We have reached a point in the high school boys basketball season when everything has been sifted through.
We know Punahou is the cream of the crop. No, wait. Is it Kamehameha? It’s one of those two, and that’s backed with facts and results. But now is just now. The season is still young. St. Francis is done with tackling Division I powerhouses until next season, though I’m all for a few exhibition games between the Saints and ‘Iolani or Mid-Pacific or Kapolei or Kahuku.
Speaking of Kapolei and Kahuku, they’re the frontrunners in the OIA West and East, respectively. As expected. If it seems things are tidy and even predictable, maybe they are. Who’s going to seriously challenge Lahainaluna in the MIL? Molokai? I miss the years when the Farmers were formidable. Now, Lanai routs them by 30-plus points. Wow.
Below, my ballot and extended list of top 35 teams. And please feel free to disagree — and post your top 35.
Here is the latest Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10.
Pupule BKB Top 10 ballot 1/8/18
1. Punahou Buffanblu (18-1, 2-0 ILH)
2. Kamehameha Warriors (15-3, 2-0 ILH)
3. St. Francis Saints (18-3, 3-0 ILH D-II)
4. Maryknoll Spartans (16-4, 1-1 ILH)
5. Kapolei Hurricanes (10-4, 5-0 OIA West)
6. Kahuku Red Raiders (17-3, 5-0 OIA East)
7. Kamehameha-Hawaii Warriors (12-3, 5-0 BIIF)
8. ‘Iolani Raiders (10-7, 0-2 ILH)
9. Lahainaluna Lunas (11-6, 6-0 MIL)
10. Campbell Sabers (12-5, 5-0 OIA West)
# # #
1. Punahou Buffanblu (18-1, 2-0 ILH)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 1.
Last week’s games
W 47-42 @ #4 Maryknoll 01/04 ILH
W 46-39 @ Mid-Pacific 01/06 ILH
Vs. Top 10: 9-1.
Top 10 wins: Kalaheo, Reed, Buchanan (Calif.),@ Moanalua, Kahuku, @ St. Francis, Tesoro (Calif.), St. Francis, @ Maryknoll.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Lincoln (Calif.).
Skinny: Built for speed, built for trench battles. Nobody in Hawaii has solved this puzzle yet.
Sumo rank: Yokozuna.
2. Kamehameha Warriors (15-3, 2-0 ILH)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 2.
Last week’s games
W 64-52 Saint Louis 01/04 ILH
W 58-49 @ #5 ‘Iolani 01/06 ILH
Vs. Top 10: 8-4.
Top 10 wins: Campbell, St. Francis, ‘Iolani, Kahuku, @ Moanalua, Kalaheo, Kalaheo, Blair (Calif.)
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Taft (Calif.), Kapolei, Colony (Calif.).
Skinny: With the exception of Punahou, no team has more wins against Top 10* competition than the Warriors. But if La‘akea Frank hadn’t played the game of his life (7-for-8 from 3-point range), the Warriors could have lost to St. Francis at the Surfrider Holiday Classic.
Sumo rank: Yokozuna.
3. St. Francis Saints (18-3, 3-0 ILH D-II)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 3.
Last week’s games
W 83-54 University 01/04 ILH D-II
W 87-42 @ Le Jardin 01/06 ILH D-II
Vs. Top 10: 5-3.
Top 10 wins: @ Kailua, Kalaheo, Campbell, Sequoia (Calif.), Maryknoll.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kamehameha, Punahou, Punahou.
Skinny: Let’s imagine the Saints had requested to move up to ILH D-I this season. After one trip through the schedule, they play Punahou (loss), Kamehameha (loss), Maryknoll (win), Mid-Pacific (win), Saint Louis (win). That’s a 3-2 mark. But there’s something that preseason doesn’t tell us about the ILH gauntlet. It doesn’t tell us how teams like MPI seem to suddenly master the art of grindhouse basketball games. So a win over MPI might seem obvious on paper, but the Owls just upset ‘Iolani last week. Maryknoll? Of course that would be a toss-up. I wrote “win” only because St. Francis beat them a week ago at Punahou’s tournament. Saint Louis? Nothing is a given, especially against an improving, tall, large team. The pounding St. Francis’ relatively small team would take, twice or three times a week, wouldn’t be worth it, at least in the eyes of Coach Ron Durant. But it’s OK to imagine.
