Short-handed Baldwin hosts Leilehua

By Fred Guzman
MauiNow.com

Baldwin will be without the services of its most dangerous offensive weapon tonight when the Bears open their bid in the state Division-I football tournament against high-powered Leilehua.

Ro Wilson will not suit up for tonight’s 6 o’clock game because of reasons not related to an injury. Wilson is the MIL’s leading receiver – and one of the best in the state — with 29 catches, 547 yards and nine touchdowns.

Leilehua is led by All-State quarterback Andrew Manley, who guided the Mules to a state title as a sophomore and a runnerup finish last year.

This will mark the third straight year that Baldwin and Leilehua tangle in the state tourney, and the Mules have won each of those games.

The game will be aired on ESPN 550 and televised on OC 16.

In the other D-I quarterfinal game, Farrington is a huge favorite when it visits Honoka’a, a school with an enrollment of 764 that won its first Big Island title in 35 years.

No. 1 Kahuku and No. 2 Kamehameha are the top seeds and drew byes into next week’s semifinals at Aloha Stadium.

Despite being seeded No. 4 in Division II, Lahainalua will be on the road tonight for its game at OIA-White runnerup Aiea.

The 7 o’clock game will be aired live on AM-900.

In the other D-II quarterfinal, Moanaolua hosts No. 3 HPA.

No. 1 Iolani and No. 2 Kauai are the top seeds in D-II.

UH ROUNDUP: Quarterback Bryant Moniz and star slotback Greg Salas have two things in common. Both did not practice this week because of injuries and both insist that they will play in Saturday’s key game at San Jose State.

Moniz has started six straight games after Greg Alexander suffered a season-ending knee injury. He was knocked out of last week’s game against New Mexico State, a 24-6 victory, with bruised right ribs.

Salas, the national leader with an average of 136 receiving yards per game, has a sprained right foot. Despite suffering the injury on the first series, Salas finished with a school-record 16 catches for 196 yards.

If Moniz can’t go, Shane Austin is the next man up. If Salas isn’t available, UH will have to do some juggling – perhaps moving Kealoha Pilares back into the slot.

The UH men’s basketball team, off to a 2-1 start, play host to BYU tonight in what is Bows’ biggest challenge to date. Picked to win the Mountain West, BYU is 2-0 with wins over Bradley and Idaho State.

The Cougars have a trio of dangerous shooters in 6-2 Jimmer Fredette, 6-3 Jackson Emery and 6-6 Jonathan Tavernari. They combined for 177 3-pointers last season.

The Rainbow Wahine were overwhelmed 98-52 at UCLA last night as the physically superior Bruins hit 12 3-pointers, pressured UH into 24 turnovers and out-rebounded the ‘Bows 42-25. Freshman Shawna Kuehu’s 15 points led Hawaii.