Buffanblu girls get No. 1 seed

The state championships have a lot to do with momentum, but this season, it may have everything to do with versatility and depth.

Those are key reasons why Punahou won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu crown and collared the No. 1 seed for the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships. Punahou (18-6) won state titles in the freshman and sophomore seasons of twins Shaena-Lyn and Shawna-Lei Kuehu, but both suffered ACL injuries last year. Punahou finished second to Konawaena in the final.

With the twins back and healthy again, Punahou can go uptempo or slow the pace. The Buffanblu have low-post scoring, perimeter shooting and relentless penetrators like Janelle Nomura. Above all, however, coach Mike Taylor's team has an insatiable appetite for physically punishing defense over 94 feet of hardwood.

Those factors, along with a deep lineup, separate the Buffanblu from the pack. Second-seeded Waiakea (17-2) may be the best fast-breaking team in the tourney.

The Warriors have explosive scorers Kirsty and Kamie Imai, but are short on state-tourney experience.

Third seed Kalani (21-4) has plenty of effective parts and a standout point forward in Iwalani Rodrigues, but their early nonconference win over Punahou came with Shawna-Lei Kuehu still sidelined.

Fourth-seeded Lahainaluna (16-3) has been off the radar despite dominating the MIL. Milika Taufa is one of the state's top post scorers, but the Lady Lunas lost a key component when multi-skilled Ofa Namoa transferred to the mainland before the season.

Punahou's path to a title could be obstructed by a familiar foe. Tomorrow's Konawaena-Moanalua winner will face the top seed. Led by speedy post Mana Hopkins and sharpshooter Kara Hanato-Smith, Konawaena has survived with just eight players all season.

Radford was unbeaten in regular-season play before losing in the OIA final to Kalani.

Roosevelt's plethora of long-range bombers and quick guards could make its first-round matchup against the Rams a cat-and-mouse game. The winner takes on Lahainaluna.

In the other bracket, Farrington and Kamehameha-Maui battle for the right to face Waiakea.

Kalani, meanwhile, has the potentially unenviable task of playing the Aiea-Iolani winner. Iolani spent much of the season atop the Star-Bulletin Girls Basketball Top 10 before finishing second to Punahou in the ILH. Forward-center Jamie Smith is a strong candidate for state player-of-the-year honors.

Star-Bulletin Top 10 Poll

The Top 10 high school girls basketball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

Team, Record	Last game	Next game	PTS.	PVS.
1. Punahou, 18-6	none last week	state quarterfinals	180	1
2. Iolani, 21-4	none last week	vs. Aiea	151	2
3. Waiakea, 17-2	none last week	state quarterfinals	137	4
4. Kalani, 21-4	beat Radford	state quarterfinals	131	6
5. Radford, 19-7	lost to Kalani	vs. Roosevelt	105	3
6. Konawaena, 15-3	none last week	vs. Moanalua	94	5
7. Roosevelt, 17-7	beat Aiea	vs. Radford	67	7
8. Hilo, 17-5	season over		49	8
9. Kamehameha	season over		22	9
10. Farrington	beat Moanalua	vs. KS-Hawaii	20	10

» Also receiving votes: Lahainaluna 21, Kamehameha-Hawaii 8, Aiea 4, Maryknoll 4, Moanalua 3, McKinley 2, Mid-Pacific.

State basketball tournament schedules

Division I boys

Seeds: 1. Iolani (ILH); 2. Konawaena (BIIF); 3. Mililani (OIA); 4. Kamehameha-Maui (MIL)
Wednesday
McKinley bracket
Game 1: KS-Maui vs. Kalaheo, 6 p.m.
2: Moanalua vs. Campbell, 8 p.m.
Radford bracket
3: Punahou vs. Lahainaluna, 6 p.m.
4: Kamehameha vs. Kahuku, 8 p.m.
Thursday
McKinley bracket
5: Game 1 and 2 losers, 4 p.m.
6: KS-Maui vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.
7: Iolani vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m.
Radford bracket
8: Game 3 and 4 losers, 4 p.m.
9: Konawaena vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
10: Mililani vs. Game 3 winner, 8 p.m.
Friday
All games at Blaisdell Arena
11 (consolation championship): Game 5 and 8 winners, noon
Fifth-place bracket
12: Game 6 and 7 losers, 2 p.m.
13: Game 9 and 10 losers, 4 p.m.
Semifinals
14: Game 6 and 7 winners, 6 p.m.
15: Game 9 and 10 winners, 8 p.m.
Saturday
All games at Blaisdell Arena
Fifth place: Game 12 and 13 winners, 2:15 p.m.
Third place: Semifinal losers, 4 p.m.
Championship: Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

