David Kawada – Content Editor
dkawada@digitalsports.com
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CHECK BACK FOR EXCLUSIVE ON -LINE BROADACASTS OF SELECT TOURNAMENT GAMES AND THE GIRLS D-I CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (FEB.22), & BOYS D-II AND D-I CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES (FEB.23).
For the first time in Hawaii State Tournament history, both divisions for the Boys and Girls will run during the same week. The Girls State Tournament will start on Tuesday and the Boys will have their first round on Wednesday.
Originally scheduled on separate weeks, the Girls Tournament needed to be moved due to scheduling of the Stan Sheriff Center, the site for the Semi-finals and the Championship Games. The Boys Tournament had been scheduled for the Neal Blaisdell Center several months earlier.
GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT
Punahou enters the Girls D-I Tournament with the top seed and an 11-1 record. Coach Mike Taylor has both Shawna-Lei and Shaena-Lyn Kuehu healthy. Their one loss came against ILH rival Iolani, which may be their edge should they meet in the title game. Although Lady Raiders must hope that leading scorer Jamie Smith is healthy after sustaining an injury at the end of the regular season.
Kalani made it clear in the OIA playoffs that they have the ingredients to make a run for a State Championship. Iwalani Rodrigues may be the missing piece after transferring from Roosevelt. Her all-around skills will be needed to handle pressure.
Do not count out the Big Island representatives. BIIF champion Waiakea has the #2 seed in a league that has proven talent. Defending State Champion Konawaena may not have the singular talent as in previous years. But coach Bobbi Awa knows how to get her players up for States.
In Division II, Mckinley has the top seed after dominating OIA play with a 15-1 record. First year head coach Abel Werner has his girls motivated and thinking about bringing home a banner.
But #2 seed Kamehameha-Hawaii may have the most talent in the tough BIIF. Maryknoll from the ILH is the only undefeated team at 10-0. This Tournament may be too wide open to predict.
BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
Iolani has a familiar post as the #1 Seed and ILH Champion. After not making it to the Championship Game last year, they are most hungry to return to their dynasty-like dominance at the beginning of the decade of consecutive State Titles.
The Konawaena boys are looking to bring home the banner as their female counter-parts did last year. They may be the sleeper with a 14-1 record in arguably the 2nd toughest league in the State.
If there is a team riding the emotional wave, that team is OIA Champion Mililani. They won the title for their fallen point guard Curtis Murakami who tore his Achilles tendon and will not play in the Tournament. But that loss will be, pardon the pun, the “Achilles heel” for the Trojans who will face back court pressure by skilled guards for the opposition.
There is still Kalaheo who was favored to win the OIA, and Punahou who held the #1 Ranking for several weeks before faltering toward the end of the season.
It should be exciting.
The D-II Tournament has 3 undefeated teams, #1 seed Aiea, University, and Kauai. The Na Ali’I are very athletic and can run the floor. It may be a matter of whether any other team can keep up with them.
Mckinley caught some momentum at the best time, toward the end of the season. They lok to defend their title. University has some size which plays a bigger role in the D-II level. The Red Raiders from Kauai have that chip on their shoulder to prove that their record is no fluke.
A chip is also on the shoulders of Molokai as they represent the MIL. Kohala will have the experience of playing in the State Championship game last year. When you are that close, you definitely want to finish the deal the next time.
BOYS DIVISION I:
OIA (5):
1. Mililani (13-3)
2. Moanalua (11-5)
3. Kalaheo (14-1)
4. Campbell (10-5)
5. Kahuku (11-4)
ILH (2*):
1. Iolani (11-2)
2. Punahou (10-3)
3. Kamehameha (11-4)
BIIF (2*):
1. Konawaena (14-1)
2. Kamehameha-Hawaii (12-2)
MIL (2):
1. Kamehameha-Maui (12-3)
2. Lahainaluna (11-4)
BOYS DIVISION II:
OIA (3*):
1. Aiea (16-0)
2. Farrington (13-3)
3. McKinley (12-4)
4. Kaiser (11-6)
ILH (3*):
1. University (9-0)
2. Hawaii Baptist Academy (8-1)
3. Word of Life ((7-2)
BIIF (2)
1. Kohala (9-6)
2. St. Joseph (9-6)
MIL (2):
1. Molokai (11-2)
2. Lanai (10-3)
KIF (1):
1. Kauai (8-0)
GIRLS DIVISION I:
OIA (6):
1. Kalani (13-2)
2. Radford (14-1)
3. Roosevelt (11-4)
4. Aiea (9-6)
5. Farrington (12-4)
6. Moanalua (8-8)
ILH (2):
1. Punahou (11-1)
2. Iolani (12-2)
BIIF (2):
1. Waiakea (13-0)
2. Konawaena (11-3)
MIL (2):
1. Lahainaluna (14-0)
2. Maui (9-5)
GIRLS DIVISION II:
OIA (3):
1. McKinley (15-1)
2. Kailua (13-3)
3. Campbell (14-2)
ILH (4):
1. Maryknoll (10-0)
2. University (8-2)
3. St. Francis (7-3)
4. Hanalani (9-4)
BIIF (2):
1. Kamehameha-Hawaii (10-3)
2. Hawaii Prep (6-7)
MIL (2):
1. Molokai (12-1)
2. Seabury Hall (10-3)
KIF (1):
1. Kapaa (6-2)
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