As expected, Konawaena received the top seed for the Division I New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships.
The Wildcats, who were undefeated against Hawaii teams this year, get their first action on Wednesday at McKinley High School against either Punahou or Kailua. The Buffanblu and Surfriders play their first-round match on Tuesday at McKinley.
Punahou beat Lahainaluna for its 10th title last year, avoiding Konawaena when the Wildcats fell to Mililani in the quarterfinals.
Konawaena will be going for something more than just its sixth state title. The Wildcats can earn coach Bobbie Awa her sixth straight crown to pass Kamehameha’s Al Apo for the most all-time.
Baldwin and Leilehua play the other first-round game at McKinley, with the winner facing OIA champion Roosevelt. So, Baldwin or Leilehua would potentially have to beat fourth seed Roosevelt, No. 1 Konawaena and then either No. 2 Lahainaluna or No. 3 Maryknoll to win the state title.
The other side of the Division I bracket goes down at Moanalua, where Radford and Mililani play to earn the right to meet MIL champion Lahainaluna in the quarterfinals. Hilo and Nanakuli play in the other first-round game at Moanalua, with the winner meeting ILH champion Maryknoll.
Honokaa was chosen the top dog in Division II, but Kaimuki has the advantage of playing at home until the championship game, when it would have to move down the road to the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Bulldogs play their first match at home against Tuesday’s winner between Molokai and University and would play at home again on Thursday if they can advance. McKinley and St. Francis play the other first-round game at Kaimuki, with the winner meeting the top-seeded Dragons.
The other side of the bracket will be held at Kalani, where Castle and Lanai match up for the right to face No. 2 seed HBA, and Kamehameha-Hawaii plays Damien, with Kapaa waiting for that winner.
Punahou top seed in Division I girls soccer
ILH champion Punahou received the top seed in the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts/HHSAA Girls Soccer State Championships beginning Friday.
The Buffanblu are joined by OIA champion Campbell, MIL champion Baldwin and BIIF champion Konawaena as the four seeds.
Punahou will await the winner between perennial powers Kamehameha-Maui and Mililani, who play at 5 p.m. at Kamehameha. Waiakea and Pearl City face off in the other first-round match at Kamehameha, with the winner meeting Campbell.
STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL
DIVISION I
First round, Tuesday
Game 1: Baldwin vs. Leilehua, 5 p.m. at McKinley
Game 2: Radford vs. Mililani, 5 p.m. at Moanalua
Game 3: Punahou vs. Kailua, 7 p.m. at McKinley
Game 4: Hilo vs. Nanakuli, 7 p.m. at Moanalua
Quarterfinals, Wednesday
Game 7: Roosevelt vs. winner game 1, 5 p.m. at McKinley
Game 8: Leilehua vs. winner game 2, 5 p.m. at Moanalua
Game 9: Konawaena vs. winner game 3, 7 p.m. at McKinley
Game 10: Maryknoll vs. winner game 4, 7 p.m. at Moanalua
Semifinals, Thursday
Winners game 8 and 10, 5 p.m. at McKinley
Winners game 9 and 7, 7 p.m. at McKinley
Championship, Friday
Semifinal winners at Stan Sheriff Center, 7 p.m.
DIVISION II
First round, Tuesday
Game 1: Molokai vs. University, 5 p.m. at Kaimuki
Game 2: Castle vs. Lanai, 5 p.m. at Kalani
Game 3: McKinley vs. St. Francis, 7 p.m. at Kaimuki
Game 4: KS-Hawaii vs. Damien, 7 p.m. at Kalani
Quarterfinals, Wednesday
Game 7: Honokaa vs. winner game 3, 5 p.m. at Kaimuki
Game 8: Kapaa vs. winner game 4, 5 p.m. at Kalani
Game 9: Kaimuki vs. winner game 1, 7 p.m. at Kaimuki
Game 10: Hawaii Baptist vs. winner game 2, 7 p.m. at Kalani
Semifinals, Thursday
Winners game 8 and 10, 5 p.m. at Kaimuki
Winners game 7 and 9, 7 p.m. at Kaimuki
CHAMPIONSHIP, FRIDAY
Semifinal winners at Stan Sheriff Center, 5 p.m.
