INVITATIONAL FEATURES TOP TEAMS

It's easy to get caught up in the hyperbole surrounding a big event. But in the
case of the EA Sports Maui Invitational, which begins a three-day run this
morning at the Lahaina Civic Center, it's hard to over-state the quality of what's
regularly – and accurately -- described as the nation's premier early-season
basketball tournament.

The 25th edition of the event will feature three teams ranked among the Top Ten
in the country: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 7 Texas and No. 9 Notre Dame.

The tournament also features two marquee plays in reigning national player of the
year Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina and fellow pre-season All-America Luke
Harangody of Notre Dame, the returning Big East player of the year.

Today's matchups: Saint Joseph's versus Texas at 10 a.m. and Indiana versus
Notre Dame at 12:30. In the late session, the top-ranked Tar Heels face
tournament host Chaminade at 4:30 followed by Oregon versus Alabama at 7.

BIG WINS FOR UH ON COURT, GRIDIRON

The sixth-ranked Rainbow Wahine won their 11th straight WAC women's
volleyball tournament title by defeating New Mexico State in four games last night
at the Stan Sheriff Center. Next stop for UH: the NCAA tournament.

And the Hawaii football eam now needs just one more victory to become bowl
eligible following a 49-17romp past Idaho on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

UH can clinch a berth in the Hawaii Bowl by defeating Washington State, which
registered only its second victory of the season by defeating winless Washington
in overtime in a game some sarcastic souls were describing as the Crapple Cup.

LEILEHUA OUSTS BEARS; LUNAS HOST RADFORD

There were no miracle comebacks by Baldwin this time. After rebounding from
big early deficits four times en route to a 7-0 MIL record, the Bears again fell
behind early on Friday night.

But Leilehua, the defending state Division-I football champion, were simply too
good of a team to fold after jumping out to a 21-0 lead just slightly more than
eight minutes into the game.

Leading the way for the Mules was junior quarterback Andrew Manley, who
accounted for all of his team's touchdowns in the 34-15 victory by throwing four
TD passes and running for another.

While Baldwin closed out its season with an 8-2 record, Leilehua lived to play
another week. The Mules will meet Kahuku in this Friday's D-I semifinals at Aloha
Stadium, with top-seeded Punahou facing Farrington in the other game.

In D-II, second-seeded Lahainaluna drew a first-round bye and will host Radford
on Friday at War Memorial Stadium. Radford advanced by posting road win over
previously unbeaten Kauai High. On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded
and defending champion Iolani will face Campbell.

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