Solid Interscholastic
League of Honolulu
has 4 ranked teams
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu is arguably the state's toughest in girls basketball. Four of the six schools in the talented league are in the Star-Bulletin Top 10, including No. 1 Punahou. Maryknoll, stocked with experience and talent, is ranked third. Iolani, still young, but a year wiser, is No. 6 with Kamehameha ranked eighth.
The rough ride through the double round-robin format will yield a regular-season champion and an automatic state-tournament berth. The ILH postseason tournament will determine the league's second -- and final -- state entry.
Here's a look at the league's teams.
Iolani
Coach: Glenn TakaraStar-Bulletin Top 10 ranking: No. 6
On paper: Takara, a veteran coach, experiments with lineups as much as anyone in preseason. Iolani lost to Farrington early on, but still went 8-4 in nonleague games, beating solid teams like Kahuku, Roosevelt and Honokaa. The Raiders' preseason slate included a sweep of the top teams on Maui two weeks ago.
Since then, Iolani has been idle, which also means resting and sharpening its skills. The graduation of All-State forward Ginger Gravelle leaves a gap, but the rest of last year's team is back in full force.
The skinny: Hennasea-Sue Tokumura is one of the top combo guards in the state. Keilyn Fujioka, a 6-foot center, is formidable in the post. The Raiders have several complementary players like Fujioka, including guard Kaz Masutani and slashing swingman Alana Matayoshi. All are underclassmen.
The Raiders are a quick team capable of changing tempo. They trailed Kahuku (currently ranked fifth) by eight before winning 52-47 with a boost from a full-court press.
X factor: Alana Wall has begun to show signs of maximizing her athleticism. The 5-11 junior is agile and quick, but only recently has become more aggressive. She could be the kind of player who turns a good team into a great team.
Kamehameha
Coach: Clay Cockett.Star-Bulletin Top 10 ranking: No. 8.
On paper: Replacing a floor leader such as India Soo isn't easy, but the Warriors remain highly competitive. Kamehameha went 5-2 in nonleague play, beating Kaiser in double overtime, as well as competitive squads Radford and McKinley. Losses to Kahuku and Lahainaluna -- teams with more experience -- weren't shocking, but certainly eye-opening.
The skinny: Cockett and his longtime staff have proven over and over that good coaching gives a young team -- Kamehameha has only three seniors -- a chance to compete for the state title. With Tatriana Lorenzo entering her junior season, the Warriors have at least one go-to player.
If they heed Cockett's direction and attack the basket rather than settle for a consistent stream of outside shots, the Warriors have a better chance to qualify for states.
Defensively, the Warriors have always been tough with a man-to-man defense. Miki Nakamura stabilizes the team on both ends of the floor.
X factor: Analee Viena Lota came on as a sharp-shooting freshman last season. Getting to the free-throw line requires her to be more aggressive with the ball.
Maryknoll
Coach: Bobby SamsonStar-Bulletin Top 10 ranking: No. 3
On paper: At 9-1, the Spartans are off to a strong start. They have the oldest lineup in the league, with guards Jessica Akamine and Tammie Andres, forward Cheryl Lee and 6-foot center Sela Fisilau. All four are seniors.
Nicole Fu, a sophomore guard, is the quickest in the lineup. Her agility and hustle give the seniors a much-needed spark when the gas tank gets low.
The skinny: Maryknoll is not deep, but execution and savvy go a long way. The Spartans have beaten Kaiser, McKinley, Kalaheo, Lahainaluna and Baldwin by double-digit margins. Their one loss came against Punahou, a lopsided defeat that raises the question: Can the Spartans overcome any psychological disadvantage against their rivals across the street?
X factor: Andres, the point guard, provides toughness and spunk. How she manages that intensity may aid Maryknoll's postseason hopes.
Mid-Pacific
Coach: Byron ChengStar-Bulletin Top 10 ranking: Unranked
On paper: This team had little more than a prayer when returning starters Morgen Sullivan and Dani Mafua decided to focus on volleyball this spring. Instead of wilting, however, the Owls went to work with first-year coach Cheng.
The result? Mid-Pac is far more resilient than expected. The Owls posted a one-point win over Kamehameha-Hawaii, a team that upset Punahou last month. MPI completed nonleague play with a 5-3 record.
Jasmine Vieira has been a force for MPI, as expected. The 5-9 senior gives her team experience and a smooth shooting touch. Sherice Ajifu, though, has been sterling. The quick guard made the all-tournament team at the Punahou Wahine Classic and has been a consistent scorer.
The skinny: The Owls aren't big in the middle now that Sullivan and Mafua, who recently committed to play volleyball at Hawaii, are gone. However, Meghan Laughlin has shown potential. The 5-9 junior scored 26 points against Moanalua.
Only Punahou and Iolani have shown consistent strength in the middle, which means MPI could be a dangerous team with a fourth-quarter lead.
X factor: Da Houl. The former longtime UH assistant is a valuable addition to Cheng's staff. The results are showing already.
Punahou
Coach: Mike TaylorStar-Bulletin Top 10 ranking: No. 1
On paper: The Buffanblu went 11-1 in nonleague play, posting more wins over ranked teams than any other. Punahou has wins over No. 5 Kahuku, No. 4 Kalaheo (twice), No. 3 Maryknoll and No. 2 Konawaena. The average margin of victory against Top 10 teams is 15.8 points.
Seniors Shanna-Lei Dacanay and Christine Takara give this team plenty of postseason experience as fourth-year starters. Dacanay, a point guard who also excels in softball, is arguably the best at her position in the state. Her 3-point range and ability to protect the ball are surpassed only by her savvy. Takara may be the best defensive player in the state.
The skinny: The addition of freshmen Shawna and Shaena Kuehu makes the Buffanblu a near-lock to win the ILH and state titles. Shawna, at 5-9, is extremely skilled with both hands and won't hesitate to use any move on the low post to exploit her quickness. She's probably the most athletic center in the state.
Shaena Kuehu brings a perimeter game and is similar to Takara in her ability to cover the wing.
Shawna's presence is immeasurable. She missed one game with shin splints and Punahou lost to Kamehameha-Hawaii 61-59. Since her return, the Buffanblu have won six in a row.
X factor: Taylor, a coach of the year during his stint at Maryknoll, is a stickler for details. He added veteran coach Alan Lum, another master technician, to his staff.
The bonus, however, is in Taylor's ability to extract maximum effort from the entire lineup. Sophie Merrifield has developed into a confident scorer and rebounder at the 3 and 4 spots. Tessa Sonobe, a defensive stopper at guard, has also improved her perimeter shot.
Sacred Hearts
Coach: Alan MatsuiStar-Bulletin Top 10 ranking: Unranked
On paper: The Lancers lost 10 players from last year's team -- six to transfer and four to graduation. Like Mid-Pacific, however, they haven't sunk by any means. Led by senior guard Samantha Saito and junior forward Karis Moi-Simeona, SHA reached the finals of the First Hawaiian Bank Lady Menehune Peek tournament.
The skinny: Matsui inherited a situation that would scare off most coaches. The former junior varsity skipper didn't miss a beat, however. Seven of the Lancers are products of his JV team, and the Lancers have been very competitive.
Several other players are still learning fundamentals, so the Lancers will need time. That isn't a luxury afforded anyone in the tough ILH.
X factor: Rebecca Debo, a 6-2 junior, has loads of potential.
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