Sumo rank: Yokozuna. To this point, the Saints earned this status as an elite team because the SOS (strength of schedule) has been outstanding. But it’ll be tough to maintain this as the season reaches its end simply because there will be zero D-I opponents to play.
4. Maryknoll Spartans (16-4, 1-1 ILH)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 4.
Last week’s games
L 47-42 #1 Punahou 01/04 ILH
W 50-44 @ Saint Louis 01/06 ILH
Vs. Top 10: 6-5.
Top 10 wins: Kapolei, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Kalaheo, Kapolei, Lahainaluna, Corona Del Mar (Calif.).
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Paraclete (Calif.), Greensboro Day (N.C.), St. Francis, Tesoro (Calif.), Punahou.
Skinny: The Spartans ended a three-game skid with a win over Saint Louis. Up next are MPI and ‘Iolani.
Sumo rank: Yokozuna.
5. Kapolei Hurricanes (10-4, 5-0 OIA West)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 6.
Last week’s games
W 75-42 @ Radford 01/03 OIA
W 85-54 Pearl City 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 2-4.
Top 10 wins: Kamehameha, Moanalua.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Maryknoll, @ Kailua, Jefferson (Ore.), Maryknoll.
Skinny: Does it make sense that a team with just two wins over Top 10 teams is ranked higher than Kahuku? Only if one of those wins was over No. 2 Kamehameha. Getting healthy and staying healthy is imperative for the Hurricanes.
Sumo rank: Ozeki.
6. Kahuku Red Raiders (17-3, 5-0 OIA East)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 7.
Last week’s games
W 70-43 @ Kalani 01/03 OIA
W 69-52 Roosevelt 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 4-3.
Top 10 wins: @ Campbell, Campbell, Kalaheo, Moanalua.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kamehameha, ‘Iolani, Punahou.
Skinny: The OIA East is stronger from top to bottom than the OIA West, but the West has two teams in the Star-Advertiser Top 10 and the East does not. Kahuku isn’t lacking for competition when it comes to Top 20-level teams. With time, the defending state champions are shooting the ball better. F/C Tolu Smith is still an unstoppable force.
Sumo rank: Ozeki.
7. Kamehameha-Hawaii Warriors (12-3, 5-0 BIIF)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 8.
Last week’s games
W 61-52 @ Kealakehe 01/04 BIIF
W 62-49 Hawaii Prep 01/06 BIIF
Vs. Top 10: 2-3.
Top 10 wins: Kailua, South Anchorage (Alaska).
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Maryknoll, Trinity Christian (Texas), Sequoia.
Skinny: Senior leadership truly matters in a league that involves marathon road games, late-night challenges and a schedule that includes mostly competitive teams.
Sumo rank: Ozeki.
8. ‘Iolani Raiders (10-7, 0-2 ILH)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 6.
Last week’s games
L 49-40 @ Mid-Pacific 01/04 ILH
L 58-49 #2 Kamehameha 01/06 ILH
Top 10 wins: @ Kailua, Kahuku, Lahainaluna.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kamehameha, Montverde (Fla.), Rainier Beach (Wash.), Taft (Calif.), Palo Alto (Calif.), Mid-Pacific*, Kamehameha.
Skinny: Most diehard prep hoops fans don’t think of MPI beating ‘Iolani as a major upset. In the ILH, where everybody can beat everybody — can you really say that of any other league with the exception of the KIF? — teams are evolving and developing or they are falling off the side of the mountain. Right now, every team is still in evolutionary stage if they are already nearing the mountain peak. It’s a league that has a heavy cost for every loss, particularly because the regular-season winner always earns an automatic state-tournament berth. One of the two allotted to the ILH.
Sumo rank: Ozeki.
9. Lahainaluna Lunas (11-6, 6-0 MIL)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 9.
Last week’s games
W 58-33 @ King Kekaulike 01/03 MIL
W 50-25 Baldwin 01/06 MIL
Vs. Top 10: 1-5.
Top 10 wins: Moanalua.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kalaheo, Moanalua, Montverde (Fla.), Maryknoll, Palo Alto (Calif.), ‘Iolani.
