Kamehameha earns berth in state hoops tourney

By Fred Guzman

MauiNow.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 last night’s playoff game for the MIL’s second – and final – berth in the Division-I tournament that tips off a week from today.

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.

Finally, the Maui High Invitational baseball tournament begins tonight with a twinbill at Iron Maehara Stadium. Damien faces King Kekaulike at 4:30, while Kamehameha-Maui challenges perennial defending state champion Punahou at 7 o’clock.