Prep Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, May 18, 1999

Top-seeded Kalaheo
aims for elusive title

Star-Bulletin staff

It's deja vu for high school state basketball.

The undefeated Kalaheo Mustangs were named the top seed of this week's GTE Hawaiian Tel Girls' State Basketball Tournament. Last March, the Kalaheo boys' team was also unbeaten when seeded first in the state tourney.

"They talk about the Kalaheo jinx, about not being able to win the big one," said Mustang girls' coach Chico Furtado, also an assistant for the boys' team. "But anyone who's been there knows winning any game in the tournament is tough, not just the winning the championship."

In March, the Mustangs lost to Punahou in overtime for the boys' state title. Last year, the Lady Mustangs suffered the same fate at the hands of the Buffanblu.

Kalaheo (12-0) is one of two unbeaten teams in the 12-team field at the Stan Sheriff Center. The other is Big Island champ Waiakea (15-0), the No. 2 seed.

ILH champion Kamehameha (11-1) is seeded third and Maui (17-1), the MIL winner, is fourth.

Play at the Stan Sheriff Center opens tomorrow with the 3:30 p.m. game between Kapaa and Aiea. Other first-round games have Seabury Hall (15-4) against McKinley (9-3) at 5 p.m.; an OIA West battle between rivals Pearl City (14-1) and Nanakuli (10-3) at 6:30 p.m.; and defending state champ Punahou (12-2) facing Konawaena (11-4) at 8 p.m.

STATE GIRLS' BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP At Stan Sheriff Center Schedule Tomorrow's games G1: Kapaa (6-3) vs. Aiea (10-4), 3:30 p.m. G2: Seabury Hall (15-4) vs. McKinley (9-3), 5 p.m. G3: Pearl City (12-1) vs. Nanakuli (10-3), 6:30 p.m. G4: Punahou (12-2) vs. Konawaena (11-4), 8 p.m. Thursday's games G5: Losers of Games 1 & 2, 2 p.m. G6: No. 2 Waiakea (15-0) vs. Game 3 winner, 3:30 p.m. G7: No. 1 Kalaheo (12-0) vs. Game 1 winner, 5 p.m. G8: No. 4 Maui (17-1) vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m. G9: No. 3 Kamehameha (11-1) vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m. Friday's games G10: Losers of Games 2 & 3, 2 p.m. G11: Losers of Games 7 & 8, 3:30 p.m. G12: Losers of Games 6 & 9, 5 p.m. G13: Winners of Games 6 & 9, 6:30 p.m. G14: Winners of Games 7 & 8, 8 p.m. Saturday's games Seventh place: Winners of Game 5 & 10, 3:30 p.m. Fifth place: Winners of Games 11 & 12, 5 p.m. Third place: Losers of Games 13 & 14, 6:30 p.m. Championship: Winners of Games 13 & 14, 8 p.m. Television: Championship, live, KFVE (Channel 5). Tickets: Students, $5. Adults, $6.