds for the state championships.

Among them are two members of the Lunas' boy's team, Travis Okano at 130 pounds and Lake Casco at 160. Also receiving top rankings were Molokai's Kawika Ka'ahanui at 285, as well as Baldwin's Piikea Kalalau at 140 and Kailee Andrade at 175.

The Lunas are expected to challenge Punahou and Kaiser for the boy's team title after coming off a dominating performance in last weekend's MIL championships.

The Lunas qualified athletes in all 14 weight divisions and won 10 individual titles while amassing a record 257 points in the MIL meet.

The state paddling championships also are scheduled for Friday on Oahu.

The Baldwin girls, King Kekaulike boys and the Kamehameha-Maui mixed crew finished first in the recent MIL championship regatta.

MIL teams have enjoyed their greatest success in mixed crew events, with three different schools capturing gold medals since the start of the state competition in 2002.

The Lunas won gold in the initial regatta in 2002, with Kekaulike taking top honors in 2004 and Kamehameha-Maui in 2006.

On the youth soccer front, representatives of Major League Soccer presented a clinic last Thursday at Keopuolani Park that was attended by about 70 youngsters.

The event was hosted by the Maui Untied Soccer Club, whose director of coaching -- Ted Eck -- was an original member of the league as a member of the Dallas Burn and who made 13 appearances for the U.S. National Team.


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Monday, February 25, 2008

POPE, MATTHEWS WIN TWIN SWIM GOLDS

(Feb. 23): This is how totally Punahou dominated the past weekend's state high school swimming championships at the Kihei Aquatic Center:

The girls amassed 93 points, more than the next four teams combined.

The boys were only slightly less impressive, finishing with 73 points, more than its next two closest pursuers combined.

But a pair of MIL standouts also came up huge as Lahainaluna's Jack Pope and Seabury Hall's Libby Matthews each won a pair of gold medals.

Pope three-peated in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, tying the MIL mark for indivudal state titles set by former Baldwin star Cheyne Bloch.

Matthews won in the 200 individual medley and 100 breastroke.

One state mark was set, as double-winner Rachel Cole of Punahou broke her own record in the 100 back.

Among those securing silver medals were: Maui High diver Sheyenne Machida, Baldwin's Jennifer Cahill in the 500 free, Baldwin's Kevin Kim in the 50 free, and King Kekaulike's Jasmeet Jaimel in the 100 fly,

HOOPS: This is how badly things went for MIL teams in the state boy's basketball tournament on Oahu: The league's four representatives went a combined 0-8.

Punahou beat Kamehameha-Hawaii 41-38 to capture the boys D-I title. In the D-II final, Farrington edged top-seeded Aiea 70-68 in overtime. What are two schools the size of those two doing playing in D-II against the likes of Molokai and Lanai?

Speaking of Molokai, the Lady Farmers advanced to the third-place game of the D-II tourney on Friday, suffering a 49-48 loss to Kailua despite Kalei Adolpho's 23 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks. Adolpho was named to the D-II all-tourney team.

Kalani defeated Lahainaluna 59-42 in the sixth-place game.

The MIL girls went a combined 4-8.


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Friday, February 22, 2008

MAUI’S WARRIORS FALL TO BIG ISLE COUSINS

(Feb. 22): It was billed as the Battle of the Warriors and, in this case, it was boys
from the Big Island that got off to a big early lead and eased to a 52-38
quarterfinal victory over Kamehameha-Maui last night at the McKinley High gym.

Kekoa Turbeville's 12 points led KS-Maui, which today meets top-seeded Iolani,
the victim of a 58-55 upset loss to Moanalua. That game tips off at 2 p.m. and
will be carried live from the Blaisdell Arena on Maui's ESPN 550.

In fact, there's only one seeded team still alive in the boys D-I tourney and that
distinction belongs to Konawaena of the Big Island.

The second-seeded Wildcats held off Kamehameha-Kapalama 54-53 and advanced
to their first state semifinal. Konawaena will face unseeded Punahou in tonight's 8
o'clock game.

Punahou pounded Mililani 56-31 a night after dismantling Lahainaluna 65-32.

BIIF runner-up KS-Hawaii will play unseeded OIA runner-up Moanalua in the 6
p.m. semi.

MIL champ and fourth-seeded Lahainaluna was ousted following a 62-49 loss
Kahuku. John Craig led the Lunas with 15 points.

In D-II, fourth-seeded Molokai suffered a 64-59 quarterfinal loss to Hawaii Baptist
despite 14 points by Scottie Rapanot Jr. The Farmers play against Kaiser in a 6
p.m. game at Moanalua High.

That game also will be carried on Maui's ESPN 550.

Earlier, Lanai was eliminated following a 60-45 loss to Kauai on the heels of an
opening 50-39 loss to Farrington.

In girls' action, fourth-seeded MIL champ Lahainaluna will meet Kalani in a 2:15
game at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Lunas stayed alive win a 52-37 win over
Konawaena.

Maui High was knocked out of the tourney following a 53-37 loss to Kalani.

Iolani and Punahou will play in the 8 p.m. title game.

