The world of high school girls basketball often goes through cycles.

The current cycle of talent appears to be strong in the ILH, with its defending state champion, Kamehameha, and perennial contenders like Punahou and ‘Iolani.

It also seems to weave through the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, where last year’s state runner-up, Konawaena, and third-place finisher, Hilo, return key components.

In the OIA, the waters are a bit murky. Leilehua, which won the Red Conference title for the first time since 1977, lost big on graduation day.

So did Mililani, which fell in double overtime to the Mules in the league final. That opens a door for the rising Nanakuli Golden Hawks.

The Red East is churning in place as Kaiser rebuilds — or reloads, depending on how its young roster develops. Kahuku and Moanalua went through coaching changes. But one coach sees the OIA as a rough road for all who play the Rough Riders.

"I think it’s Roosevelt. I saw their JV last year against Kahuku in the championship. They had some outstanding girls," Kahuku coach David Te’o said. "Now they’re on the varsity, and knowing the coach there (Hinano Higa), they’re going to be pretty solid."

Kaiser coach Simon Bitanga agreed.

"They’re like us. They’re small and they can run. They have ballhandlers, scorers and slashers. They can handle the pressure and I don’t see anyone else who can handle it," he said. "We might be the closest to them. Hopefully, we can keep it close.

In the OIA White, defending champion Kalaheo might have the inside track, but the conference as a whole is wide open.

Here’s a look at the OIA’s contenders. League play tips off tonight:

RED WEST

Mililani has already been blessed once with the arrival of Hanalani transfer Sarah Liva, who solidified the middle for the volleyball team in a league-title run.

Liva was superb as Hanalani’s center last year, normally accounting for most of her team’s offensive output, a regular double-double dominator inside. Hanalani, of the ILH, reached the semifinal round of the Division II state tourney last season.

The 6-foot senior comes to a team that lost outstanding contributors to graduation. All-State wing Nayla Long is now at Charleston Southern University of the Big South Conference. Sharpshooter Kapili Amamalin (Blue Mountain College, Ore.), point guard Kira Arruda (Chaminade) and guard Kaylee Torres (Southwestern Oregon CC) also received their diplomas, leaving big shoes for the Lady Trojans to fill.

One key returnee is Mikaela Limper, a versatile wing with 3-point range. She scored 12 points, including two treys, in the title loss to the Mules.

Mililani went 6-1 in preseason, losing only to Hilo 43-42 at the Waiakea Invitational. It enters the regular-season opener against Waialua tonight coming off a 49-41 win over Konawaena.

Leilehua won’t look quite the same without Carissa McBride, the 6-1 post who had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the title game against Mililani. McBride, who aspires to a career in law enforcement, is now playing at Chaminade.

Also gone is a sparkplug on the boards, Elyshia Bowden (Southwestern Oregon CC).

The Mules bring back their starting backcourt of Tiffany Reyher and Jerrilyn Maluyo, plus forward Tywanna Abbott, who stepped up in the playoffs. Elroy Dumlao, who was voted second in the All-State coach of the year balloting, has momentum on his side with a robust offseason training program.

Putting things together will take time, however. The Mules were 3-3 in preseason, including losses to Moanalua, Radford and Sacred Hearts.

Kapolei is a bit of a mystery, but the Hurricanes swept through the KIF’s three teams in a pre-Thanksgiving tourney and are 3-2 entering league play. The two losses were in blowout fashion to two elite teams: Roosevelt (82-37) and Maryknoll (57-15).

Nanakuli, which has spent plenty of years in the White Conference, might be the dark horse to emerge as the best in the West. The Golden Hawks opened nonconference play with a 49-46 loss at Moanalua, but have won their last three games by double-digit margins. That includes a 61-46 win at Kaiser.

"I believe they’ll be second place (in the West)," Bitanga said. "They’re good and very well coached. And tall."

Radford also had a promising preseason with a 6-3 mark. The Lady Rams are young, but they’ve topped quality teams in HBA (39-33), Leilehua (45-39) and Kailua (33-28). The only loss came against Mililani (46-35).

Jessica Wolford, a 5-foot-11 junior, pairs up in the paint with Jazmine Moody, a long, 6-1 junior, in the paint. Kennedy Johnson, a 5-11 junior, will come off the bench to give the Lady Rams one of the tallest post combos in the league.

The backcourt is young. Deja Tavale is a 5-8 freshman and Jazmyn Peralta is a 5-3 sophomore.

"We know our weaknesses and will capitalize on our strengths," coach Brandy Richardson wrote in an email.

Aiea and Waianae are big question marks at this point. Aiea’s preseason highlight may have been a 32-31 win over McKinley.

