With five starters back, the Owls of Mid-Pacific are ready to soar.

The timetable for departure, though, has yet to be announced. The Owls open the season ranked No. 6 in the Star-Bulletin Girls Basketball Preseason Top 10 and hopes are high. Winning in the merciless Interscholastic League of Honolulu, however, is always easier said than done.

That's why Owls coach Byron Cheng is realistic about early-season rankings.

“;They're wrong. They're all wrong,”; Cheng said of the coaches and media who voted. “;We have a lot to work on. It's not like we won the ILH last year.”;

True enough. MPI was 3-10 in league play (8-12 overall). But the return of starters Johnelle Kapua, Jordan Kealoha, Paige Young, Keaton McFadden and Jenna Savusa gives the Owls a head start on the rest of the league.

This was a team that lost to eventual state champion Punahou by just two points last year, and nearly knocked out Kamehameha in a two-point playoff defeat.

So far, the Owls are 10-1 in nonconference play after racking up four wins in three days on the Big Island. They returned to Oahu last night.

“;This was invaluable. We were hoping this trip would really bring the team together,”; Cheng said during a phone call from Hilo Airport last night. “;Although they were already close, we needed to see ourselves grow up. I'm really proud of the girls. I hope this trip gets us to the next step.”;

Mid-Pac defeated No. 10 Honokaa and No. 9 Waiakea, as well as BIIF contender Hilo and Keaau.

In between games, the Owls got their Christmas shopping in and relaxed in Paradise Park, where Kealoha's grandparents live in pristine peace and quiet.

“;No lights, nothing. They have their own water tank,”; Cheng said. “;It was really, really nice. We had good team bonding.”;

The lone defeat so far was 55-50 to Lahainaluna.

On paper: Kapua is a returning Star-Bulletin All-State/Fab 15 guard, a relentless penetrator when the going gets tough. She's the lone senior among the starters.

McFadden, a 5-11 junior, showed promise as a sophomore last season.

Savusa, at 5-10, is another key in the low post, and 5-7 forward Taylor Babbitt brings energy off the bench.

Backup point guard Ashley Yamachika is another valuable asset. As a sixth man, she's both a ballhandler and scorer. The sophomore has a very promising future, Cheng added.

X factor: The recent off-island trip gave the Owls a good setting to reflect on all the sweat that went into preparation.

“;Offseason, I've never seen our girls work this hard. I really feel going into tryouts, we were in good condition,”; Cheng said.

Will all of it be enough to supplant perennial powerhouse Punahou? Cheng is cautious, but sees reason for optimism.

“;Maturity and desire,”; he said. “;They now understand what it takes to be successful. That's the biggest difference between last year and this year, and they're working well together.”;