Konawaena takes poll’s top spot

For the fourth time this season, a new team has emerged at No. 1 in the Star-Bulletin Girls Basketball Top 10.

The Konawaena Wildcats, riding a 12-0 mark in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, collected all 20 first-place votes in today's poll.

Turnover at the top has been quite constant. Kamehameha opened the season there before losing to Iolani. The Raiders took the throne and remained there for four weeks. Roosevelt ended Iolani's reign and held the No. 1 ranking for two weeks, but a loss to Kahuku on Saturday opened the door.

Konawaena is no stranger to the spotlight. The Wildcats won the state championship in 2004. This season, however, has been one of pure parity statewide.

"I think it's been a roller coaster. There's no favorite, even now with us," said Konawaena's Donald Awa, who assists his wife, head coach Bobbie Awa. "The BIIF is as strong as any league. We don't play all D-I teams like the ILH does. I wish we did, but our D-I teams are strong."

Konawaena has already clinched a state-tournament berth by winning the regular season. The top ranking, he added, may or may not have an added benefit.

"Over the course of the season, if it helps you get a better draw at the state tournament, then great. But this is the one year I wouldn't know which team I'd want to avoid," he said. "Last year, you'd want to avoid Punahou. I think we match up pretty good with Kalani or Roosevelt, but even then, it's a pick 'em.

"There's so much parity, I don't think it matters where you fall. The first seed could lose to the eighth-best team."

Konawaena has relied on senior sharpshooter Jazzmin Awa-Williams, a returning All-State swingman. Center Mana Hopkins has emerged as a force.

"Mana's more aggressive and looking to score now. She's quick and elevates, and she runs the floor, scoring in transition," Awa noted.

BIIF officials, he added, are letting teams play strong defense, as Konawaena did in a 41-20 win at Kamehameha-Hawaii on Friday.

"They're letting us play defense, the way the games are in Honolulu," Awa said.

Viking uprising

Hilo has finally emerged after floating off the radar for most of the season. Standout Vicky Tagalicod is back to form after slowly recovering from a foot injury suffered during Team Aloha's mainland trip last fall.

Along with center Kamaile Allen, Tagalicod sparked the Vikings in a surprisingly easy 56-38 win over Honokaa over the weekend.

Hilo entered today's Top 10 at No. 10 after finishing BIIF play with a 10-2 record. Tagalicod, a 5-foot-9 sophomore, scored 27 points and had 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals in the win, while Allen had 22 points. Coach Ferd Masulit said his team has come a long way since a rough trip to Oahu in the preseason.

Only two state berths are available to the BIIF, and Konawaena has locked up one of them. That means Honokaa, Waiakea, Keaau and Hilo will fight for the remaining berth when the playoffs begin this week.