One match impacts three soccer teams

By Fred Guzman

MauiNow.com

It’s not often that a single soccer match has so much impact on some many MIL teams.

But the result of Saturday’s 2 p.m. showdown between King Kekaulike and Seabury Hall impacts three teams and will determine two titles. All three teams have already punched their tickets to the state tournament.

Kekaulike needs a win to capture the overall and D-I titles. Seabury, which already has clinched the D-II crown, needs a win to take the overall championship.

Lurking on the sidelines is Baldwin, which has completed its league season. If Kekaulike and Seabury tie, the Bears take both the overall and D-I titles. Got all that?

The Seabury girls need a win in one of their final two matches at Molokai to secure the D-II title and a berth at the state tournament.

The MIL swimming and diving championships will be held Friday and Saturday at the Kihei Aquatic Center.

PREP HOOPS: Lahainaluna, the state’s second-ranked girls’ basketball team, completed an unbeaten MIL regular-season last night by romping to a 70-44 win over King Kekaulike as Milika Taufa scored 21 points.

In the late game at the Lahaina Civic, the Lunas boys maintained their hold on the Division-I lead, improving to 7-1 with a 51-44 win over Na Alii. Lucas Williams scored 15 for the Lunas.

The Baldwin boys kept within striking distance of the Lunas in the D-I standings by pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 45-35 win over visiting Maui High as Jordan Villanueva scored 20 points for the Bears, who improved to 5-2.

In the earlier girls’ game, Baldwin beat the Sabers 33-24. Malia Chang scored 12 to lead the Bears.

UH ROUNDUP: More than a few fans took exception when the WAC basketball coaches picked Hawaii to finish last this season. Based on what’s transpired so far, they may have known of what they voted on.

Last night, the Rainbows fell to 2-6 in the conference, and 9-12 overall, following an 83-60 road spanking at the hands of San Jose State.

Leading the way for the Spartans, was Adrian Oliver. The 6-4 guard, who missed a key free throw in an earlier loss at UH, scored 33 points in the victory.

Since that game on Jan. 17, these two teams have headed in different directions. San Jose State has won three straight, improving to 12-8 overall and 5-3 in the WAC. The Bows have falled to seventh in the nine-team WAC, just one game ahead of last-place Boise State.

Hawaii again struggled from the outside, making just 1 of 10 from 3-point range and are 2-for-23 from long range in the last two losses. UH also was awful from the stripe, making just 9 of 21 free throws.

Roderick Flemings scored 19 points to lead the ‘Bows. Jeremy Lay added 12 points and four assists, and Brandon Adams contributed nine points and eight rebounds.

Hawai’i played its fourth game game without junior guard Dwain Williams. He is expected to miss Saturday’s game at Nevada. The game will tip off at 5 p.m., Hawaii, and will be aired on ESPN 550 and televised nationally on ESPNU.