Skinny: Limiting Baldwin to 25 points and winning by 25, that’s almost indecipherable. It’s only been one year since the longtime staff led by Wayne Gushiken was still in charge. Now it’s Lahainaluna running Coach Jason Justus’ system, grinding out win after win in MIL play.
Sumo rank: Ozeki. Promotion for the MIL’s dominant team. Another Top 10 win besides one over Moanalua would be nice, but this is a toast to consistency.
10. Campbell Sabers (12-5, 5-0 OIA West)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 10.
Last week’s games
W 50-20 Pearl City 01/03 OIA
W 64-48 @ Waipahu 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 1-4.
Top 10 wins: Kailua.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kahuku, Kamehameha, @ Saint Louis*, St. Francis, Kahuku.
Skinny: The Sabers are taking care of business in the OIA West. The path to their showdown with Kapolei is a dangerous one if they look too far ahead.
Sumo rank: Sekiwake.
11. Kalani Falcons (7-3, 4-1 OIA East)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 11.
Last week’s games
L 70-43 #7 Kahuku 01/03 OIA
W 42-35 @ Kalaheo 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 2-2.
Top 10 wins: Kailua, Kalaheo.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kapolei, @ Campbell, Kahuku*.
Skinny: The best thing about this year’s Falcons is that they might be the most disciplined team in the league. The loss to Kahuku was basically an outlier. Kalani didn’t lose anything more than one game to a phenomenally more athletic and skilled team. (Kalani has also lost to Kapolei 58-33 and Campbell 38-32). But the rest of Kalani’s resume is about efficiency and patience. Five of their seven wins have been single-digit margins, including the win at Kalaheo.
Sumo rank: Sekiwake. The promotion from Komusubi is well earned.
12. Mid-Pacific Owls (7-7, 1-1 ILH)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 13.
Last week’s games
W 49-40 #5 ‘Iolani 01/04 ILH
L 46-39 #1 Punahou 01/06 ILH
Vs. Top 10: 2-3.
Top 10 wins: @ Moanalua, ‘Iolani.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Roosevelt*, Roosevelt*, Leilehua*. St. Francis, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Hilo*, Punahou.
Skinny: Is anyone really surprised that Coach Ryan Hirata and his staff have carved out a niche for their team in a treacherous ILH slate?
Sumo rank: Sekiwake. Promotion from Komusubi earned.
13. Kailua Surfriders (15-5, 4-1 OIA East)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 11.
Last week’s games
W 61-40 Roosevelt 01/03 OIA
W 58-23 @ Castle 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 2-4.
Top 10 wins: Kapolei, Moanalua.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): ‘Iolani, St. Francis, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Campbell, Kalani*.
Skinny: Was the home loss to Kalani a turning point? Here’s how the Surfriders have responded to previous losses
Lost 66-56 to ‘Iolani. Lost 72-57 to St. Francis. Won the next three games (Honokaa, Hilo, St. Joseph).
Lost 49-46 to Kamehameha-Hawaii. Won the next two (Kapolei, Punahou II).
Lost 48-43 to Campbell. Won four in a row (Kealakehe, Waiakea, McKinley, Moanalua) by an average margin of 3.3 points.
Lost to Kalani. Beat Roosevelt by 21 and Castle by 35.
Sumo rank: Sekiwake.
14. Roosevelt Rough Riders (9-5, 3-2 OIA East)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 15.
Last week’s games
L 61-40 @ Kailua 01/03 OIA
L 69-52 @ Kahuku 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 0-3.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Hawaii Prep*, ‘Iolani, Saint Louis*, @ Kailua, @ Kahuku.
Skinny: As a D-II program, the Rough Riders are battling Kalani for the top seed in the East, but nothing would be sweeter than to finish second or third in the East standings ahead of their D-I foes.
Sumo rank: Komusubi.
15. Farrington Governors (5-6, 1-2 OIA East)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 16.
Last week’s games
W 62-55 @ Kaimuki 01/02 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 0-3.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Punahou, Kamehameha, @ Kapolei, Kalani*, Roosevelt*.
Skinny: With the suspension of some key players, who are the Governors now? It’s been a season of promise, and now there are two big tests ahead (Kaiser, @ Kailua) this week.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
16. Moanalua Na Menehune (10-9, 2-3 OIA East)
W 81-68 Kalaheo 01/03 OIA
L 54-47 @ McKinley 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 3-6.
