'Tis the season for basketball tournaments

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

The defending state champion Kalaheo Mustangs will host their 10th annual Kalaheo Classic basketball tournament this weekend at Kalaheo gym.

The eight-team tournament runs Thursday through Saturday. Joining the Mustangs are Punahou, Maryknoll and Mid-Pacific of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, as well as Kailua, Mililani, Nanakuli and Roosevelt of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association. (See schedule of games below.)

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students.

On the Big Island, the Waiakea Invitational runs Thursday through Saturday at the Warriors' gym. The six-team, round-robin field includes Kaimuki of the OIA and Horseshoe Bend (Idaho), the only Mainland team. Rounding out the tournament are St. Joseph and Hilo of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation and Lahainaluna of the Maui Interscholastic League.

The busy Mustangs will then play in the James Alegre Tournament, sponsored by Radford High, Dec. 6-8 at Radford. Kalaheo also will participate in the Iolani Prep Classic, which runs Dec. 18-22.

To get your varsity basketball tournament listed, fax information to 525-5491 or e-mail at preps@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Below are some of the upcoming preseason tournaments.

Kalaheo Classic

• When: Thursday-Saturday
• Where: Kalaheo High gym
• Teams: Kalaheo, Kailua, Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific, Mililani, Nanakuli, Punahou, Roosevelt.
• Schedule: Thursday—Game 1, Mid-Pacific vs. Mililani, 3:30 p.m.; Game 2, Kalaheo vs. Nanakuli, 5 p.m.; Game 3, Maryknoll vs. Roosevelt, 6:30 p.m.; Game 4, Punahou vs. Kailua, 8 p.m. Friday: Game 5, Losers Games 2 and 3, 3:30 p.m.; Game 6, Losers Games 4 and 1, 5 p.m.; Game 7, Winners Games 4 and 1, 6:30 p.m.; Game 8, Winners Games 2 and 3, 8 p.m. Saturday: Game 9, Losers Games 5 and 6, 1:30 p.m.; Consolation, Winners Games 5 and 6, 3 p.m.; Third place, Losers Games 7 and 8, 4:30 p.m.; Championship, Winners Games 7 and 8, 6 p.m.

Waiakea Invitational

• When: Thursday-Saturday
• Where: Waiakea High gym
• Teams: Waiakea, St. Joseph, Hilo, Kaimuki, Lahainaluna, Horseshoe Bend (Idaho).
• Schedule: Thursday—Horseshoe Bend vs. St. Joseph, 5 p.m.; Kaimuki vs. Hilo, 6:30 p.m.; Lahainaluna vs. Waiakea, 8 p.m. Friday—Waiakea vs. Hilo, 5 p.m.; Horseshoe Bend vs. Kaimuki, 6:30 p.m.; St. Joseph vs. Lahainaluna, 8 p.m. Saturday—Kaimuki vs. St. Joseph, 1:30 p.m.; Lahainaluna vs. Hilo, 3 p.m.; Waiakea vs. Horseshoe Bend, 4:30 p.m.

James Alegre Invitational

• When: Dec. 6-8
• Where: Radford High gym
• Teams: Radford, Punahou, Kailua, Kalaheo, Kamehameha, Iolani, Leilehua, Honoka'a.
• First-round schedule: Dec. 6—Punahou vs. Kailua, 3 p.m.; Kalaheo vs. Kamehameha, 4:30 p.m.; Iolani vs. Leilehua, 6 p.m.; Radford vs. Honoka'a, 7:30 p.m.

Iolani Prep Classic

• When: Dec. 18-22
• Where: Iolani School gym
• Teams: Iolani, Damien, Punahou, Mililani, Farrington, Kalaheo, 'Aiea, Roosevelt, Kealakehe, Wilson (Florence, S.C.), Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.), Northwestern (Miami), Montrose (Rockville, Md.), Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.), Garfield (Seattle), Fairfax (Los Angeles).
• First-round schedule: Dec. 18—Damien vs. Wilson, 3:30 p.m.; Iolani vs. Cathedral Prep, 5 p.m.; Punahou vs. Northwestern, 6:30 p.m.; Mililani vs. Montrose, 8 p.m. Dec. 19—Farrington vs. Clovis West, 3:30 p.m.; Kalaheo vs. Kealakehe, 5 p.m.; 'Aiea vs. Garfield, 6:30 p.m.; Roosevelt vs. Fairfax, 8 p.m.