Waiakea jumps back into Top 10
POSTED: Tuesday, February 10, 2009
They're not the biggest or the baddest.
The Waiakea Warriors are simply playing well in the clutch, now on the surge of a five-game win streak. At 18-4, the Warriors are getting more kudos from coaches and media, who voted them into the Star-Bulletin Boys Basketball Top 10 for the first time since late December.
“;The poll is good for the fans, but I don't really look into that stuff. It's good for the kids to get a little recognition,”; coach Paul Lee said. “;We've never really been worried about that. Waiakea hasn't made it to states in a while, so the kids are working hard to get there. We just have to get better by Thursday.”;
Waiakea, 9-2 in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, can clinch the regular-season title and a state-tournament berth this week. A win over Kealakehe on Thursday, or a loss by Keaau will send the 10th-ranked Warriors to Oahu.
One of their losses was at home to Kealakehe on Jan. 22, but the Warriors have toppled some of the league's top teams, including Hilo and Keaau in overtime games, since then.
“;At the beginning of the year, even into the regular season, we were playing more as individuals and not making the extra pass when people were open,”; Lee said. “;Right now, we're playing more as a team and getting better control of the boards. Our guys used to try to outjump everybody, and most of our guys are around 5-10. They've learned to box out more.”;
One of Waiakea's nonconference losses was to 'Iolani, 41-38.
Kahuku kept its hold on the No. 1 ranking with 16 of 27 first-place votes. Kamehameha is closing in however, after defeating 'Iolani last week. The Warriors grabbed 11 first-place votes.
The Girls Basketball Top 10 also has a new entry in McKinley, which landed at No. 10.
Farrington remained at No. 1 with eight of the 17 first-place votes, but Punahou closed the gap. The Buffanblu collected six first-place votes.
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. Kahuku (16), 15-1 | beat Farrington | vs. McKinley | 257 | 1 |
| 2. Kamehameha (11), 16-3 | beat 'Iolani | vs. Saint Louis | 254 | 2 |
| 3. 'Iolani, 17-5 | lost to Kamehameha | vs. Maryknoll | 204 | 3 |
| 4. Punahou, 11-7 | beat Damien | at Saint Louis | 181 | 4 |
| 5. Kaimuki, 13-7 | beat McKinley | at Kaiser | 164 | 5 |
| 6. Mililani, 15-4 | beat Campbell | at Waipahu | 127 | 8 |
| 7. Saint Louis, 9-5 | lost to Mid-Pacific | vs. Punahou | 85 | 6 |
| 8. Kalaheo, 12-7 | beat McKinley | at Moanalua | 44 | 9 |
| 9. Radford, 13-6 | beat Kapolei | vs. Leilehua | 41 | 7 |
| 10. Waiakea, 18-4 | beat KS-Hawaii | at Kealakehe | 31 | — |
» Also receiving votes: Campbell 28, Baldwin 22, Mid-Pacific 20, Moanalua 14, Hawaii Baptist 3, Kailua 2, Keaau 2, Roosevelt 1, Seabury Hall 1.
» No longer in top 10 (previous rank): Campbell (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 (8), 18-4 | beat McKinley | OIA playoffs | 157 | 1 |
| 2. Punahou (6), 13-3 | beat 'Iolani | at Sacred Hearts | 153 | 2 |
| 3. Konawaena (3), 8-1 | beat Keaau | BIIF playofffs | 142 | 3 |
| 4. Lahainaluna, 19-1 | beat Baldwin | MIL playoffs | 120 | 4 |
| 5. 'Iolani, 10-9 | lost to Punahou | at Sacred Hearts | 89 | 6 |
| 6. Mid-Pacific, 16-6 | beat Kamehameha | vs. 'Iolani | 66 | 8 |
| 7. Kamehameha, 8-9 | beat Sacred Hearts | vs. Punahou | 65 | 5 |
| 8. Kahuku, 17-2 | beat Anuenue | OIA playoffs | 58 | 7 |
| 9. Waiakea, 11-7 | beat Kealakehe | BIIF playoffs | 47 | 9 |
| 10. McKinley, 11-8 | lost to Farrington | OIA playoffs | 9 | — |
» Also receiving votes: Sacred Hearts 7, Maryknoll 6, Kaimuki 5, Campbell 3, Roosevelt 3, Aiea 1, Hawaii Prep 1, Kalani 1, Kamehameha II 1, Kamehameha-Hawaii 1.
» No longer in top 10 (previous rank): Kaimuki (No. 10).
