JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Seniors Shanna-Lei Dacanay, Tessa Sonobe, Christine Takara and Stacy Brossy provide scoring, leadership and stability for No. 1-ranked Punahou.

Punahou ready
for title run

Buffanblu seniors are ready
to provide a spark for the state's
top-ranked girls basketball team

he thinks about it, but nothing really distinguishes itself.

Twenty games into her senior season, Shanna-Lei Dacanay has plenty of flashbacks. They go back to her sophomore year, especially, when Punahou won the girls basketball state championship.

But of late?

"Umm ... "

Maybe not. This could take a while.

When Tessa Sonobe, Christine Takara and Dacanay were named co-captains of the Buffanblu squad this season, coach Mike Taylor had no doubt. The three led the team through offseason conditioning workouts, continuing a tradition that began years before when they were freshmen.

"We started at the same time the football boys started," recalled Takara, a 5-7 forward.

It seems almost cruel that all the hours in the weight room, running on the track and up "kindergarten hill" helped Takara get in the best shape of her life. She injured an ankle in nonconference play and hasn't quite been up to full strength since.

That hasn't stopped Takara from drawing some of the toughest defensive assignments this season, as she's done for quite some time.

Equipped with a mid-range jumper, good handles and quickness, her ability to cover different types of scorers is a key asset in Punahou's mix of defenses.

She's been asked to tighten the reins on many offensive stars, from point guards to centers. They include Star-Bulletin All-State center Latoya Wily of Kahuku during last year's state tournament.

"It was really exciting for me," said Takara, who gave up 3 inches and a lot of power on the low post, but made up for it with positioning, quick footwork and lots of hustle.

The roundball résumé of Sonobe is also filled with tough defensive assignments in the guard-rich ILH. This year, her mid-range shot has improved significantly, giving Punahou another option when defenses clog the paint against freshman center Shawna-Lei Kuehu.

The 5-6 senior came through in a big way against Iolani this season.

"Hitting those shots, those were tough games for us. Everybody was depending on us," she said.

Like Takara and Dacanay, Sonobe learned the ropes from her elders. Two years ago, Rachel Kane, Elise Umeda and Becky Hogue set the bar when it came to work ethic.

"They were the leaders for us. They taught us hard work, commitment and motivation. We learned a lot from them," Sonobe said.

Certain hidden gems like Stacy Brossy need little polish. Taylor usually inserts the 5-7 guard midway through the first half, and the senior sharpshooter won't hesitate to launch 3-point bombs and bust zone defenses. It was her 3-point shot just before the end of the third quarter that brought Punahou within seven of Maryknoll in their first clash. That helped spark her team's fourth-quarter rally.

Brossy spends most of her summers paddling, which means fewer conditioning workouts with the team, but she certainly gets by.

Her quickness in Punahou's fullcourt press is another key plus, particularly with the loss of Chelsea Deptula to a season-ending knee injury.

"There's more pressure this year, but it's pretty cool," she said. "It's nice to be the ones leading the team."

Taylor has a wealth of weapons in his arsenal, from the seniors to twins Shawna-Lei and Shaena-Lyn Kuehu to junior forward Sophie Merrifield and more.

"Our team has a lot of players, so everyone knows that when they get their minutes, they have to make their contribution," Dacanay said. "Everyone brings a good attitude."

Taylor, named coach of the year when he was at Maryknoll, and then at Punahou, is perhaps the most progressive coach in the state regardless of talent level.

Still, coaching can only go so far.

"Our senior leadership has been special. It's not only verbal, but (also) their ability to communicate and motivate the underclassmen," he said. "This group has been through it all."

This season so far, Punahou (19-1) has been ranked No. 1 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10 for all 10 weeks.

"From coach (Taylor), I've learned the importance of always expecting the best from everyone and nothing less," Dacanay said. "He's hard on us, but it's only for the better. He's also fun. We have fun moments at practice. It's that balance."

Dacanay saw lots of playing time early on, and has been the floor leader of no equal in the islands the past two seasons. It's quite possible that no other hoopster has spent more time working out in preparation.

"All the hard work pays off in the long run," she said. "After a hard workout, that's the best feeling."

Ah, the floor general speaks.

But Dacanay's not telling it all. The best feeling comes after winning another state title.

She's just too humble to say it.