Eldridge’s Solid Play Helps Baldwin to Quarterfinals

Baldwin High School’s Teva Eldridge scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Bears 57-43 win over Kapolei on Wednesday. Ben Juan / Juan Shot Photo

By Rodney S. Yap

The Baldwin High School boys basketball team got 16 points and nine rebounds from junior power forward Teva Eldridge en route to a 57-43 triumph over Kapolei on Wednesday at McKinley Gym.

The first-round win at the Hawaiian Airlines Boys Basketball Championships means Baldwin will face top-seeded Maryknoll in Thursday’s quarterfinal action, beginning at 7 p.m.

The Division I game between Baldwin and Maryknoll will be broadcast live on ESPN 550AM radio with Barry Helle and Fred Guzman, following the Division II quarterfinal game from Kalani Gym between No. 3 Seabury Hall and University High at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, Maui Interscholastic League Division I champion King Kekaulike (14-0), seeded No. 3 in the 12-team tournament, will face Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Punahou live on OC16 (channel 12) at 5 p.m.

Punahou (9-4) advanced to the quarterfinal game at Moanalua Gym by beating Farrington on Wednesday, 63-50. The Buffanblu have 10 state titles to their credit and a 70-28 championship-bracket record compared to King Kekaulike’s 1-1 mark and second tournament appearance.

Baldwin’s Teva Eldridge (43) grabs one of his game-high nine rebounds Wednesday against Kapolei at McKinley Gym. Ben Juan / Juan Shot Photo.

“Everybody came out with the mind set that this was a do-or-die game for us,” said the 6-foot-1 Eldridge, who was chosen OC16’s Impact Player of the Game. “We pushed through and got the job done. We’re taking one game at a time.”

Eldridge, who was also honored the National Guard’s “Impact Player of the Game” following his 19-point performance in a 65-51 win over Waiakea at the Larry Manliguis Hilo High Holiday Classic in mid-December, recalls playing ILH champion Maryknoll (11-1, 23-2 overall) at the Punahou Invitational before Christmas.

“We played Maryknoll early in the preseason and we loss by there points (35-32), so we’re expecting a good game from them. Last time we played them they were missing one of their key players.  . . . They’re a good team, they’re big and quick.”

Maryknoll was without 6-foot-4, junior forward Joshua Burnett, who averages 11.6 points per game. Eldridge finished with eight points in the loss and had has hands full helping contain the Spartans’ 6-9 senior center Tobias Schramm (12.2 ppg.). Sophomore guard Kaleb Gilmore is the team’s leading scorer at 13.0 ppg. with 42 3-pointers on the season.

Baldwin High School point guard Kody Takushi finished with 11 points, including one 3-pointer in the Bears’ 57-43 win over Kapolei on Wednesday. Ben Juan / Juan Shot Photo.

Maryknoll, the 1984 state champions led by Coach Tony Sellitto, is making its first state tournament appearance since 1991 under first-year head coach Kelly Grant. The ’84 Spartans beat Maui High (55-44), coached by Don Snyder. The Sabers’ were led by J.J. Varoom, Mark Fernandez and Steven Sparks that year and returned to the state title game six years later with Ty Brauch, Henry Acob and James Bacos.

Eldridge said Baldwin is clicking on all cylinders right now.

“The team’s playing pretty good right now. I think we’ve grown since the MIL championship and the team has really come together.”

Baldwin’s backcourt tandem of Kody Takushi and Ryan Garces added 11 points each, and sophomore forward Philip Thomas chipped in nine points.

The Bears scored the game’s first seven point and led 11-4 after the first quarter and built 10-point cushions twice in the first half at 16-6 early in the second quarter and 27-17 at halftime. At one point late in the second quarter, Kapolei went on a 11-2 run to pull to within one point, 18-17, but never got closer.

Baldwin’s Bradley Bowlin, who scored a team-high 10 points against Maryknoll in the preseason, injured his left ankle against Kapolei and was seen getting treatment on the sidelines during the game. He returned to the bench at the conclusion of the game and Eldridge said the 6-foot-3 center will be ready to play on Thursday.

Baldwin High School Ryan Garces chipped in 11 points as the Bears advance to Thursday’s quarterfinals against top-seeded Maryknoll following their win over Kapolei. Ben Juan / Juan Shot Photo.

“There is no way he’s going to go out his senior season on the bench with an injury. He’ll be ready to play.”

Among the highlights in Baldwin wire-to-wire win Wednesday were:

~ Garces’ coast-to-coast dribble drive to the basket after taking the inbounds pass from Eldridge, 47-38. The basket gave Baldwin a 10-4 edge in fast-break points.

~ Eldridge’s two free throws at 2:38 to play, 49-38. Eldridge later grabbed his sixth and seventh rebounds on consecutive trips downcourt as Baldwin played with its all-underclassmen five down the stretch as sophomores Takushi, Thomas and Randy Wong, joined juniors Eldridge and Garces.

~ Wong blocks a pair of shots, the second of which triggers a fast-break layup at the other end by Takushi with 52 seconds left in the game, 51-40.

Kapolei was led by Chris Dillard’s 17 points, four rebounds and one assist.

Baldwin entered Wednesday’s game against Kapolei having played 90 state tournament games dating back to 1960, compared to Kapolei’s three state tournament games in 2012.

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES BOYS STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIVISION I TOURNAMENT

Wednesday’s Results

First Round

At McKinley Gym

Baldwin 57, Kapolei 43

Pearl City 68, Moanalua 60, OT

At Moanalua Gym

Mililani 84, Kamehameha Hawaii 68

Punahou 63, Farrington 50

Thursday’s Games

Consolation

At McKinley Gym

Kapolei vs. Moanalua, 3 p.m.

At Moanalua Gym

Kamehameha Hawaii vs. Farrington, 3 p.m.

Quarterfinals

At McKinley Gym

No. 4 Konawaena vs. PearlCity, 5 p.m.

No. 1 Maryknoll vs. Baldwin, 7 p.m. (ESPN 550AM Radio)

At Moanalua Gym

No. 3 King Kekaulike vs. Punahou, 5 p.m. (OC16 TV)

No. 2 Kalaheo vs. Mililani winner, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Games

At Blaisdell Arena

Seventh-place game, 11 a.m.

Fifth-place semifinals, 1 and 3 p.m.

Semifinals, 5 and 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

At Blaisdell Arena

Fifth-place game, 1 p.m.

Third-place game, 3 p.m.

Championship, 7 p.m.

 DIVISION II TOURNAMENT

Thursday’s Games

Quarterfinals

At Kalani Gym

No. 3 Seabury Hall vs. University, 5 p.m. (ESPN 550AM Radio)

No. 2 Kailua vs. Pahoa, 7 p.m.

At Kaimuki Gym

No. 4 Hawaii Prep vs. Kapaa

No. 1 St. Francis vs. Waianae, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Consolation

At Kalani Gym

Hawaii Prep-Kapaa loser vs. St. Francis-Waianae loser, 5 p.m.

Kailua-Pahoa loser vs. Seabury Hall-University loser, 7 p.m.

Semifinals

At Kaimuki Gym

Hawaii Prep-Kapaa winner vs. St. Francis-Waianae winner, time TBA

Kailua-Pahoa winner vs. Seabury Hall-University winner, time TBA

Saturday’s Games

At Blaisdell Arena

Fifth-place game, 9 a.m.

Third-place game, 11 a.m.

Championship, 5 p.m.