Mowat captures state wrestling title

By Fred Guzman

ESPN550.com 

 

Of the nine MIL athletes that reached their respective final fours in the state high school wrestling championships, only one returned home from Oahu with a gold medal.

 

That distinction belonged to Lahainaluna's Holden Mowat, who lived up his top seed by capturing the 152-pound title with a 5-2 victory over Punahou's Zachary Hernandez.

 

The Lunas finished third in the boy's team race with 125 points, well behind Punahou at 240 and Kamehameha at 186.5.  It marked the seventh straight year that Lahainaluna had a top five finish at states. 

 

The final rounds of this year's event were postponed until Sunday because of Saturday's tsunami warning, causing additional expenses for the Neighbor Island teams, who needed to extend their stay and alter their travel plans.

 

Other Lunas highlights:  George Chihara finished second at 125, Chase Uyeda fourth at 140 and Teanu Rickard fourth at 215.  Baldwin's Elomar Cabbal ws third at 108, Molokai's Delfin Corpuz was fourth at 152.

 

In the girl's division, Punahou edged Kahuku for the team title, 146.5 to 144.   The Lunas were ninth with 57.  Lunas' junior Makanalani Hussey was second at 140 while teammate Gina Bella-Mata'afa was third at 175.   Molokai's Charrise Manley was fourth at 130.

 

UH VOLLEYBALL: Much to the disappointment of Valley Isle fans, the sold-out volleyball match between the University of Hawaii and BYU at War Memorial Gym was postponed because of Saturday's tsunami warning.  The match was rescheduled for tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.  Those who purchased tickets at the Pacific Radio Group offices can receive cash refunds at the same location starting tomorrow.

 

PREP HOOPS:  Kamehameha-Maui couldn't have drawn a tougher opponent in the first-round of the state high school D-I basketball tournament that tips off on Wednesday.  The Warriors will challenge ILH power Punahou in a 5 p.m. game at McKinley High.  The winner will face third-seeded Hilo in Thursday's quarterfinals.

 

MIL champ Lahainaluna was seeded fourth and drew a bye into the quarters, facing the winner of the Kahuku-Waiakea game at 5 p.m. Thursday at Radford High.  The other D-I seeds are No. 1 Iolani and No. 2 Moanalua.

 

MIL champ Seabury Hall was seeded second behind Roosevelt in D-II, which had its field reduced from 12 to eight teams as a result of earlier budget cuts, giving the MIL only one berth in the state tourney.  The Spartans, who steamrolled through the MIL, will open on Thursday in a 5 p.m. contest at Kalani High against the winner of today's play-in game between Academy of the Pacific and Hawaii Baptist.

Maui fans pumped about UH visit

By Fred Guzman

ESPN550.com

 

Saturday's visit by the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team has caused quite a stir among fans on the Valley Isle. In fact, War Memorial Gym's capacity – estimated at 2,500 -- could be tested when the eighth-ranked Rainbows tangle with fourth-ranked BYU in a 5 p.m. match.  Part of attraction, of course, is that this is going to be a "real" match with implications in the powerful Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

 

A limited number of tickets are still available for purchase – while they last -- at the Pacific Radio Group offices at 311 Ano Street -- $8 for adults, $3 for ages 4 to 18.  Cash only.  Our offices close at 4 p.m.

 

Before then, the two teams will tangle tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.  BYU currently leads the conference with a 7-3 mark and is 9-4 overall.  Hawaii is 8-5 for the season and 4-4 in the MPSF.

 

PREP WRESTLING:  The Lahainaluna boys are regarded as serious contenders for a team title in the state wrestling championships that begin a two-day run this morning at the Blaisdell Arena.  Holden Mowatt, a 152-pounder, is the only MIL boy wrestler to gain a No. 1 seed, but five other Lunas are among the top four seeds in their respective weight classes. Maui High's Ty Estabilo is ranked second at 145.  On the girls' side, Lahainaluna's Gina-Bella Mataafa is ranked first at 175, while three other MIL athletes are seeded second.  They are:  Kazia Leckett of the Lunas at 103, Makanalani Hussey of the Lunas at 140, and Molokai's Chelsie David at 220.

 

UH HOOPS:  Count me among those who felt Bob Nash deserved the opportunity to succeed Riley Wallace as basketball head coach at UH.  But as we approach the end of Nash's third year on the job, it's fair to wonder if the former Rainbows' star and longtime assistant is in over his head.

 

Last night, Hawaii suffered its ninth straight loss, dropping a 61-50 decision to Utah State and tumbled into last place in the WAC with marks of 9-18 overall and 2-11 in the conference. 

 

The Aggies improved to 23-6 overall with their 13th consecutive victory, and are in first place in the WAC at 12-2

 

Hawaii has three regular-season games remaining, including Saturday's home finale against Nevada.  Frankly, I would be surprised if Nash is back on UH's bench next season – although, considering the athletic department's financial woes, maybe I shouldn't be.

 

Slightly more than one full season since reviving its baseball program, Oregon rolled into Les Murakami Stadium as the nation's 25^th-ranked baseball team. 

 

The Ducks were brought down to earth last night as Hawaii parlayed a three-run first-inning, a solid mound outing by Nate Klein and a fifth-inning solo homer by Jeffrey Van Doornum for a 4-3 win. 

