The pool of talent was so deep that three players who made The Advertiser's All-State first team last year could not make this year's starting five. Those three — who made the second team — each signed with an NCAA Division I program.

A fourth Division I recruit did not even make the second team, nor did two other players who will be playing on NCAA Division II scholarships.

"It was a great year, the competition was great," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said.

Against this extremely tough competition, however, Punahou point guard Rachel Kane stood head-and-shoulders above the rest. Kane, a 5-foot-7 senior, was the unanimous choice as The Advertiser's State Player of the Year in a vote of 11 coaches, officials and media.

"This year she just took it upon herself to lead us in whatever category we needed," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "When our team needed baskets, she could produce it herself, but she also knew we had several other kids who could score and she had the confidence to get them the ball, too."

Latoya Wily (Kahuku)

"She has so many strengths," Anae said. "I don't know about her weaknesses."

Kane was at her best with the most on the line. She scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds and made three steals to help the Buffanblu beat Kamehameha, 48-46, for the ILH championship.

In the state tournament, Kane scored 20 points and grabbed four rebounds in a 69-48 quarterfinal victory over McKinley, had 16 points in a 63-39 semifinal win over Farrington in the semifinals and had 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 56-52 victory over Kahuku in the title game.

Megan Ching (Kamehameha)

Kane will play for Gonzaga University next season. She is joined on The Advertiser's All-State first team by Kamehameha guard Megan Ching, Moanalua guard Patti Hardimon, Farrington forward Sunshine Misa-Uli and Kahuku center Latoya Wily.

Ching, a 5-6 senior, was similar to Kane as far as all-around contributions for the Warriors. And like Kane, she shined brightest on the biggest stage.

Ching scored 31 points and made four steals in a 59-54 first-round loss to Kahuku in the state tournament, had 16 points and six assists in a 69-41 victory over Maryknoll in the consolation bracket and 15 points in Kamehameha's consolation final win over Kealakehe.

She was The Advertiser's State Player of the Year last season, but played this season with even more intensity. Ching averaged 13.1 points per game, but there was no measuring her sense of purpose.

Sunshine Misa-Uli (Farrington)

Ching had 31 points against Kahuku, but Anae also was impressed with her rebounding.

"Wherever the rebound is, she's always there," Anae said. "She always crashes the boards."

Taylor said Hardimon, a 5-8 senior who led Moanalua to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship, also had a non-stop attack mode.

"They're both relentless competitors," Taylor said. "They'll do whatever it takes, and with both of them you can't rest for even a minute."

Hardimon averaged 12.3 points per game, but did much more than that in helping the Menehunes finish 15-1 and third in the state.

"Her leadership ability was outstanding," Anae said. "Every time you think she's going fast, she shifts into another gear and all of a sudden she's going faster."

Hardimon will play volleyball for Chaminade in the fall.

Misa-Uli was Farrington's undisputed leader, helping the Governors take fourth in the competitive OIA Eastern Division, second in the OIA tournament and fourth place in the state. She averaged 15.3 ppg and made her mark as perhaps the state's quickest post player.

Patti Hardimon (Moanalua)

Misa-Uli, a 5-10 junior, also won a state wrestling championship this winter in her first year in the sport.

Wily averaged 13.4 ppg during the regular season but took her game to another level in the state tournament. She scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 59-54 first-round victory over Kamehameha, had 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 69-64 double-overtime win over Konawaena in the quarterfinals, got nine points and 17 rebounds in a 42-39 semifinal victory over Moanalua and had 14 points and six rebounds in the championship loss to Punahou.

And she did it with swollen knees that had to be heavily wrapped in ice after every game.

"She played with so much heart," Anae said. "She dominated the boards and showed leadership."