Damien coach Paul Tanaka addresses his girls during a time out. The Monarchs are competing in their first year of varsity basketball play in the school's history. Evan Asato | SL

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While Damien has been a contender in Division II boys basketball for a number of years now, it probably comes as somewhat of a surprise, especially to many casual fans, to learn that the Monarchs even have a girls basketball team.

The transition of the school from all-boys to co-education in 2012 meant the addition of girls sports to the campus, and the girls basketball program is just the second to make the jump to the varsity level, and have done so with a splash.

Led by veteran head coach Paul Tanaka, who coached at Maryknoll and Saint Francis prior to starting up the program at Damien, the Monarchs opened the year with a win over perennial Division II contender Saint Francis and have since notched 6 more wins on the year, including a key victory over University High on its home floor on January 10 and a crucial win over Le Jardin on January 17.

The loss of starting point guard Shania Nakamura to a season-ending ACL injury just two days before the start of the season was a big one, but the Monarchs used it as a rallying point of sorts.

"One of the biggest things that happened to this team was that the starting point for this team, who was injured two days before the start of the season," said Tanaka. "From that point on every one had to step up. And they really have, and God does things for a reason and so we can't be more proud of the ladies."

Damien currently sits in fourth place in the ILH Division II standings, and looks poised to clinch a berth in the ILH Division II's six-team, single elimination tournament.

That win over Le Jardin this past weekend was a huge boost in securing that spot, as it avenged a league loss to the Bulldogs, 43-42, suffered back on December 16 and essentially assured the Monarch a spot in the playoffs with just two games left to play.

"That's what we stress the most, just keep on fighting, keep on playing hard," remarked Tanaka. "They have so much heart, and its managing that heart for the coaches, that's our job."

Junior Melina Souza has been the heartbeat of the team, at least from a point-scoring perspective, leading the team in scoring at a 15.1 per game clip, and contributions from freshman guard Karly Navas (8.0/ppg, 10 3pm) and sophomore center Catherine Votovich (6.0 ppg), who has just recently returned from an ankle injury that kept her out of the lineup for a stretch, have been key.

With no seniors and just four upperclassmen on the roster, the future looks bright for the Monarchs.

"I know this is Damien's first year and Coach Tanaka is a verteran coach," said Hawaii Baptist head coach Keith Sugiura. "They are going to be a fun team to watch and a formidable one in the future as their program continues to build."

But the Monarchs aren't thinking of the future. There's nothing like focusing on the present in the eyes of Tanaka.

"I think it would be really neat for us to make the state tournament in our first year of varsity play," he said. "Before Shania went down we thought we would be in contention, and to be in a position to make the tournament despite losing our starting point guard, its testament to what our girls have been able to accomplish this year."

Damien closes out its regular season schedule with Hanalani (5-6) on Tuesday before taking on La Pietra (1-11) at home on January 27.