It is amazing what two days of solid practice and a new lineup can make in these days of COVID-19.

Baldwin High School Bears boys basketball team is one of the few teams in the Maui Interscholastic League that has played all four games on time.

The Baldwin High School Bears have improved steadily since the start of the league season.

Saturday night in Lahaina’s was the latest stop on the winning train. The Bears defeated a Lunas team that had not been beaten this season winning 73-37.

The Bears (4-0), who opened the MIL season by beating King Kekaulike in overtime, when many players and coaches were sidelined with COVID.

Baldwin then scored a 14-point win against Kamehameha Maui. Game three was a 22-point win against Maui High on Wednesday.

Senior guard Kobe Gonzales was one of the key players who returned Saturday. Gonzales sank four 3-pointers, and ended with 13 points in the first half.

The Bears scored 51 points and led by 25 at half time.

Bears coach Tesoro calls his front line of Quintan Akaka (6’7″), Hudson Yarbrough (6-7) and Avery Pauole (6-6), “the big three.”

Quintan Akaka scored his 24 points in the first period, Yarbrough had 17 points, and Pauole had 6. All three had sereral blocked shots.

On Saturday night, the Bears’ offense flowed beautifully, particularly in transition.

The best play of the night came with just over five minutes remaining in the first period. Avery Pauole took a rebound and turned to fire a floor-length outlet ball to Akaka. Quintan Akaka put the ball in.

The Bears cleared the bench in the second half.

The Lunas (2-1), only dressed eight players.

Kana’au Castro’s 11 points led the Lunas.