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Maui News reporter Robert Collias (MIL capsules) and ESPN-Hawaii's Josh Pacheco (BIIF capsules) contributed to this article.

Defending champion Kamehameha and 2011 semifinalists Kahuku and AOP, along with ILH champion and top-seeded Punahou, get set to take on what looks to be a wide-open field at the 2012 Hawaiian Airlines Boys Basketball Championships starting Wednesday.

Here's a brief look at each team in the tournament, broken down by location:

MCKINLEY BRACKET

#1 Punahou Buffanblu (11-1 ILH)

The Buffanblu have not played a game since clinching the ILH regular season title on February 7 and have not lost since January 3. Punahou center DeForest Buckner leads the team in scoring at 12.6 a contest, and is a shot-blocking force at 6-foot-7. Forward Malik Johnson and guard Nick Velasquez provide scoring to the tune of more than 20 points per game combined.

Kupono Fey, a 6-foot-4 center who made a return from injury in the Buffs final regular game against AOP, could be a major factor providing some extra help (and rest) for Buckner in the post.

#3 Baldwin Bears

The Bears are led by senior point guard Gabe Ross and senior center Pasoni Tasini, a football standout who signed to play for Utah in the fall. Baldwin hasn't lost since Dec. 19, a 50-48 loss to Hilo in the Lahainaluna Invitational and have the state's longest current win streak at 16. Ross averages about 15 points and six assists per game, while Tasini goes for about 13 points and 13 rebounds. In one game against MIL runner-up King Kekaulike, Tasini had 17 boards, matching Na Alii, and leading the Bears to a 31-17 team advantage on the glass.

Freshman Kody Takushi is dangerous from 3-point range, while fellow starters Teva Eldridge and Brad Bowlin support Tasini on the frontline. The Bears have eight players 6-feet or taller, led by the 6-4 Tasini.

Hilo Vikings (12-3 BIIF)

Jason Mandaquit's squad relies on quick decision making on the offensive end, leading to lots of outside shots. Guards Jodd Carter and Jalen Carvalho lead the outside attack, moving around the perimeter to spot up for long-range baskets.

On the defensive end, Mandaquit believes that his team's offense comes from pressure defense. The Vikings will occasionally employ a zone press similar to the one drawn up by former head coach Al Malinguis. Even when their opponents cross half-court, the pressure doesn't go away, as traps in the proximity of the sideline are common.

The key for the Vikings is to establish a rhythm early. If they struggle to knock down baskets early, it could spell trouble for a team that relies on confident shooting.

Moanalua Na Menehune (11-5 OIA)

Despite losing all five starters to graduation last year, the Menes are back in this year's field, led by underclassmen Kahanu Puulei-Auld, a 5-9 junior averaging 9.4 points per game in league play, and surprising freshman forward Eliet Donley (5.4 ppg OIA ), who put up double-figures against both Leilehua and Pearl City in the OIA Red playoffs.

Seniors Dillon Turk (7.1 ppg OIA) and Shane Ratledge (4.8 ppg OIA) anchor Moanalua in the post.

Kapolei Hurricanes (13-2 OIA)

The West Division champion Hurricanes look to rebound from back-to-back losses to Kahuku in the OIA Red playoffs. Christopher Dillard and Joshua Wills average 12.7 points per contest each to lead the Kapolei attack. Center Zachery Reeves is a defensive force around the rim and a rebounding presence on both ends of the floor. Point guard Curtis Tavares scored a game-high 19 points, including 5 three-pointers in the OIA Red title game against the Red Raiders.

Kapolei is second in the league in scoring, putting up 56.6 points per outing.

Leilehua Mules (10-4 OIA)

Leilehua' s offense gets going with Russell Siavii (10.7 ppg OIA) and Larry Wheeler-Rutkowski (7.7 ppg OIA) inside, and Cody Halvorson (8.1 ppg, 19 threes OIA) from the perimeter.

Leilehua is third in the league in scoring at 55.5 points per game.



RADFORD BRACKET

#2 Kahuku Red Raiders (16-1 OIA)

The Red Raiders rebounded nicely from a 49-43 loss to the Kapolei in the OIA Red tourney, coming back to defeat the Hurricanes twice this past weekend to claim the Red division title and a seeded berth into the tourney.

Kawehena Johnson, a 5-9 junior guard, is the catalyst for the Kahuku offense, averaging 12 points per game, and forward Mekeli Fiso (11.9 ppg OIA) a steady source of offense in the post.

Depth could be big for Kahuku in the tourney, as reserves Bronson Beatty, Lasselle Thompson and Danny Aki were key off the bench in the league playoffs.

#4 Kamehameha-Hawaii (13-1 BIIF)

The Big Island version of the Kamehameha Warriors has made it a point to use non-conference play to toughen them up. Kamehameha-Hawaii went 2-2 at the 2011 'Iolani Classic, falling to tournament bound Kahuku and California's Bishop O'Dowd.

Their wins against Farrington and Iolani at the end of the tournament sparked a six-game winning streak, spilling into early league play and the Merv Lopes tournament, where they won 3 of 4 games, falling to Science Hill of Tennessee in the championship game.

The Warriors are led by play-making point guard Lanaki Apele. He averaged just over 11 points per game, which was second on the team to Shaun Kagawa's 13.9 points per game. His ability to penetrate and kick, along with a decent jump shot, makes him a threat on the offensive end.

The underrated aspect of the Warriors is the guard play around Apele, led by Kagawa, Kekoa Turner, and Jacob Kackley. Each of those three bring a different dynamic to the hardwood. Kagawa is an athletic guard who can shift through the lane, while Turner is a multi-tool player who can spot up for a jump shot from anywhere on the floor. Kackley is a shut-down perimeter defender who can also knock down an open midrange shot.

King Kekaulike Na Alii (9-5 MIL)

Na Alii are making their first appearance ever in the state boys basketball tournament in coach Bill Naylor's second season. This is the third MIL team Naylor has led to a state tournament, Maui High and Seabury Hall being the others. Sophomore guard Chase Iwata-Bartelme is a key for Kekaulike - in an important 41-39 overtime win over Lahainaluna during the regular season, he had 21 points.

Junior point guard Jansen Agapay had 18 points in the MIL final loss to Baldwin and 6-4 junior Jacob Havron is a force inside for the young Na Alii, who start only one senior in Keita Naito.

Kamehameha-Kapalama (10-5 ILH)

The defending champion Warriors needed a 54-40 comeback win over 'Iolani over the weekend to earn the ILH's final berth in the tournament. Winners of 4 straight games, the Warriors are led by ILH scoring leader Dyrbe Enos, a 5'10 guard averaging nearly 18 points per contest in league play.

Makoa Camanse-Stevens (7.2 ppg ILH) handles much of the ball-handling duties, and can be a matchup problem for opposing guards at 6-3.

AOP Dolphins (8-4 ILH)

The 'Phins have struggled a bit of late, losing 3 out of the last 4, but come in the tournament as the only team to defeat top-seeded Punahou, taking down the Buffanblu at home, 60-51 on January 3.

Senior guard Wilson MacLeod leads AOP with 10.1 points per game, but the Dolphins like to spread the scoring wealth around, with four other AOP players averaging 5 points or more per outing.

Pearl City Chargers (10-5 OIA)

Kailon Sabate, a 5-6 guard, sparks the Pearl City offense, having scored in double-figures in 4 out of the last 6 games, including an 18-point outburst against Moanalua. Paul Perry III (7.3 ppg OIA) and Marc Suniga (6.0 ppg) also contribute in the scoring department.

The Chargers are a bit undersized, with no player on the roster over 6-foot-1.