By Paul Honda
Editor
Tuesday, January 20, 2004

HONOLULU—Three new teams entered the HondaReport.com Boys’ Basketball Top Ten, but perhaps the more prominent move came from that brown-and-yellow clad team from Central O’ahu.

Mililani, now 8-0 in O’ahu Interscholastic Association West Division play, leap-frogged from two positions to No. 2 in the HRC Top Ten released Monday night. It is the highest ranking ever for the Trojans in the history of the poll.

Iolani collected all 27 first-place votes, as expected, to remain No. 1. The Raiders, 21-2 and 7-0 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu action, have remained at the top since the start of preseason.

One voter, a veteran of many basketball wars, summed it up for many of his fellow panelists. “I'm having a hard time with that No. 2 spot because Punahou and Kamehameha (O’ahu) were soundly beaten by Iolani. I'm sticking Mililani in at No. 2 reluctantly because they beat Kamehameha (O’ahu) about two months ago,” he said. “Like I said earlier, I don't think it matters because it seems nobody is going to touch Iolani.”

Three teams that weren’t in last week’s Top Ten landed in the rankings. Kaimuki (13-5, 5-2 OIA East), which upset then third-ranked Kalaheo, returned at No. 9.

Baldwin, 4-0 in Maui Interscholastic League play, entered the Top Ten for the first time this season. The Bears share the No. 10 spot with Waimea, which is 4-0 in Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation play.

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