In D-II, both Molokai and Seabury Hall suffered tournament-ending losses.
University High defeated Seabury 53-47 in the seventh-place game, while the Lady
Farmers were beaten, 52-39, by McKinley.

McKinley and Campbell will square off in the 6 pm D-II girls final.

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Thursday, February 21, 2008

GOOD NIGHT FOR GIRLS; BAD NIGHT FOR BOYS

(Feb. 21): The girls gave a respectable account of themselves, but things didn't go
nearly as well for the boys during yesterday's action in the state high school
basketball tournaments.

Molokai advanced to the semifinals of the Division-II girls' tourney with a 35-21
win over Hawaii Prep as Tawney Fernandez scored 12 points. The Lady Farmers
face McKinley tonight in an 8 o'clock game at Kalani High.

In a 4 p.m. game at the same venue, Seabury Hall will meet University High for
seventh place. The Spartans stayed alive with a 42-34 win over Hanalani of the
ILH behind Yacine Meyer's 17.

However, both of the MIL's D-I teams came up short.

Maui High, which staged a surprising overtime win over Farrington the night
before, suffered a 58-47 quarterfinal loss to Waiakea despite a 19-point effort by
Jazmine Corpuz. Next for the Sabers is a 6 p.m. game against Kalani at Kaimuki.

Fourth-seeded Lahainaluna dropped a 54-46 decision to Radford as coach Todd
Rickard's decision to keep two key players – Milika Taufa and Rachel Rickard – in
the game backfired. Both fouled out late in the third quarter. The Lunas play
against Konawaena in a 6 p.m. game at Farrington.

In boy's action yesterday, D-I Lahainaluna and D-II Lanai suffered opening-round
losses.

The Lunas were simply out of their league, literally and figuratively, in suffering a
65-32 spanking at the hands of powerful Punahou.

The Buffanblu's foul-court zone press gave Lahainalua major fits, resulting in a
series of turnovers. To make matters worse for the Lunas, big man Nutti Pousima
got into early foul trouble and never was a factor in the lopsided loss.

John Craig scored a game-high 18, providing the Lunas with their only bright spot
during an otherwise dismal night at the Radford gym. Lahainaluna will try to turn
things around when it meets Kahuku at 4 o'clock at the same facility.

Fourth-seeded MIL D-I champ Kamehameha meets its counterparts from the Big
Island in a 6 p.m. game at McKinley High in a game that will be aired live on Maui's
ESPN 550.

Meantime, fourth-seeded Molokai will open its bid in D-II with a 6 p.m.
quarterfinal against Hawaii Baptist at Moanalua.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

MAUI HIGH GIRLS OPEN WITH UPSET WIN

(Feb. 20): Historically, teams from the MIL haven't fared particularly well in the state girls' basketball tournament.
There's been the occasional exception, of course. But, more often then not, it's been a matter of one-two barbeque.

Last night was one of those exceptions as Maui High made up for its lack of height with quickness, scrappy defense and some timely shooting to register a 63-59 overtime victory over Farrington in an opening-round Division-I game at Kaimuki High.

Maui High's Chynna Ramelb scored 19 points, including four 3-point shots and a pair of buzzer beaters. And 5-4 forward Shakilya Heslip had 13 points, 19 rebounds, 7 steals and 2 blocks for the Sabers, who earned a berth opposite third-seeded Waiakea at 6 o'clock tonight at the same venue.

Things didn't go as well for Seabury Hall in a Division-II opener at Aiea, where the Spartans suffered a 43-28 loss to Kailua. The loss relegated Seabury to consolation bracket and a 4 p.m. game today against Hanalani, which suffered a 57-36 loss to Campbell.

The MIL's two champions, Lahainaluna in D-I and Molokai in D-II, are seeded fourth and drew first-round byes. Both will jump into the mix for quarterfinal games tonight.

The Lunas will face Radford in a 6 o'clock game at Farrington. Radford won its opener by jumping out to a 13-0 lead en route to a 60-46 win over Roosevelt.

Molokai will meet HPA, which advanced with a 43-37 win over University High, in a 6 p.m. game at Kalani High.

In other D-I action last night, Mana Hopkins scored 27 in leading Konawaena to a 52-48 win over Moanalua while Punahou jumped out to a 22-8 lead and eased to a 59-48 victory over Aiea.

In other D-II games, St. Francis beat Kapa'a 50-41.

The girls' D-I and D-II tournaments run through Friday, with the final rounds to be held at the Stan Sheriff Center.

BOYS HOOPS: It was not that long ago when you wouldn't be far off by simply penciling in Iolani as the eventual champion in the state boys basketball tournament.

But those days of dominance are gone, replaced by what many believe to be parity at the top of the state hoops hill.

In fact, all four of the top seeds in the boys Division-I tournament that tips off tonight struggled to survive their respective league races. And you can make a similar case in D-II, as well.

That certainly was the case in the MIL, with championship playoff games required to determine the overall title and top seeds in both divisions.

Kamehameha-Maui beat Lahainaluna in D-I while Molokai defeated Lanai in D-II.

The MIL runners-up open their bids tonight, with the champs awarded No. 4 seeds and first-round byes and automatic berths in tomorrow's quarterfinals.

