Honokaa girls
By Pat Bigold
shoot for first state title
Star-BulletinThey could be two teams on a collision course. The Honokaa (10-0) and Punahou (12-0) girls' basketball teams have been awarded the top two seeds for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament that begins tomorrow at the Afook-Chinen Civic Center in Hilo.
The prospect of a title showdown on Saturday between such dominant teams -- a scoring machine from the tournament's host island and a high-intensity pressure cooker from the state's largest city -- conjures excitement. There's nothing like a genuine inter-island rivalry between equal opponents at state tournament time.
Second-seeded Punahou's only loss came at the hands of Honokaa in preseason.
The top-seeded Dragons, who have never won a state girls' basketball crown, are led by senior guard Dayna Gambill.
The powerful, 5-foot-5 Gambill, who has deadlifted well over 200 pounds, averaged 17 points (just under 30 percent from 3-point land) for a team that averaged a prolific 72 points per game.
"She plays point guard or wing," said Honokaa's ninth-year head coach, Daphne Honma. "She has good ballhandling skills, good moves to the basket, she passes off well and she's our best shooter."
Gambill scored 20 points against Waiakea in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship game.
Honokaa also has decent size, including 5-11 center Penny Ka'ae, 5-9 Latisha Landis (a California transfer), and 5-10 Alana Carvalho.
"We used to have to rely on the running game but now we can run and work the ball in," said Honma.
Punahou's low-post game is led by 5-11 Onaona Miller, the shot-blocking, board-crashing offensive threat who was a first-team BIIF all-star at Hilo High last season.
In the Buffanblu backcourt is possibly the state's best tandem for the last two years: Lisa Kowal and Ki'i Spencer-Vasconcellos.
The outside shooting threat, who led the ILH in 3-pointers, is Candace Usita.
But hold on, the script could be altered.
That's because before the Buffanblu reach the final, they're probably going to have to deal with red-hot, three-time Oahu Interscholastic Association champion McKinley in the semifinals.
The third-seeded Tigers have size, seasoning and a strong sense of destiny. They see no reason why they can't become the first OIA team to win a state title since Kahuku did it in 1983.
With senior forward Marjorie Nepo and 6-foot-1 senior center Va'e Tipoti ripping off the glass, it's hard for any team to get comfortable in the low post against McKinley.
An earlier obstacle for Punahou in the quarterfinals could be Kapaa High, led by 6-0 Cian Carvalho.
The fourth-seeded Lahainaluna Lunas have size with 6-0 Aina Kohler and inside-outside scoring power with forward-guard Lisa Arcangel.
Unseeded University High prides itself on defense.
"We are second in the league in defense and we spend a lot of time on that," said UHS head coach Tom Costain.
The tournament opens tomorrow with four games at the Civic Center.
Kapaa meets Waipahu at 2:20 p.m., University High faces Campbell at 4 p.m., surprising Kalaheo takes on Konawaena at 5:30 p.m., and Waiakea plays Baldwin at 7 p.m.
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