Top 10 wins: Lahainaluna, Hayward (Calif.), Kalaheo.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Mid-Pacific*, Kamehameha, Punahou, Rainier Beach (Wash.), Lahainaluna, Kapolei, @ Kailua, @ Kahuku, McKinley*.
Skinny: Like last season, there’s not much to be done but to let the cards play out for Moanalua. It was wildly volatile then, and it remains so now. Experience is on their side this time, and though the loss at McKinley was unexpected — Tigers senior guard Kyle Moraga didn’t suit up — all three of Moanalua’s league losses have been A) on the road, and B) close, as in an average margin of 5 points.
Sumo rank: Komusubi. Na Menehune have enough losses to warrant demotion to Maegashira, but their number of quality (Top 10) wins is higher than any team lower than this slot.
17. Kaiser Cougars (12-6, 2-3 OIA East)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 27.
Last week’s games
W 69-44 Castle 01/03 OIA
W 70-52 Kaimuki 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 0-2.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Hawaii Baptist*, Mid-Pacific*, St. Francis, Moanalua, @ Kalani*, @ Roosevelt*.
Skinny: Now that I’ve finally seen the Cougars play, I’m still wrapping my head around this resume. Young enough to have lost to veteran teams early on (HBA, MPI, St. Francis). Good enough to stay close with more experienced teams before losing (Moanalua, Kalani, Roosevelt). Talented enough to separate from teams in the lower tiers (Hilo, Damien, Aiea). Jaymin Khansmith is good. Maybe a Top 50 player. Maybe a Fab 15 player by the time the season is done.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
18. Kalaheo Mustangs (11-11, 1-3 OIA East)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 14.
Last week’s games
L 81-68 @ Moanalua 01/03 OIA
L 42-35 Kalani 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 1-8.
Top 10 wins: Lahainaluna.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Punahou, St. Francis, @ Kamehameha, Bishop O’Dowd (Calif.), Maryknoll, Kamehameha, Pearl City*, @ Kahuku, @ Moanalua, Kalani*.
Skinny: OK, the Mustangs aren’t developing the way I expected. In fact, 32 points against McKinley (win) and 35 against Kalani (loss) is stunning. Either there are some injuries I’m unaware of, or this month-long rut — eight losses in their last nine games — represents the lowest point. The good news is, there’s plenty of basketball ahead.
Sumo rank: Komusubi. In the nine-game stretch, all but one are Top 35 (my list) and six of them are Top 10 level.
19. Leilehua Mules (6-9, 3-1 OIA West)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 18.
Last week’s games
W 47-24 @ Waianae 01/03 OIA
W 50-25 Radford 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 1-8.
Top 10 wins: Hayward (Calif.).
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Saint Louis*, Lahainaluna, Punahou, ‘Iolani, Kamehameha, Fairfax (Calif.), Moanalua, Kamehameha, @ Kapolei.
Skinny: More than any team I’ve seen this season, the Mules play their best basketball with less than 5 minutes left and a 10-point deficit.
Sumo rank: Komusubi.
20. McKinley Tigers (7-10, 1-3 OIA East)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 29.
Last week’s games
W 54-47 Moanalua 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 1-8.
Top 10 wins: Moanalua.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): St. Francis, Maryknoll, Hawaii Baptist*, @ Maryknoll, @ Baldwin*, St. Francis, Campbell, @ Kailua, @ Kahuku, @ Kalaheo.
Skinny: Without senior G Kyle Moraga, the Tigers pulled off a key win that keeps them in the playoff hunt. With so much parity in the OIA East, every game is a playoff game for McKinley. Their three losses to start league play were by a combined margin of 11 points, all against ranked teams.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
21. Saint Louis Crusaders (7-13, 0-2 ILH)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 17.
Last week’s games
L 64-52 @ #2 Kamehameha 01/04 ILH
L 50-44 #4 Maryknoll 01/06 ILH
Vs. Top 10: 1-9.
Top 10 wins: Campbell.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Farrington*, Kalaheo, @ Moanalua, Kahuku, St. Francis, Desert Pines (Nev.), Palo Alto (Calif.), Lahainaluna, Kamehameha, Maryknoll.
