Punahou girls appear primed to defend ILH basketball title
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Punahou School's girls basketball team has new leadership on the floor and on the bench, but the defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu champions didn't miss a beat in an undefeated preseason.
Deborah Booker •The Honolulu Advertiser
Punahou opens the private-school league's new year at 6 p.m. today at Sacred Hearts Academy. Tomorrow, Punahou plays host to a revitalized Maryknoll team at 7:30 as the ILH surges into its schedule with almost all 17 teams in two divisions playing this weekend.
Junior post player Becky Hogue, right, averaged 14 points and 9 rebounds in leading Punahou to a 9-0 preseason record.
Gone from Punahou are three-time first-team all-state guard Milia Macfarlane (to University of Hawai'i) and coach Shelley Kahuanui Fey, who took the Buffanblu to seven state final fours and three championships in the past eight years (to a simpler life of teaching).
Stepping up are nine-year assistant coach Mike Taylor, a Punahou alum, and 6-foot-plus junior post Becky Hogue, whom Taylor says had assumed the leadership role and "is helping our younger girls like a big sister."
Punahou showed maturity in its 9-0 preseason, rallying in the fourth quarter of several games and beating ILH rival Kamehameha twice, once in overtime. The Buffanblu also beat four-time defending O'ahu public-school champion Kalaheo, OIA contenders Kahuku and Kalani, and two fast, athletic teams from the Big Island, Waiakea and Konawaena.
Hogue averaged 14 points and 9 rebounds per game in preseason, both up from last year. "She has dedicated herself," Taylor said. "She is working on face-up moves and her footwork on the perimeter, from 15 feet or so. She is really stepping up a notch."
Two other junior starters return from last season's ILH champions: forward Rachel Kane, who averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in preseason; and shooting guard Elyse Umeda, who averaged 11.2 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. They each forced opponents into four turnovers per game.
Punahou has veterans in key positions but one freshman starter (Shanna Dacanay) and eight newcomers on a 14-player roster. Are the Buffanblu up to the challenge of being favored?
"Yes," Taylor said. "We have a tight bunch of gals who love to play and work really hard. The majority goes to the Kalakaua Clinic every Sunday. They always push and encourage each other.
"It's the greatest thing for us coaches to have these kind of kids. It will be a fun season."
OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH
• Kamehameha (7-2 in preseason): The Warriors have a 75-7 overall record under coach Clay Cockett since 1999 and seven state championships in their trophy case. They lost last year's ILH championship in a playoff with Punahou, then lost again to Iolani for the league's second state tournament berth, so they are motivated.
Junior Meaghan Ching averaged 11.3 points per game last year and was honorable mention all-state.
• Iolani (7-1 preseason): Guard Trisha Nishimoto, the first player signed by UH last fall, averaged 16 points per game in preseason. The Raiders' only loss was to Maryknoll, and they beat Honoka'a twice.
Senior wing Fabriann Gin is one of coach Glenn Takara's best rebounders and defensive players and is co-captain with Nishimoto. Sophomore forward Ginger Gravelle also started last season. Four freshmen made the roster.
• Maryknoll (6-4 preseason): Victories over Iolani and Big Island champion Honoka'a and a two-point loss to Konawaena made people take notice of the Spartans.
Coach Bobby Samson returns three starters: senior point Shannon Riley, junior shooting guard Diana Samson and senior wing Michelle Baduria.
DIVISION II
With four-time champion St. Francis moving to Division I, Hawai'i Baptist becomes the team to beat in Division II, a nine-team league of small schools and "second varsities" from Punahou, University and Kamehameha.
OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH
• Iolani: Junior guard Lana Young.
• Kamehameha: Four-year varsity veteran Ashley Ruff and junior defensive specialist Lehua Wood.
• Maryknoll: Freshman posts Cheryl Lee and 6-foot Sela Tisilau.
• Mid-Pacific: Juniors Caroline Beddow and Shannon Nishi and senior Stephanie Toshi. Beddow got 30 points and 30 rebounds in two games at Hawai'i Prep while Nishi scored 20 against Honoka'a and Toshi got 19 against Kalaheo. Sophomore Talia Onosai, daughter of former UH football player Joe Onosai, will join the team late.
• Sacred Hearts: 5-10 senior Brittney Aiwohi in the only person in the league who can play all five positions, coach Dexter Kaiama says. She's scoring about 16 points per game. Freshman Nicole Lehner will play point guard.
• St. Francis: Elizabeth Narkon, Player of the Year in Division II last year, leads the Troubadours in their Division I debut under new coach Carey Won. Narkon, who has signed with Northern Arizona for volleyball, averaged 14 points in preseason. Junior Loren Upadhyaya returns in the backcourt.
• University: Juniors Diane Okubo and Kamaile Durrett return for coach Tom Costain, who is in his 35th year coaching high school basketball on O'ahu.
• Hawai'i Baptist: Junior Kara Morita.
