The latest Hawai'i high school girls basketball phenom has reached the sport's pinnacle in warp speed.

Lia Galdeira, a fluid, 5-foot-7 freshman guard/forward for Konawaena, was named Advertiser All-State Player of the Year after a recent vote of coaches and members of the media.

She is believed to be the first basketball player — boy or girl — to be named State Player of the Year as a freshman.

Galdeira's rise to the top was not a total surprise to those who had seen her play as an eighth-grader in Waimea, though it may have come a bit quicker than expected.

After some speculation about which high school she would attend, Galdeira ended up joining a youthful team at Konawaena that proved mature beyond its years.

The Wildcats sailed through the Big Island Interscholastic Federation season undefeated, and then routed Maui Interscholastic League runner-up Baldwin, 50-28, in the state tournament quarterfinals as Galdeira nearly notched a rare triple-double (17 points, eight rebounds, 10 steals, plus five assists).

The next night, Galdeira again led all scorers with 18 points and five steals, and added six rebounds, two assists and two blocks as Konawaena defeated O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Farrington, 51-43.

She then had a game-high 23 points plus nine rebounds, four steals and two assists in a thrilling 54-50 double-overtime win over Interscholastic League of Honolulu champ Punahou for the title.

Galdeira is joined on The Advertiser's All-State first team by Punahou guard Janelle Nomura, 'Aiea guard Natasha Helsham, Farrington guard/forward Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo and Lahainaluna center Milika Taufa.

Nomura, a 5-4 senior, led Punahou to the ILH championship and then had a game-high 28 points in a state quarterfinal victory over 'Aiea, 18 points, five assists and five steals in a 51-43 semifinal win over MIL champ Lahainaluna, and 18 points and four steals in the title game loss to Konawaena.

Helsham, a 5-8 senior, was named OIA Red Conference Western Division Player of the Year after leading Na Ali'i to the West title and a state tournament first-round upset of Kalani, in which she had 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

Tatupu-Leopoldo, a sharp-shooting 5-9 sophomore, was named OIA Red East Player of the Year after leading the Governors to their first league championship since 1991.

Taufa, a 6-foot junior, helped the Lunas to third place in the state tournament — their highest finish ever. She had 24 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and four assists in a 58-44 quarterfinal win over OIA runner-up Roosevelt.

Konawaena's Bobbie Awa was named Coach of the Year after guiding one of the youngest state title teams ever. The Wildcats started three freshmen and a sophomore, finishing the regular and postseason with a 15-0 record.

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com