Skinny: Speaking of teams in need of turning points, the Crusaders are picking up traction, but life in the ILH means it’s a continual mudslide to the top.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
22. Damien Monarchs (6-5, 1-0 ILH D-II)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 20.
Last week’s games
W 81-76 @ Hawaii Baptist 01/04 ILH D-II
Vs. Top 10: 0-4.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): @ Campbell, @ Kahuku, @ Kaiser*, Maryknoll, Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Skinny: A huge victory right off the bat in ILH D-II play for the diaper dandies of Damien. The league gets just two state-tourney berths, which means that automatic berth that comes with first place in the regular-season standings is exceedingly coveted.
Sumo rank: Maegashira. Next up: St. Francis on Thursday.
23. Seabury Hall Spartans (11-7, 2-0 MIL D-II)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 22.
Last week’s games
W 63-41 Haleakala Waldorf 01/05 MIL D-II
W 63-40 @ Haleakala Waldorf 01/05 MIL D-II (Eddie Tam Gym)
Vs. Top 10: 0-1.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kalaheo, Roosevelt*, Punahou II*, @ Baldwin*.
Skinny: Confused about this? Don’t be. Seabury Hall has some decent highlights on the resume: A) lost to Kalaheo 83-82, B) beat Baldwin 55-43, C) lost at Baldwin 60-57, D) beat Baldwin a second time 43-31, E) nearly beat Kamehameha-Maui, F) beat King Kekaulike.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
24. Baldwin Bears (6-7, 2-3 MIL)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 24.
Last week’s games
W 54-45 @ Kamehameha-Maui 01/03 MIL
L 50-25 #8 Lahainaluna 01/06 MIL
Vs. Top 10: 0-3.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kalaheo, Seabury Hall*, Maui*, Seabury Hall*, Lahainaluna, Lahainaluna.
Skinny: There is a 33-point loss to Kalaheo. Two losses to D-II Seabury Hall. Losses of 26 and 25 points to Lahainaluna. And yet, there’s this: a 74-68 win over HBA, a 64-55 win over McKinley, a 64-61 win over Punahou II, a 60-57 win over the same Seabury Hall squad, a road win at Maui to avenge a previous loss to the Sabers, and last week’s road win at KS-Maui.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
25. Hawaii Baptist Eagles (15-6, 1-1 ILH D-II)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 25.
Last week’s games
L 81-76 Damien 01/04 ILH D-II
Vs. Top 10: 1-3.
Top 10 wins: South Anchorage (Alaska).
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kalani*, @ Baldwin*, @ Punahou, Leigh (Calif.), Sequoia (Calif.), Damien.
Skinny: That’s four games in a row that the Eagles have surrendered at least 81 points, but don’t expect them to change. The losses were to solid teams: Punahou, Leigh (Calif.) and Sequoia (Calif.) prior to Damien. If you are not in top physical condition and did not bring proper footwear, playing HBA at their pace can be misery.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
26. Keaau Cougars (7-4, 4-1 BIIF)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 35.
Last week’s games
W 53-42 @ Ka‘u 01/02 BIIF
W 47-44 Waiakea 01/04 BIIF
Vs. Top 10: 0-2.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Hawaii Baptist*, Mid-Pacific*, St. Francis, Moanalua, @ Kalani*, @ Roosevelt*.
Skinny: That’s four wins in a row for the Cougars. Next up: St. Joseph and Hilo.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
27. Waiakea Warriors (11-11, 3-2 BIIF)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 32.
Last week’s games
L 47-44 @ Keaau 01/04 BIIF
W 79-35 @ St. Joseph 01/06 BIIF
Vs. Top 10: 0-6.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kohala*, Mid-Pacific*, Hilo*, Kailua, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Punahou, Kailua, Kamehameha-Hawaii, @ Keaau.
Skinny: Two weeks ago, it was a 60-58 loss to Kailua followed by a 52-50 loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii. The loss to Keaau says more about the Cougars than any shortcomings of Waiakea.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
28. Maui Sabers (10-7, 3-2 MIL)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 24.
Last week’s games
W 66-57 Kamehameha-Maui 01/05 MIL
Vs. Top 10: 1-5.
