Kuehus’ house big
enough for 2 champs

At first glance, there's just one way to tell the Kuehu twins apart. Shawna-Lei is No. 21 and Shaena-Lyn wears 23 for the state champion Punahou Buffanblu basketball team.

She's not related, and doesn't look like the twins, but don't even mix the name of spark-plug guard Shanna-Lei Dacanay into the conversation, unless you're a glutton for confusion.

Now this is spooky: At halftime of last night's 52-50 double-OT win, the twins were both 2-for-3 from the floor with 4 points and 2 fouls apiece. Shaena-Lyn had one more rebound (four), but Shawna-Lei had one more assist (two). They were also double dandy in turnovers, both with zero.

That's fun stuff for "Twilight Zone" fans. But Buffanblu faithful liked it better when Shawna-Lei separated herself from everyone after halftime.

Shawna-Lei finished with a team-high 18 points, including a layup after her own steal in the first overtime. She also had a game-high 15 rebounds. Most of her production, as well as that of her sister, came while in foul trouble.

"When we got fouls, our coaches told us to keep our heads in the game and don't give up," Shaena-Lyn said.

Shawna-Lei had some rough moments in overtime, but it was she who came down with the rebound when Konawaena missed a possible game-tying shot with 8 seconds left in the second OT.

Their mother, Brandy Kaleoaloha, said all the stats don't really matter. She knew her daughters could contribute to the Buffanblu's winning ways.

"I thought some way they could bring something to the team," she said.

Basketball runs in their blood. Brandy's great-grandmother played at Lahainaluna, back when not very many girls played the game.

Maybe that's why the freshman twins compete with the poise of seniors.

"The biggest thing is they play within themselves," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "They control what they can control and when they have opportunities, they take them. They're patient, they're hungry, but they're not overzealous."

Can they do it three more times?

"We'll try," Shawna-Lei said.

Shaena-Lyn is actually the older sister, by 2 minutes, Brandy said. She played 15 minutes compared to her sister's 31, but that's never been a problem.

"They're always supportive of each other," their mother said.

Fans have seen double many times at Hawaii state high school basketball tournaments in the past few decades.

In the 1980s alone, there was Eric and Evans Morales for University High, Dean and Dino Viena of Waipahu and Kalaheo's Randy and Ronald Gomes.

And don't forget Brad and Cord Anderson of Iolani in the '90s.

They were all very good, and some of them helped win the big trophy for their school. But as freshmen, none were as polished as Punahou's Shawna-Lei and Shaena-Lyn Kuehu.

In last night's final, as it has all season, twins meant Punahou wins.