Posted on: Friday, February 25, 2005
Baldwin beats Punahou, 56-50
| • | Kahuku rallies past Kamehameha |
| • | Campbell edges Konawaena |
| • | Iolani defeats Kalaheo, 64-49 |
| • | Hawaiian Airlines Boys Basketball Championship |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Either Baldwin or Kahuku will play in tomorrow's boys basketball state championship game for the first time in the 49-year history of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association tournament.
Eugene Tanner •The Honolulu Advertiser Baldwin (13-0) advanced last night after a stunning 56-50 comeback victory over perennial power Punahou. Tonight will mark only the third time the Bears have reached the state semifinals in the past 25 years.
"We worked hard all season and tonight it was the same thing — just running hard and hustling," said Baldwin senior center Trenson Himalaya, who finished with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds. "I told the other seniors, 'Let's go out and leave everything on the floor.' "
Punahou (12-4) led 43-33 late in the third period and 45-38 with six minutes remaining in the game, before going cold from the outside and watching the Bears charge to a 9-0 run and take a 47-45 lead on Cody Nakamura's layup with 2:35 left.
The Buffanblu took the lead back at 48-47 on Spencer McLachlin's free throws with 1:53 remaining, but Baldwin regained it for good after Himalaya's three-point play nine seconds later.
After Cody Tesoro put the Bears up 53-48 on two free throws with 30 seconds left, Brenton Lee immediately cut it to 53-50 on a coast-to-coast layup. Tesoro then sealed it with three free throws in the final 24 seconds.
Punahou's All-State guard, Jeremiah Ostrowski, matched a tournament-high with 31 points but fouled out with 30 seconds remaining.
"We were up 10, but then we kept forcing shots and started missing, and Baldwin kept competing the whole way, especially in the post," Buffanblu coach Greg Tacon said. "They played in our tournament (Dec. 27 to 30) so we knew they were good and believe me ... we did not take them lightly. But tonight they absolutely outplayed us, outhustled us, outcoached us."
The Bears also may have had extra motivation, since many on Maui believed they deserved better than a No. 3 seed. Baldwin is ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, while Punahou is No. 3.
"I told the kids, 'We got snubbed,' " Bears coach Wayne Gushiken said. "I knew we probably would play Punahou, but not in the quarterfinals. The No. 2- and No. 3-ranked teams in the state playing in the quarterfinals? But I told them we just gotta take care of business."
Baldwin reached the state semifinals in 1993 and 2000, losing to Kaimuki and Hilo, respectively.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
The teams will meet in tonight's second semifinal at 8, following the first semifinal between Campbell and Iolani at 6. Both games will be played at Blaisdell Arena and televised live statewide on OC-16.
Baldwin's Cody Tesoro blocks a shot attempt by Punahou's Miah Ostrowski in the fourth quarter. Tesoro sealed the victory with three free throws in the closing seconds. Ostrowski led all scorers with 31 points.
