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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Kalaheo clips Baldwin, 41-29

 •  Honoka'a edges Kaiser in opening round, 42-39
 •  Roosevelt runs wild over Kaua'i
 •  Iolani pressure wears down Farrington, 66-43

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

In what could pass for a state title game in other years, Kalaheo will face Konawaena tonight in a blockbuster quarterfinal at the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association/ Hawaiian Airlines Girls Basketball Championships.

Rachel Leano is guarded, from left, by Kalaheo's Kathleen Hicks, Randi Farstad and Shanadee Canon.

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the University of Hawai'i's Stan Sheriff Center.

Kalaheo (15-2) advanced after yesterday's 41-29 first-round victory over Baldwin. Defending state champion and No. 2 seed Konawaena (13-0) had a first-round bye.

Kalaheo, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's fifth-place team, was upset by Roosevelt in its league quarterfinals, but still is regarded as one of the strongest contenders for the state crown. The Mustangs' chances improved even more yesterday, when senior guard Shantel Marumoto saw her first significant game action since injuring her lower back on April 30.

"I'm OK," said Marumoto, who wore a back brace and played 17 minutes. "Last Friday it was really stiff and I only played two minutes (in the OIA fifth-place game)."

Marumoto said it was near torture having to watch helplessly from the bench as her team lost to Roosevelt, 52-51, in the league playoffs May 6.

"I don't like sitting on the side at all," she said. "It felt really good to be back on the court (today) and in touch with basketball again."

Marumoto did not score, but Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said her mere presence has stabilized the team.

"I thought her energy level was good," Furtado said. "She gives us one more person, which is important because we have a tough haul ahead."

The Mustangs took control early by jumping to an 11-4 lead after one period and extended it to 25-10 by halftime and 35-16 after three quarters. The Bears (7-4) made a late run in the final two minutes with Kalaheo's starters on the bench.

"Our goal was to just win by using a lot of players and get out of there without any injuries," Furtado said. "I thought we accomplished that. We wanted to keep it as simple as possible. But we're going to have to play a lot better (tonight)."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.