Radford rolls on in OIA West

Radford girls basketball coach Tani Dutro can't rest with a No. 3 ranking and an undefeated record in the Rams' division because it can be erased with one bad game in the OIA playoffs.

The OIA doesn't award a state berth based on regular-season performance, forcing Radford to win a playoff game to get to the big dance.

"We don't want all our hard work to get erased in one playoff game. We know the competition will step up come playoff time," Dutro said.

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The ride has been smooth, even surreal in the past month.

It may seem easy, maybe too easy for the Lady Rams of Radford. The quirkiest note about their 10-game win streak in league play is the spookiest one. Even if unbeaten Radford runs the table with wins over Pearl City and Aiea this week, a perfect mark in Oahu Interscholastic Association regular-season play is a guarantee of nothing in the postseason.

The Rams would secure a first-round bye in the OIA playoffs if they win out this week. But the OIA is the only league in the state that does not award an automatic state berth based on regular-season performance. There have been many a regular-season division champion -- particularly from the West -- that stumbled in the playoffs and stayed home during the states.

That's why, even as Radford continues to soar at No. 3 in the Star-Bulletin Girls Basketball Top 10 today, the real tests have yet to come. Since a three-game swing on the Big Island -- wins over Konawaena and Honokaa, and a loss to Hilo -- the Red West has yet to challenge the Lady Rams. They have a scoring margin of 23.6 points per game in league play, and no team has come closer than Mililani, which has fallen to the Rams by scores of 47-35 and 50-35.

Radford's first-year coach, Tani Dutro, knows the hazard well. As a player at Moanalua, Na Menehune had unbeaten regular seasons and often faced the risk of missing the state tournament with one bad night in the playoffs. Dutro was fortunate enough to reach the state tourney each season as a player.

"I just try to prepare them for playing in the playoffs. We don't want all our hard work to get erased in one playoff game. We know the competition will step up come playoff time," Dutro said.

How good are the Rams? Center Ta Nitra Byrd is a returning Star-Bulletin Fab 15 All-State selection, but her comrades have been steady. Bui Baravilala, Marlena Malepeai and Chelsea-Ann Villanueva are a veteran crew with the athleticism and aggression required to attack defenses.

Still, they're looking up at No. 1 Iolani and No. 2 Punahou, who have split two games so far.