 

The four-game series continues tonight, with UH taking a 2-3 mark into the contest after going 1-3 in last week's season-opening series against 10^th-ranked Oregon State.

 

Kamehamea earns berth in state hoops

By Fred Guzman

ESPN550.com

 

The Kamehameha boys can begin packing for next week's state basketball tournament on Oahu.  Baldwin, on the other hand, will simply have to pack it up for the season.

 

That's the bottom line for each of those programs in the wake of Tuesday night's playoff game for the MIL's second – and final – berth in the Division-I tournament that tips off on Wednesday.

 

Kekoa Turberville scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as Kamehameha defeated the cold-shooting Bears 45-39 at War Memorial Gym, offsetting a 15-point effort by Baldwin's Jordan Villanueva.

 

Lahainaluna earlier clinched the MIL's seeded berth in the D-I state tourney by edging Baldwin 32-30 in the final of the league tournament, while Seabury Hall went undefeated in the MIL to earn a berth in the scaled-down, eight-team D-II state event.

 

From the court to the mat:  The state wrestling championships to be held Friday and Saturday at Oahu's Blaisdell Center.

 

Fresh off its stunning upset of top-ranked Konawaena for the state D-I girls' basketball title, the Lahainaluna boys are projected to contend for the state wresting title.  The Lunas girls also won the MIL title.

 

OBITUARY: Mosi Totupu -- one of Hawaii's favorite football sons -- has passed away at the age of 54. 

 

Totupu was a legendary high school player at Punahou who went on to star at USC and became a fan favorite for the New England Patriots.  

 

At the time of his death, Tatupu, a native of American Samoa and considered one of the greatest pep athletes in the history of Hawaii, was running backs coach at Curry College in Milton, Mass.

 

Tatupu had also coached his son Lofa Tatupu -- now a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks – in high school. 

 

During an exceptional career at Punahou, Tatupu was an all-state selection in football, basketball and baseball.

 

But it was on the gridiron where Mosi Tatupu made a lasting mark in local legend, at one time holding state records for single-season and career yardage and scoring totals. 

 

He became a starter at USC in his sophomore season, and later embarked on a successful 13-year career as a bruising fullback and a special teams standout with the Patriots. 

 

At one point, he played in 169 consecutive NFL games.

 

Besides being a ferocious competitor on the field, Tatupu possessed an exceptionally friendly and engaging personality.  He was regarded as one of the most popular players among both his teammates and fans in New England.  

Lunas girls win state hoops title

By Fred Guzman

ESPN550.com

 

If was a night to remember for fans of Lahainaluna. 

 

The Lunas girls became the first MIL team to win a state Division-I basketball title, rallying past and then holding off defending champion Konawaena 47-45 on Friday night before a crowd of more than 2,300 at the Blaisdell Arena and a statewide television audience.

 

Konawaena appeared to be in control, leading 22-15 at halftime and 37-26 with a minute left in the third period.

 

But Milika Taufa, the Lunas' 6-foot-3 senior center, answered with a layup and then scored seven straight points early in the fourth quarter to help Lahainaluna tie it at 37-37 with 5:38 left in the game.

 

Taufa, who finished with 26 points, later scored six straight to put the Lunas ahead, 46-39, with 1:51 remaining. 

 

Lahainaluna held on for the win, sealing the deal when Maiki Viela made one of two free throws with eight seconds left an coming up with a big defensive play as time expired.

 

Taufa was named the outstanding player, while Viela – a junior point guard – was chosen on the all-tournament team.

 

Later in the evening at War Memorial Gym, the Lunas boys beat Baldwin 32-30 on a 15-foot jumper by TJ Rickard with four seconds left to clinch the MIL overall title. 

 

Baldwin will meet Kamehameha on Tuesday in a 7 p.m. game at War Memorial for the MIL's second berth in the upcoming D-I state tourney, which starts next Wednesday on Oahu. 

 

Earlier on Friday, Seabury Hall pulled away in the second half for a 53-33 win over Molokai to claim the MIL D-II overall title.  Dylan King scored 19 for the Spartans, while teammate Michael Palmer scored 10 of his 14 in the second half while dishing off six assists after intermission.

 

Things didn't go as well for the Molokai girls, who fell short in their bid to repeat as D-II champs by suffering a 41-32 loss to Kaimuki despite Kalei Adolpho's 12 points and 13 rebounds.  But the Farmers had no answer for Dejah Faasoa, who led the Bulldogs with 20 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists.

 

UH HOOPS: The disaster that has become the University of Hawaii's basketball season continued on Saturday night.  The Rainbows suffered their eighth straight setback in a 102-89 loss to the visiting Cal Poly that wasn't as close as the final score indicates.

 

The Rainbows trailed by 23 in the first half, and never got closer than eight points as their overall record plunged to 9-17 before a mere 2,669 fans at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

In the process, UH squandered the best game of Roderick Flemings' career.  The senior swingman finished with 39 points on 15-of-30 shooting, including 25 in the second half.  Petras Balocka added 23 points and 16 rebounds for the Bows.

 

The 'Bows will remain at home for their final two WAC home games of the season, hosting Utah State on Thursday and Nevada next Saturday.