Punahou started strong and never looked back last night en route to blowing past 'Iolani, 58-29, in Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls basketball action.

A crowd of about 350 at Hemmeter Fieldhouse watched the Buffanblu — ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media — improve to 4-1 in the ILH. 'Iolani, ranked No. 5, fell to 4-2.

Punahou avenged a 42-38 loss to the Raiders two weeks ago by bursting out of the gate last night and then slamming the door shut in the fourth period. The Buffanblu led 10-0, 13-2 and 15-3 by the time the quarter ended, then began the second period with a jumper by Anna Merrifield to make it 17-3.

'Iolani cut it to 19-11 after Georgette Lopes-Liutolo's 3-pointer with 52 seconds remaining in the half, but Punahou answered with a 3 by Brittnie Lau six seconds before intermission.

The Buffanblu offense was so balanced, eight players got into the scorebook by halftime, none of them with more than five points.

"We looked at video (of earlier games) and we were very predictable as far as the shots that were taken," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "We were getting only a couple assists, we needed to share the ball more. Tonight it was about rewarding the open man."

The Raiders made a mini run early in the third period to cut it to 25-17, and trailed 30-20 after another 3-pointer by Lopes-Liutolo with 2:12 left. But Tressa Torres sank two free throws half a minute later to start Punahou on a 12-3 run that made the lead 42-23 midway through the fourth quarter, and 'Iolani could not get closer than 17 points the rest of the way.

"In our league, there is a lot of equality so in any game, you've gotta come ready to play," said Raiders' first-year coach Marlene Zeug. "If you don't show up ready, you're going to be in for a battle like we were tonight."

Torres and Janelle Nomura each scored eight points to lead Punahou. Lopes-Liutolo, a 5-foot-9 junior post, finished with 13 points.

'IOLANI (4-2) 3 8 9 9 — 29

PUNAHOU (4-1) 15 7 10 26 — 58

'IOLANI — Elysse Tom 1, Tami Konishi 3, Kylie Maeda 5, Saphrye Rezentes 2, Lori Yamashita 2, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 13, Kaitlyn Shikada 1, Kryn Masutani 0, Mahina Haina 0, Lahela Usui 0, Shauni Watanabe 1, Brittany Barnes 1. Totals 9 7-15 29.

PUNAHOU — Kaylin Okuma 0, Rebecca Lau 5, Julianne Nomura 6, Janet Li 4, Anna Merrifield 4, Brittnie Lau 4, Mysha Sataraka 8, Janelle Nomura 8, Ashley Feria 1, Julia Brand 7, Kysa Ludviksen 3, Tressa Torres 8. Totals 18 19-34 58

3-point goals: 'Iolani 4 (Lopes-Liutolo 3, Konishi). Punahou 3 (R. Lau, Nomura, B. Lau).

KAMEHAMEHA 38, MID-PACIFIC 35

Lindsey Wong scored 13 points and the visiting Warriors led 17-4 after one quarter and 26-15 at intermission before holding off the Owls.

KAMEHAMEHA (3-4) 17 9 4 7 — 38

MID-PACIFIC (3-3) 4 11 7 13 — 35

KAMEHAMEHA — Alexis Furtado 8, Noelani Mikami 4, Tia Perreria 4, Lindsey Wong 13, Pomaikai Kalakau 4, Kellsie Crowell 3, Piikea Kalakau 2. Totals 16 3-7 38.

MID-PACIFIC — Ashley Yamachika 5, Johnelle Kapua 6, Jordan Kealoha 12, Taylor Babbitt 5, Keaton McFadden 3, Jenna Savusa 4. Totals 14 1-4 35. 3-point goals: Kamehameha 3 (Furtado 2, Wong). Mid-Pacific 6 (Kealoha 4, Yamachika, Babbitt).

Reported by Carl Fraticelli

ST. FRANCIS 52, HAWAIIAN MISSION ACADEMY 43

Kristen Enomoto scored 11 to lead the Troubadours to an ILH Division II victory.

ST. FRANCIS (5-2) 10 17 12 13 — 52

HAWAIIAN MISSION (1-6) 11 9 11 12 — 43

ST. FRANCIS — Breanne Suyeyoshi 2, Ashley Kawamata 5, Ululani Reyes 7, Roblyn Silva 7, Kristen Enomoto 11, Aja Gample 7, Kealakai Bento 2, Cierra Gauvin 0, Nicole Yuen 4, Ashley Kupau 0, Chardonnay Pao 6, Justine Silva 0, Jasmine Teal 1. Totals 22 6-16 52.

HAWAIIAN MISSION — Rachel Reyes 0, Alana Muller 4, Melissa Mishima 1, Samantha Ramos 9, Tiffany Pinontoan 0, Colleen Uechi 0, Erika Tsubokura 3, Raquel Gonzalez 17, Hope Leao 2, Ana Bechard 7. Totals 16 9-17 43.

3-point goals: St. Francis 2 (Gample, Kawamata). Hawaiian Mission 2 (Tsubokura, Ramos).

Reported by Mark Kinimaka

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com.