By Paul Honda
paul@hondareport.com
Tuesday, May 8, 2007

I agree with Todd Rickard about at least this: This is a pick-em kind of year.

No, the longtime Lahainaluna girls basketball coach isn't overly concerned about any of the many teams statewide that could win the state tourney. He's mostly focused on his own team, which is very young, yet very much atop the Maui Interscholastic League.

Between No. 1 Konawaena and No. 9 Radford, voters in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Top 10 are convinced that this is the core of the best teams in the islands. Radford collected 51 points, while Farrington was a distant 10th with just seven points. There's no doubt that Farrington has the talent to compete with Radford or any team in the Top 10. What the poll reflects, though, is a belief that the Lady Govs haven't done something significant on the court, at least not something significant enough to merit more than seven points.

That total is the lowest I've seen for a No. 10 team in the girls hoops poll since ... well, I can't remember it being that low. It can be argued that Radford hasn't had a significant win yet, as well, but they play in the OIA Red West, where strength of schedule is quite average at best.

If we look at the leagues comparatively, the BIIF and ILH are clearly the best when it comes to the best five teams. The OIA Red East is right behind them, followed by the OIA Red West, OIA White, MIL and KIF.

That's right. The OIA White is stronger from No. 1 through 5 than the MIL's best five. Think about it. McKinley, Campbell, Waialua, Kailua and Castle (or Waianae) versus Lahainaluna, Maui, Baldwin, Seabury Hall and Molokai.

McKinley and Lahainaluna are rather even. Though the Lady Lunas are in the Top 10, they haven't beaten a ranked team all season, while McKinley is 17-6 overall. McKinley has senior leadership in the backcourt, while Lahainaluna's talent is strong and young in the frontcourt.

Campbell would be a tough matchup for the tall Maui Sabers. Toss-up.

Waialua is quick, strong and aggressive. They'd take Baldwin down thanks to depth.

Kailua and Seabury Hall would be an interesting matchup. Kailua has been erratic, but has a quick set of guards. Seabury Hall has Yacine Meyer and a crew of experienced, dedicated players. Slight edge to the Spartans.

Then we have Castle and Molokai. Castle is quick, good guards, streaky. Molokai is competitive. Another toss-up.

We'll find out a lot more when the state tourney begins next week. Can hardly wait.

If you haven't seen my BIIF Top 5 vs. ILH Top 5 analysis, click here.

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