Kahuku, Kaimuki square off again in D-II matchup
POSTED: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
There may not be a better matchup—or rematch—in Division II girls basketball this season.
For the eighth-ranked Kahuku Red Raiders, there's plenty to gain by winning tonight's showdown at Kaimuki. Kahuku lost to Kaimuki in its Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference opener, but the Red Raiders were without key starters who were off-island for various volleyball tournaments from Utah to Samoa.
Kaimuki, meanwhile, was spurred by that huge win at Kahuku's homecourt. The Bulldogs are 8-0 in league play and cracked the Star-Bulletin Girls Basketball Top 10 at No. 10.
Though the Bulldogs have heard for a few weeks now that Kahuku wasn't at full strength that night of the first meeting, they weren't quite themselves either. Guard Olivia Phommachanh suffered an ankle injury moments into that game and freshman Dejah Fa'asoa stepped up with 22 points in the 54-48 win.
Beyond that, Kaimuki may have a little bit of bite behind its bark. Despite the loss, Kahuku has been ranked in the Top 10 every week—above Kaimuki each time.
“;They're both big and they're both fast,”; Kaiser coach Simon Bitanga said of two squads that his team has lost to.
Boys Basketball Top 10
The Top 10 high school boys 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. 'Iolani (17), 16-3 | beat Punahou | at Saint Louis | 196 | 1 |
| 2. Kahuku (2), 12-1 | beat Kalaheo | vs. Kaiser | 176 | 2 |
| 3. Kamehameha, 12-3 | beat Mid-Pacific | vs. Damien | 164 | 3 |
| 4. Punahou, 9-6 | lost to 'Iolani | at Mid-Pacific | 139 | 4 |
| 5. Kalaheo, 10-5 | lost to Kahuku | at Kaimuki | 102 | 5 |
| 6. Kaimuki, 10-6 | beat McKinley | vs. Kalaheo | 87 | 7 |
| 7. Mililani, 12-3 | beat Leilehua | at Kapolei | 68 | 9 |
| 8. Saint Louis, 7-4 | beat Damien | vs. Maryknoll | 65 | 6 |
| 9. Moanalua, 10-7 | beat Kaiser | vs. Farrington | 44 | 8 |
| 10. Radford, 11-5 | beat Aiea | vs. Waipahu | 16 | — |
» Also receiving votes: Campbell 11, Baldwin 9, Mid-Pacific 8, Waiakea 8, Castle 3, Kamehameha-Hawaii 1, Leilehua 1.
» No longer in top 10 (previous rank): Mid-Pacific (No. 10).
Girls Basketball Top 10
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. Farrington (9), 13-4 | beat Kalani | at Castle | 139 | 1 |
| 2. Punahou (1), 10-3 | beat Kamehameha | at Sacred Hearts | 131 | 2 |
| 3. Konawaena (3), 18-2 | beat Keaau | vs. Honokaa | 116 | 3 |
| 4. Lahainaluna (2), 15-1 | beat Baldwin | vs. King Kekaulike | 114 | 4 |
| 5. 'Iolani, 9-7 | beat Sacred Hearts | vs. Mid-Pacific | 92 | 5 |
| 6. Kamehameha, 7-8 | lost to Punahou | at 'Iolani | 62 | 7 |
| 7. Mid-Pacific, 13-4 | lost to Kamehameha | at 'Iolani | 59 | 6 |
| 8. Kahuku, 12-2 | none last week | at Kaimuki | 36 | 8 |
| 9. Waiakea, 9-7 | beat Honokaa | vs. Konawaena | 28 | 10 |
| 10. Kaimuki, 8-0 | beat Kaiser | vs. Kahuku | 19 | — |
» Also receiving votes: Sacred Hearts 17, McKinley 3, Mililani 3, Kamehameha II 2, Honokaa 1, Maryknoll 1, Roosevelt 1.
» No longer in top 10 (previous rank): Sacred Hearts (No. 9).