Division II boys

Seeds: 1. Aiea (OIA); 2. University (ILH); 3. Kohala (BIIF); 4. Molokai (MIL)
Wednesday
Moanalua bracket
Game 1: HBA vs. St. Joseph, 6 p.m.
2: Word of Life vs. Kaiser, 8 p.m.
Pearl City bracket
3: Farrington vs. Lanai, 6 p.m.
4: Kauai vs. McKinley, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Moanalua bracket
5: Game 1 and 2 losers, 4 p.m.
6: Molokai vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.
7: Aiea vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m.
Pearl City bracket
8: Game 3 and 4 losers, 4 p.m.
9: Kohala vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.
10: University vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Friday
At Moanalua
11 (consolation championship): Game 5 and 8 winners, noon
Moanalua bracket
12: Game 6 and 7 losers, 6 p.m.
13: Game 6 and 7 winners, 8 p.m.
Pearl City bracket
14: Game 9 and 10 losers, 6 p.m.
15: Game 9 and 10 winners, 8 p.m.
Saturday
All games at Blaisdell Arena
Fifth place: Game 12 and 14 winners, 10:45 a.m.
Third place: Game 13 and 15 losers, 12:30 p.m.
Championship: Game 13 and 15 winners, 6 p.m.

Division I girls

Seeds: 1. Punahou (ILH); 2. Waiakea (BIIF); 3. Kalani (OIA); 4. Lahainaluna (MIL)
Tuesday
Farrington bracket
Game 1: Konawaena vs. Moanalua, 6 p.m.
2: Radford vs. Roosevelt, 8 p.m.
Kaimuki bracket
3: Kamehameha-Maui vs. Farrington, 6 p.m.
4: Iolani vs. Aiea, 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Farrington bracket
5: Game 1 and 2 losers, 4 p.m.
6: Lahainaluna vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
7: Punahou vs. Game 1 winner, 8 p.m.
Kaimuki bracket
8: Game 3 and 4 losers, 4 p.m.
9: Waiakea vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.
10: Kalani vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Thursday
At Farrington
11 (consolation championship): Game 5 and 8 winners, 4 p.m.
Farrington bracket
12: Game 6 and 7 losers, 6 p.m.
13: Game 6 and 7 winners, 8 p.m.
Kaimuki bracket
14: Game 9 and 10 losers, 6 p.m.
15: Game 9 and 10 winners, 8 p.m.
Friday
All games at Stan Sheriff Center
Fifth place: Game 12 and 14 winners, 2:15 p.m.
Third place: Game 13 and 15 losers, 4 p.m.
Championship: Game 13 and 15 winners, 8 p.m.

Division II Girls

Seeds: 1. McKinley (OIA); 2. Kamehameha-Hawaii (BIIF); 3. Maryknoll (ILH); 4. Molokai (MIL)
Tuesday
Kalani bracket
Game 1: Kapaa vs. St. Francis, 6 p.m.
2: University vs. Hawaii Prep, 8 p.m.
Aiea bracket
3: Kailua vs. Seabury Hall, 6 p.m.
4: Campbell vs. Hanalani, 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Kalani bracket
5: Game 1 and 2 losers, 4 p.m.
6: Molokai vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
7: McKinley vs. Game 1 winner, 8 p.m.
Aiea bracket
8: Game 3 and 4 losers, 4 p.m.
9: KS-Hawaii vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
10: Maryknoll vs. Game 3 winner, 8 p.m.
Thursday
At Kalani
11 (consolation championship): Game 5 and 8 winners, 4 p.m.
Kalani bracket
12: Game 6 and 7 losers, 6 p.m.
13: Game 6 and 7 winners, 8 p.m.
Aiea bracket
14: Game 9 and 10 losers, 6 p.m.
15: Game 9 and 10 winners, 8 p.m.
Saturday
All games at Stan Sheriff Center
Fifth place: Game 12 and 14 winners, 10:45 a.m.
Third place: Game 13 and 15 losers, 12:30 p.m.
Championship: Game 13 and 15 winners, 6 p.m.