It didn't take long for the Punahou School girls basketball team to notch Hawai'i's first-ever in-season victory over a Mainland team.

The Buffanblu, who have won three of the past five state championships, ran past Granada (Livermore, Calif.), 59-30, in the first round of the inaugural 'Iolani Girls Prep Classic last night.

Punahou will face Los Angeles power Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.) in tonight's semifinals at 8. Defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion 'Iolani will play another Southern California power, Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), in the other semifinal at 6:30.

This marks the first time Hawai'i's girls basketball season is played in the winter, after 30 years of playing in the spring. And the 'Iolani Prep Classic is believed to be the first tournament matching local teams against Mainland competition in season.

"It felt good, because it's different playing up there (on the Mainland)," said Buffanblu senior forward Shawna-Lei Kuehu, who has played in several Mainland tournaments in the offseason and scored 16 points, made four steals, grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot last night. "At least here we know what to expect, we have family and fans backing us up. It's good for them to get a taste of it (Mainland competition) too."

Kuehu and her teammates looked comfortable from the start, jumping to a 10-3 lead in the first four minutes. Granada cut it to 12-9 with 1:10 remaining in the first period, but Punahou responded with 13 straight points carrying over to the second quarter to make it 25-9 with 4:22 left in the half.

The Matadors never got closer than 13 points after that, as Punahou led 28-14 at halftime and 41-23 after three periods.

"(The Buffanblu) are well-disciplined, very solid," said Granada coach Corrie Mizusawa. "They execute to perfection; they run their offensive sets so well. We're probably one of the top two teams in our (East Bay Athletic) league, so I think they would do very well up there."

Mizusawa is a former Bay Area high school standout but has family here and spent her youth summers training at Dennis Agena's Kalakaua Foundation Clinic. She said she was familiar with Kuehu, one of the nation's top recruits who has signed a letter of intent to play for the University of California next season.

"I'm going to graduate school at Cal, so I know about Shawna," Mizusawa said. "She the best individual we've played so far. She's fundamentally sound, and she doesn't need a lot of shots because she makes almost every shot she takes."

Kuehu's twin sister, Shaena-Lyn, added 14 points, six rebounds and two steals.

GRANADA (CALIF.) 9 5 9 7 — 30

PUNAHOU 16 12 13 18 — 59

GRANADA — Morguyne Martinez 0, M'Kenna Kettenhofen 2, Danika Briggs 0, Liz Reinstein 0, Katie Thralls 6, Ryane Ortiz 3, Trina Torrence 4, Ali Westbrook 7, Erin Codelli 1, Shelby Clay 6, Becca Nielsen 1. Totals 11 8-23 30.

PUNAHOU — Rebecca Lau 0, Brittnie Lau 0, Julianne Nomura 0, Dara Tompkison 7, Anna Merrifield 0, Shawna-Lei Kuehu 16, Ashley Satterwhite 2, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu 14, Janelle Nomura 7, Janet Li 0, Jenny Ching 4, Julia Brand 0, Tressa Torres 9, Tiera Jenson 0. Totals 21 15-18 59.

3-point goals: Punahou 2 (Tompkison, Ja. Nomura).

OTHER SCORES

'IOLANI 51, MOANALUA 29

Leading scorers — Iol: Jamie Smith 21, Chanel Hirata 13. Moanalua: Britni Ronolo 10.

REDONDO UNION (REDONDO BEACH, CALIF.) 44, KAMEHAMEHA 29

Leading scorers — Redondo: Atonye Nyingifa 16.

NARBONNE (HARBOR CITY, CALIF.) 88, ROOSEVELT 51

Leading scorers — Narbonne: Reiko Thomas 21, Briauna Linton 17, Danielle Lenoir 16, Theresa Henderson 14. Roosevelt: Tiana Sugui 18, Dianna Zane 15, Mikela Thoemmes 10.

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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