Lahainaluna will face traditional power Punahou in a 6 p.m. game at Radford High. The game will be carried live on Maui's ESPN 550.

Meantime, Lanai will challenge Farrington, again at 6 o'clock, at Pearl City.

In tomorrow's action, Kamehameha-Maui will meet the winner of tonight's game between Kamehameha-Hawaii and OIA power Kalaheo in a 6 p.m. game at McKinley. Taht will will be aired on ESPN 550.

In D-II Molokai will tangle with winner of Hawaii Baptist vs. St. Joseph at 6 o'clock at Moanalua.

The boys' D-I and D-II tournaments run through Saturday, with the final rounds set for the Blaisdell Arena.


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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

SABERS, SEABURY OPEN BIDS IN GIRLS HOOPS

(Feb. 19): There are good reasons, I'm sure, for the state association's decision to cram what amounts to four separate basketball tournaments into a single week in gyms scattered all over Oahu. And then, scheduling the bulk of those games at 6 and 8 p.m.

But none of those reasons make much sense to anyone else.

It's a decision that will impact referees, who already are spread way to thin. Fans will have make some difficult choices, as well. And as for the media, it will prevent Maui's ESPN 550 from covering as many games as usual or the Oahu dailies to provide their customary extensive coverage.

In the end, the biggest losers will be the Division-II teams, who already are overshadowed by the competitions involving the bigger schools.

Be that as it may, the girls tip off their tournaments in Division-I and II tonight, with MIL runners-up Maui High and Molokai open their bids.

The Sabers will face Farrington of the OIA in a 6 o'clock D-I game at the Kaimuki High gym. At the same time, Seabury Hall will challenge Kailua of the OIA at Aiea High.

Both MIL champions were seeded fourth, drawing first-round byes. In D-I, Lahainaluna tangles with the winner of Radford vs. Roosevelt in a 6 o'clock game tomorrow at Farrington High. In D-II, Molokai meets the winner of University vs. Hawaii Prep in a 6 p.m. game at Kalani High.

The boys' tournaments open tomorrow, with the MIL represented by Kamehameha and Lahainaluna in D-I and Molokai and Lanai in D-II.


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Friday, February 15, 2008

WARRIORS BEAT LUNAS TO CLAIM MIL D-I HOOPS TITLE

(Feb. 16): The two teams played very hard. Perhaps, too hard, which may account for all the hurried shots and turnovers and referee whistles.

But that intensity also created an electric atmosphere at the King Kekaulike gym last night as Kamehameha-Maui rebounded from a late-season slump to post a 54-45 victory over Lahainaluna in playoff game for the MIL Division-I basketball title.

It was the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams, with the Warriors claiming the rubber match to earn the MIL's top seed in next week's state tournament in gyms scattered all over Oahu.

The Lunas actually jumped out to a 5-0 lead and were up 11-7 after one quarter. But turnovers, many of them created by Kamehameha's intense man-to-man pressure, helped the Warriors pull even at intermission, 15-15.

Kamehameha trailed 26-23 late in the third quarter before finally getting its offense in gear and steadily pulling away to improve their MIL record to 11-4 as four players scored in double figures.

Kaleo DeMello led the way with 14 points, while Bryan Pali added 11 and Kekoa Turbeville and Erwin DeCoite each had 10.
The Lunas, the regular-season champ, dropped to 11-4 despite John Craig's 14 points.

The two teams -- along with the other six MIL qualifiers -- now must wait until Sunday to find out when, where and against whom they will play their state tournament openers next week.


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Thursday, February 14, 2008

LUNAS AND WARRIORS SQUARE OFF FOR MIL HOOPS TITLE

(Feb. 14): The MIL overall title and the league's top seed in the state basketball tournament
will be on the line tonight when Lahainaluna and Kamehameha-Maui square off for a fifth time this season.
The 7 o'clock game will be held at the King Kekaulike gym and will be aired live on Maui's ESPN 550.

Last Friday, Jeffrey Oka came off the bench and had the game of his life for Kamehameha. The senior point guard scored 13 points, dished out some big assists and repetedly made key defensive plays as the Warriors pulled away for a
64-51 win in the MIL tournament title game at the expense of the regular-season
champion Lunas.

Kaiea Medeiros and Louis Turbeville each scored 14 for the Warriors, who
improved their MIL record to 10-4. The Lunas are 11-3.

The teams have met four times this season, each winning a pair. In the third of
those games, the Lunas rallied from a 16-point deficit for a one-point win in their
home gym.

Lahainalua again made a run Friday night, closing to within 51-46 with 3:10 left
before falling victim to turnovers and poor shot selection. Nutti Pousima's 16 l ed
the Lunas and Paul Salvador added 10.

But the Warriors have been on a recent roll, virtually eliminating Baldwin from
contention with a 62-51 win in last week's MIL tourney semifinals.
Both teams are assured of berths in the state D-I tourney, with Molokai and Lanai representing the MIL in D-II.
In the girls' tournament, the Lunas and Maui High are going in D-I while Molokai and Seabury will compete in D-II.