Kalaheo is top girls’
By Pat Bigold
hoops seed
Star-BulletinThe last Oahu Interscholastic Association team to win a state girls' basketball title was Kahuku in 1983.
Ironically, the coach of that team -- Harry Kahuanui -- was the father of a coach who stands in the way of Kalaheo taking it all this week in the 22nd Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls' Basketball Tournament.
''Kalaheo is definitely the strongest OIA team I've seen since my father's team, which had players like Val Cravens," said Shelley Kahuanui Fey. Her defending state champion Punahou team is second-seeded to Kalaheo's top-seeded Lady Mustangs.
The tournament begins tomorrow with four games at the McKinley and Kamehameha gyms then shifts to the Stan Sheriff Center for the last three days.
''We're the underdogs this year and that's fine with me," said Fey, who lost every regular starter from last year except 5-foot-11 senior all-state player Onaona Miller.
Kalaheo did not lose a game during the OIA season or playoffs, while the Buffanblu lost only once (to Maryknoll) in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season.
While Punahou has only one returning starter, the Lady Mustangs are rich in returning talent with a dose of promising youth.
That youth is embodied in 6-0 freshman Brandy Richardson, who plays the low post as well as anybody in the state.
The No. 3 seed is Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Waiakea and the No. 4 seed is Maui Interscholastic League champion Baldwin.
Kalaheo already beaten eight of the 12 teams in this tournament, including Punahou and Waiakea.
In what may be the best preliminary game tomorrow (7:30 p.m., at Kamehameha), OIA runner-up McKinley will face MIL runner-up Lahainaluna, which features University of Hawaii recruit Aina Kohler.
In the earlier game at Kamehameha, OIA fifth-place Nanakuli will meet Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Kauai High at 6 p.m.
At the McKinley gym, BIIF runner-up Konawaena will take on OIA fourth-place Kahuku at 6 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., ILH runner-up Maryknoll will meet OIA third-place Waipahu.