After a slow start, the Baldwin High School boys basketball team rallied back.
The Bears overcame a 10-point deficit and defeated University 54-44 on Friday in a Baldwin Invitational game at the Bears' gym.
"We were a little sluggish," said Bears coach Wayne Gushiken. "We weren't sure what we were doing, especially on offense."
Article Photos
Baldwin High School’s Ginel Mateo puts up a shot in the second half of the Bears’ 54-44 win over University?on Friday during the Baldwin Invitational.
The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo
Baldwin trailed 23-13 with 3 minutes, 26 seconds left in the second quarter, but closed the half with a 10-1 run, thanks in large part to a couple of steals and two 3-pointers by sophomore guard Kody Takushi, who finished with 11 points. The Bears then outscored the Junior Bows 22-11 in the third period.
"We knew how big they were and the platoon style they play, but I thought we handled the first half well," said
University coach Walt Quitan. "We got out to a lead, but then they just wore us down."
The Bears went 7-for-28 from the floor in the first half.
"Our transition game wasn't working, so we went into our set offense," Gushiken said. "We told the team to slow down and get everyone set, so we can get going. We really started to jell."
Junior forward Teva Eldredge added eight points for the Bears.
Eldredge, a varsity player since freshman year and a Maui Interscholastic League first-team All-Star last season, said that the team's game plan was the same as it always is in the preseason.
"The coaches want to see what we got," he said. "He separates the team into three separate groups and we rotate in and out."
With the departure of fellow first-team selections Gabe Ross and Pasoni Tasini, Eldredge said he wants to improve as a leader and push his team further.
"We've got to work together and try our best to stay undefeated," he said. "We've got to keep improving and compete at the state level."
University guards Anthony Canencia and Ryan Kaleikini each scored 14 points.
* Chris Sugidono is at csugidono@mauinews.com
