A highly anticipated girls basketball season opener between defending state champion Punahou and Big Island power Waiakea last night lost much of its luster barely three minutes into the game, when Waiakea senior guard Kanisha Bello was sent to the bench with her third foul.

With Waiakea All-State guard Kamie Imai already absent due to illness, the Buffanblu proceeded to blitz the Warriors and won, 57-27, at Farrington's Dick Kitamura Fieldhouse.

Punahou, adjusting to the graduation of All-State twins Shawna-Lei and Shaena-Lyn Kuehu, jumped out to leads of 8-0, 14-1 and then 22-1 behind an intense, man-to-man pressure defense.

"With Shawna and Shaena, we had so much talent sometimes we forgot about the little things, the basics," said Buffanblu senior guard Janelle Nomura, who scored eight points, made three steals and had two assists. "This year we have to make sure to do all the little things, like jumping to the ball and blocking out."

Without Imai and Bello, Waiakea struggled to get into any kind of offensive flow and did not score until Tricia Amuimuia's free throw with 2:32 remaining in the first period. The Warriors did not make their first field goal until Amanda Hubbell's 12-foot jumper in the lane with 4:13 left in the half, which made the score 22-3.

"We're not ready," Waiakea coach Grant Kauhi said. "Kanisha picking up three fouls early killed us, and we had to mix up old and young players. I've got four freshmen. But this is all experience for them. It's good to face some tough competition early."

Bello, a transfer from Kamehameha-Hawai'i who has signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Idaho, returned in the second half and scored 12 points before fouling out with 1:37 remaining.

"It's sad," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said about Bello's foul trouble. "She's one of the best players in the state, and everyone wanted to see her play."

Kauhi said Imai will have tonsil surgery next week and could miss the entire nonleague schedule.