And the current Cougars were still in diapers.

Kaiser (11-4) will try to win its first OIA crown since 1989 tonight when it takes on defending champ Kahuku (13-1) at McKinley's Student Council Gym. Tipoff is set for 7, and the game will be televised live on OC-16.

This actually will be the teams' third meeting in the past two months, with the Red Raiders winning both regular-season games, 66-60 and 50-48. In the first game March 16, Kaiser led 41-35 midway through the third period, and the Cougars came within a basket of winning at Kahuku on April 8.

Even more of a concern for the Red Raiders is the fact Kaiser is coming off perhaps its best performance of the season, a 63-43 victory over Roosevelt in Tuesday's semifinals.

"They played really well," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said. "They're very patient and very well-rounded and they did a great job. It'll be a good matchup (tonight)."

The Red Raiders are coming off a strong performance themselves, running away from Farrington, 69-42. Kahuku's only OIA loss was a 66-55 defeat at Kalaheo on April 27, a game in which starting center Aisha Ale sat out because of a hyperextended right knee.

Ale said the knee was "really tender" that night, but the pain of being a spectator might have been worse.

"I even took off my warm-up jersey so (Anae) could see me," said Ale, who was suited up but remained on the bench. "It hurt not being able to play, but it also gave me a good perspective. It made me more motivated to work even harder."

Ale returned to action in the May 6 quarterfinals and scored 11 points in a 44-33 win over Moanalua, then had 12 points in Tuesday's victory over Farrington. Ale's presence also helps the Red Raiders' backcourt, by drawing away attention and allowing more open shots from the perimeter.

Kahuku guards Artevia Wily, Camilla Ah Hoy and Tina Soliai combined for 34 points on Tuesday.

Kaiser's backcourt, meanwhile, got a huge boost last offseason when Nicole Lehner transferred from Sacred Hearts. Lehner, a 5-foot-6 shooting guard, scored a game-high 26 points Tuesday night and has provided creative ball-handling, passing, penetration and defense in addition to steady outside shooting.

"She does a lot more for them than people give her credit for," Roosevelt coach Bobby Keanini said.

The Cougars already were a strong veteran team before Lehner arrived. Guards Jaime Nerona and Kehau Bangay, and posts Sharde Pratt and Kilioe Ali'ifua are all three-year starters and have played in the postseason all three years.

"They welcomed me well," Lehner said. "I was real excited in the summer, because I had played with some of them in the Aloha State Games, so it was like old times again."

Tonight, Kaiser will try to relive other good old days, like that one special night in 1989.