Konawaena's rise as a girls basketball power has been building through player development under the Kona Stingrays youth program.

The Wildcats and Stingrays are run by Konawaena head coach Bobbie Awa and assistant Donald Awa, her husband.

Konawaena beat Punahou in a thrilling 54-50 double-overtime victory last night in the final of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships at Blaisdell Arena.

It was Konawaena's third state title in six years.

Last night's title perhaps started many years ago when the current players were playing with the Stingrays.

Bobbie Awa said the Stingrays take kids from "where ever," and often have to travel to Hilo for games.

"Whoever wants to come," she said. "There is no league so they can practice, practice and practice."

She added many of her Wildcats players start young, work hard and hope to play at the next level. They also work hard during the off-season.

"It takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of commitment," Bobbie Awa said. "They aren't forced to come out in the off-season, but they do because they want to better themselves and better their game. Most of the girls don't come out to just play high school basketball. They are kind of looking to play past high school."

Many of the Wildcats players have been playing together since their Stingrays days, and at least four are related.

Freshman guard Dawnyelle Awa is the Awas' daughter; freshman guard Makayla Awa is their niece; and sophomore guard Thea Hanato-Smith and senior guard Kara Hanato-Smith are her cousin's children.

"A lot of us are related so we already have that bond," Thea Hanato-Smith said. "We like to bond with everybody. We don't like to leave anyone out."

These Wildcats are talented and young. Their starting lineup last night against Punahou — the other girls basketball power — had three freshmen, a sophomore and senior.

Konawaena's top player is Lia Galdeira, a freshman who scored 23 points last night.

She played two years with the Stingrays.

"She had an exceptional tournament," Bobbie Awa said. "I'm so proud of her. She's so athletic. You see good players, but not too many athletic players. She works hard, she plays hard all the time, she is so focused. She can only get better."

With so much youth on its roster, Konawaena should be poised to make another run at the title next year and beyond.

"I think we should be OK for next year," Thea Hanato-Smith said. "We still have upcoming freshmen who should help us out a lot."