Girls Basketball
No. 11 Brea Olinda, No. 46 Konawaena top 'Iolani field


Wes Nakama
December 7, 2011, 7:10pm



National powerhouse Brea Olinda (Brea, Calif.), ranked No. 11 in USA Today's Super 25, and defending state champion Konawaena -- ranked No. 46 by ESPN Rise -- highlight the Fifth Annual 'Iolani Prep Classic girls basketball tournament Thursday through Saturday at 'Iolani School.

The eight-team tourney tips off with four games Thursday: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. Konawaena at 3:30 p.m., Tsinghua (Beijing) vs. Brea Olinda at 5, Mid-Pacific vs. Oregon City at 6:30 and 'Iolani vs. Kaimuki at 8.

Brea Olinda is the defending Classic champion and finished the season ranked No. 4 by ESPN Rise. The Ladycats are off to a 4-0 start this season, including a 69-65 victory over then-No. 15 ranked Windward (Los Angeles).

Keitra Wallace, a 6-foot senior guard/forward, scored 22 points against Windward and has made a commitment to play for Pepperdine next season. Taylor Spears, a 5-10 senior guard/forward, will play for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Konawaena has won two of the past three state titles, including last year's after the Wildcats finished the season at 31-1 overall. Their only loss was to then-No. 2 ranked Brea Olinda in the 'Iolani Classic semifinals.

Senior guards Dawnyelle Awa and Lia Galdeira both have signed letters of intent to play for Washington State next season.

Bishop Gorman is a Las Vegas power that went 25-7 last season including a conference championship. Zhane Dikes, a 5-9 senior guard, has signed with San Francisco.

Oregon City went 24-5 last season and finished last season ranked No. 3 in the state.

Tsinghua is ranked No. 2 in China.

'Iolani returns four starters from a team that finished third in last season's state tournament, including 5-7 senior point guard Kylie Maeda, who has signed with Brigham Young.


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