Kalei Cates and the Golden Hawks (6-1) will travel to Campbell to take on Gieani Balino and the Sabers (6-0) Friday night in our Hawaiian Electric Game of the Week. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Things are getting heated in the West.

Four teams sit within a game of first place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I West standings heading into the weekend: Mililani (6-0), Campbell (6-0), Nanakuli (6-1) and Radford (5-1).

The Sabers will host the Golden Hawks Friday in a key matchup of contenders.

Campbell (12-2 overall) is coming off a 38-30 win at Waianae last Friday and has won each of its six league games by an average of nearly 26 points. Its lone losses this season have come against Hawaii Baptist and at Konawaena — both in the preseason.

Sabers coach Summer Aona said the Big Island trip was a fruitful one for her team.

"It was really good because I think it showed our girls what we're capable of. We played some really good competition," Aona said.

The trip included perhaps the biggest win on the Sabers' resume is a 43-39 victory over Lahainaluna, as well as a nine-point win over Honokaa.

Aona also pointed to a one-point overtime win over Kapolei on Dec. 7 as a learning experience.

"That Kapolei game it came down to us having control of the ball at the end, that's how we won," Aona said. "We made a lot of mistakes in between, which they were able to capitalize on, but at the end we were able to hand on to possession of the ball."

The Sabers feature the OIA's leading scorer in Gieani Balino, who is averaging 20.8 points per game. Fellow senior guard Danielle Silva is averaging 13.8 points per game.

"I think pretty much everybody knows what we've got. We have a really good couple of guards in Gieani Balino and Danielle Silva is really coming around this year," Aona said. "She's had some time to train in the offseason with other clubs — both of them actually — so that's kind of helped us out. I think they've had a lot more time to build on their game experience, build up on their basketball IQ and even the basic fundamental stuff. Not just them, but a few other girls this summer that took the time to put in the work and it's showing in the way that they're performing this year."

Meanwhile, Nanakuli (9-9 overall) has reeled off five consecutive wins since a 35-21 loss to Radford. It is averaging 44.3 points for to 24.3 points allowed per game.

The Golden Hawks are coming off a nine-point win over Waianae Wednesday night.

"We played a lot of preseason games this year and I think just the continuous reps definitely shows that we've improved a little bit and we're just trying to get better every day," first-year coach Sasha Montez said.

Montez, a 2008 Nanakuli graduate, spent two years coaching at Western New Mexico (Silver City, N.M.), where she played collegiate basketball, before returning to Nanakuli three years ago. She spend the last two seasons as JV head coach before taking over the varsity program this year, swapping roles with Randy Kauhane.

"He asked me if I was ready to move up to varsity and it was something that I could not pass up," Montez said. "We're definitely one coaching staff and we all support each other in everything we do, so that's what I really respect as far as our coaching staff and everything we do in our program."

Nanakuli is led by seniors Kalei Cates (12.3 points per game) and Kanai Diamond (9.5 ppg).

"They're our only two seniors on the team and they've been doing a really good job of leading by example and guiding their team and just showing them the way and just being supportive," Montez said. "Our team is very positive and with their leadership skills, they just spread their positivity and their energy throughout the team and that's what we need."

Both seniors bring valuable assets to the squad.

"Kanai doesn't put up a lot of points for us, but she makes up for it with everything else she does on the court. She plays tough defense, her passing on offense, seeing the court, just being all around a key player for us, and Kalei is coming around a little bit with attacking and scoring," said Montez, who also singled out junior forward Misnash Savea for her defensive toughness.

Montez said her team will have its hands full with Balino and the Sabers.

"Campbell is definitely a great team and I think it'll be a great test to where we are at in the OIA," Montez said. "We just gotta come prepared and ready to play and we gotta execute. Campbell has some nice players over there, of course they've got Gieani and she's definitely a big aspect and a key for them. If we can limit her to half of what she's been scoring every game, I'm OK with that."

Aona, a close personal friend of Montez, said the focus in practice has been on execution and not the opposition.

"We're not taking anybody and we try to do our best in every game, but it just comes down to us playing our game," Aona said. "To me, it comes down to who can maintain the ball because I don't foresee a high-scoring game. Most games in our division are low scoring — meaning it's all about defense — so it's going to come down to whoever has better possessions. I know they have a couple of talented kids, but what's more important to me is that we take care of what we can on our side, because that's all we can control."

Tipoff between the Sabers and Golden Hawks is slated for 7 p.m.