Boys basketball Top 10: Punahou clings to top spot in state
Jan. 30—Despite some turbulent circumstances, Punahou is No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10 for a third week in a row.
The Buffanblu took their first loss in ILH play but finished the regular season 9-1 to secure the top seed and an automatic state-tournament berth. Punahou received 13 out of 20 first-place votes from the panel of coaches and media.
Saint Louis (three), Maryknoll (two) and Mililani (two) also got first-place votes and remained static at the next three spots. Maryknoll closed the gap but remained one point behind Saint Louis despite a 39-37 win over the Crusaders.
Mililani remained at No. 4 after a 52-50 win at Leilehua to close the OIA West slate with the top seed.
Kailua leaped past Kahuku to No. 5 after a 60-56 win at Kahuku. That created a three-way, first-place tie in the OIA East to end the regular season. The coin-toss tiebreaker by the OIA on Monday afternoon resulted in Kailua as the top seed, followed by Kahuku and Kalaheo.
Kailua will have an opening-round bye before hosting the Campbell-Moanalua winner on Feb. 7.
Kahuku will have a bye before hosting the Nanakuli-Roosevelt winner on Feb. 7.
Kalaheo will host Kapolei in the opening round on Feb. 6.
The top two teams will have first-round byes in the upcoming OIA Division I playoffs. The third team will begin opening-round play on Feb. 6.
Six OIA teams will earn berths in the D-I state championships.
University rose a notch to. No. 9 following wins over Hawaii Baptist and Hanalani. At 9-0, the Jr. 'Bows are closing in on an automatic berth in the D-II state tournament. However, leading Trey Ambrozich sat out against Hanalani with a back injury and Alika Ahu suffered an ankle injury.
Nine Top 10 teams will have byes this week prior to league playoffs.
Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10
Jan. 22-27, 2024
Rank School (1st) (Record) Pts LW
1. Punahou (13) (20-5, 9-1 ILH) 187 1
> next: bye (vs. TBD, Mon Feb 12)
2. Saint Louis (3) (20-5, 7-3 ILH) 167 2
> next: bye (vs. Mid-Pacific, Tue Feb 6)
3. Maryknoll (2) (22-5, 7-3 ILH) 166 3
> next: bye (vs. TBD, Sat Feb 10)
4. Mililani (2) (19-4, 10-0 OIA) 152 4
> next: bye (vs. Kalani-Radford winner, Feb. 7)
5. Kailua (20-4, 9-1 OIA) 110 6
> next: bye (vs. Campbell-Moanalua winner, Feb. 7)
6. Leilehua (19-4, 9-1 OIA) 75 7
> next: bye (vs. Kalaheo-Kapolei winner, Feb. 7)
7. Kahuku (18-4, 9-1 OIA) 70 5
> next: bye (vs. Nanakuli-Roosevelt winner, Feb. 7)
8. Kalaheo (17-11, 9-1 OIA) 69 8
> next: bye (vs. Kapolei, Feb. 6)
9. University (19-3, 9-0 ILH D-II) 46 10
> next: at Damien, Tuesday
> next: at Hawaii Baptist, Thursday
> next: at Hanalani, Saturday
10. 'Iolani (12-14, 3-7 ILH) 30 9
> lost to Mid-Pacific, 73-70
> won at Kamehameha, 47-45
> next: bye (vs. Kamehameha, Tue Feb 6, ILH playoffs)
Also receiving votes: Kohala 14, Nanakuli 8, Kamehameha 6.
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Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