The Seariders peaked at the right time last year, upsetting Kaiser 50-46 in the OIA playoffs. Coach Cyrilla Manuel has two starters back, sisters Raegina Atiga and Raywyne Atiga.

RED EAST

Kaiser finished fourth in the OIA a year ago and is finding its identity with the departure of Micaela Bitanga and Ashley Soong. Coach Simon Bitanga’s team hasn’t been this young in a long time, and the Lady Cougars’ brutal preseason schedule — Maryknoll, Konawaena, Lahainaluna, Honokaa, Nanakuli and Kamehameha — resulted in an 0-6 mark.

Roselyn Shimaoka and Chantelle Arce are the veterans of a young unit that has struggled through preseason injuries. Shimaoka is back from a concussion.

It gets no easier. The Lady Cougars meet Roosevelt, the Red East favorite. The Rough Riders are running and gunning again under coach Higa, and when the transition game is on hold, no team runs the backdoor cut better.

Roosevelt was 4-2 in preseason with wins over Kapolei and Honokaa (70-39) and losses to Punahou (69-57) and Konawaena (57-54). In all, there are seven returnees, and a former JV standout, Ashley Kiko, could help.

They return a talented group: guards Sharice Kawakami and Starr Rivera, swingman Devyn Kauahi and 5-11 sophomore Keala Quinlan.

All four are a year more experienced and wiser, and probably hungrier after a quarterfinal playoff loss to Kaimuki last season.

Kahuku is a mystery. Scott DeSilva is no longer the coach, replaced by former coach Te’o. The Lady Raiders succumbed to injuries last year, losing All-State guard Fia Tailele-Latu to a knee injury at midseason. She returned in the playoffs, but was not at full strength as Kahuku missed the state tourney.

Tailele-Latu is now at Southeastern Iowa Community College.

Te’o last coached in 2010, moved to Las Vegas because of his work, then returned last year.

Talia Brown, a standout volleyball player, is one of several girls who are back on the hardwood. Adora Anae, a 6-1 volleyball standout and Sina Tonga, another spiker, are out to play for Te’o. Kahuku went 2-1 in preseason.

"We’re going to rely heavily on Talia. We’re pretty good on the bigs," Te’o said. "We’ve got pretty good size. We’re deep, so we’re going to run. The girls are kind of getting used to my style."

Moanalua has some of its firepower back with wings LaChae McColor (All-State honorable mention) and Hoku Mateo, but Na Menehune (2-4) have struggled in preseason against bigger teams. After beating Nanakuli and Leilehua (59-37), they lost to Mililani, Kamehameha, Honokaa and Punahou.

New Moanalua coach Tani Dutro led Radford to an OIA White title in 2011. She steps in for Christie Morikawa, who remains as the softball coach.

McKinley played mostly a D-II nonconference schedule and went 3-6. That includes close losses to ‘Iolani II (31-26), Aiea (32-31) and University (34-32). Coach Donald Kamai has one returning starter, high-scoring guard Tiare Sugui. In all, the Lady Tigers have five returnees.

Kamai was hoping for big impacts from young players, but four promising sophomores have suffered ACL injuries. Junior Jazmayne Williams, one of the Tigers’ top rebounders, will help fill the void in the backcourt.

Kailua’s Patria Vaimoana was a force in the paint as a freshman last season as the Surfriders finished second in the OIA White. She may be the premier post player in the league, Red or White. They finished fifth in the D-II state tourney. This season, the Surfriders are 2-2, with losses to Radford and HBA, and wins over Punahou II and Hawaii Prep.

Kaimuki is rebuilding. Mona Fa’asoa agreed to return as head coach after considering retirement, but point guard Canny Aikau and All-State player of the year Princess Lauvao (Cochise College, Ariz.) graduated.

WHITE

The nine-team Division II conference can have its share of extremes, but it’s more about matchups this season.

Defending champion Kalaheo is back, while runner-up Kailua has moved up to the Red. Farrington has formidable size under the basket. Kalani has basically no dominant posts, but lots of speed.

The Lady Falcons also have a new coach in Chi Mok, who was ‘Iolani’s D-II coach for the past seven years.

"I think Farrington’s going to be the team to beat. They’ve got a couple of bigs who can play and are pretty strong, 5-10 and 5-11," Mok said.

Kalani’s tradition of run-and-gun basketball won’t end. Mok likes to push the tempo.

"We like to transition, push the ball and pressure defense. That’s what we’re made out of. A lot of guards and we’re not big," he said.

The Lady Falcons went 4-6 against a mostly D-I preseason schedule, beating Baldwin and King Kekaulike.

"Our goal is to at least get into the OIA (White) championship game, and if we do that, we’re into the state tournament. But we’re not good enough to just show up and win. We’ve got to work hard," Mok said.