Sports Update

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Saturday, February 22, 1997

That is win back-to-back state titles.

University High, which went all the way in 1987 and 1988, was the last team to do it.

Moanalua's Eddie Maruyama will try to become the first head coach involved in repeat championships since Walter Wong, who led St. Louis to state titles between 1966 and 1968.

But Maruyama and the Menehunes can certainly appreciate why it's so difficult to repeat.

Coming in unseeded this year, as they did last year, they've had to scramble to escape the jaws of defeat for three nights in a row.

Relegated to the tournament's toughest bracket, Moanalua has been tested to the marrow in each game.

On Wednesday, the Menehunes rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to beat Punahou, 64-56, at McCabe Gym. On Thursday, they held on to a perilous 46-45 quarterfinal victory with Baldwin controlling the ball in the final seconds.

And last night, the Menehunes (15-1) got past second-seeded Kalaheo, their 1996 state final opponent, with a buzzer-beating shot in double overtime from Ron Jones.

"I like it when it's warm; you swing better," said Mallon as she shot a 68 yesterday for a 36-hole score of 137 going into today's final round of the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open.

But she'll have to turn on the heat.

A coolly efficient Swede named Annika Sorenstam holds a commanding four-shot lead over the rest of the surviving field following a mistake-free 66 yesterday at the par-72 Kapolei Golf Course. Sorenstam, who won the LPGA Tour's opening event - Tournament of Champions - is at 11-under 133 and seemingly uncatchable.

Even Mallon, who trailed by two strokes going into the final round but was able to overtake LPGA rookie sensation Karrie Webb and win last year, admits a repeat will be a formidable task.