Top 10 wins: Kalaheo.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): ‘Iolani, Campbell, Kahuku, Kahuku, @ Lahainaluna, Saint Louis*, Baldwin*.
Skinny: How does Maui win a game and drop five spots? They already dropped 12 notches last week after losing to Lahainaluna, Saint Louis and Baldwin. At this point, ranking the Sabers ahead of any of those teams doesn’t work.
29. Kamehameha-Maui Warriors (7-5, 2-3 MIL)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 21.
Last week’s games
L 54-45 Baldwin 01/03 MIL
L 66-57 @ Maui 01/05 MIL
W 53-48 King Kekaulike 01/06 MIL
Vs. Top 10: 0-1.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): University*, @ Kapaa*, @ Lahainaluna, Baldwin*, @ Maui*.
Skinny: Like Maui, the Warriors were in a three-game losing streak (Lahainaluna, Baldwin, @ Maui). Upcountry Elite has been a formidable club team for a few years now, but the MIL’s Upcountry teams are at the bottom of the D-I standings. Maybe most of the Upcountry Elite players are at Seabury Hall, Maui and Baldwin.
Sumo rank: Juryo.
30. Hilo Vikings (12-9, 3-1 BIIF)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 33.
Last week’s games
L 67-55 @ Honokaa 01/02 BIIF
W 68-57 @ Konawaena 01/04 BIIF
Vs. Top 10: 0-5.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kealakehe*, Kaiser*, Kailua, Maryknoll, Trinity Christian (Texas), Waiakea*, @ Punahou, South Anchorage (Alaska), @ Honokaa.
Skinny: 1-1 after a two-game road venture to start BIIF play isn’t so bad. Especially winning at BIIF powerhouse Konawaena.
31. University Junior Rainbows (8-5, 1-1 ILH D-II)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 30.
Last week’s games
L 83-54 @ #3 St. Francis 01/04 ILH D-II
W 60-30 @ Hanalani 01/06 ILH D-II
Vs. Top 10: 0-3.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): @ McKinley*, Kapolei, Kahuku, Waiakea*, St. Francis.
Skinny: Big matchup at HBA this week. Then Le Jardin.
Sumo rank: Maegashira.
32. Konawaena Wildcats (6-3, 2-3 BIIF)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 31.
Last week’s games
L 68-57 Hilo 01/04 BIIF
L 57-51 @ Kealakehe 01/06 BIIF
Vs. Top 10: 0-1.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kamehameha-Hawaii, Hilo*, @ Kealakehe*.
Skinny: No Austin Ewing in the Kealakehe game. He was at the Polynesian All-American football game because he is a quarterback with a lot of upside at the next level.
33. Aiea Na Alii (6-5, 5-0 OIA West)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 35
Last week’s games
W 49-41 Waipahu 01/03 OIA
W 67-32 Waialua 01/05 OIA
Vs. Top 10: 0-2.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): @ Kailua, Moanalua, @ Damien*, University*, Kaiser*.
Skinny: The OIA West schedule has been favorable so far for Aiea. Their five opponents have an aggregate record of 5-18 in divisional play. Will Nanakuli provide their toughest test?
Sumo rank: Maegashira. Promotion from Juryo is due.
34. Kauai Red Raiders (4-3, 2-0 KIF)
Pupule ranking last week: No. 35.
Last week’s games
W 46-42 @ Waimea 01/06 KIF
Vs. Top 10: 0-0.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kamehameha-Maui*, University*, Konawaena*.
Skinny: Kauai gets the nod over Kamehameha II here. Common opponents: Kauai beat King Kekaulike; KS II lost to King Kekaulike. Kauai beat Kapaa 46-23. KS II beat Kapaa 54-49. Both teams have beaten Waimea by more than 20 points.
Sumo rank: Juryo
35. Kamehameha II Warriors (6-6, 0-0 ILH D-II)
Pupule ranking last week: Unranked.
Last week’s games: No games
Vs. Top 10: 0-2.
Top 10 wins: None.
Losses (Non-Top 10*): Kamehameha-Maui*, King Kekaulike*, St. Francis, Leigh (Calif.), South Anchorage (Alaska), Damien*.
# # #
On the cusp
Christian Academy Patriots (5-1, 3-0 ILH D-III)
Assets Admirals (4-1, 2-0 ILH D-III)
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