Decade of dominance on the line

Few schools have been as dominant in a single sport over time as Punahou in girls water polo.

The Buffanblu go for their 10th straight title tonight — and 12th in 14 years of the event — at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex. They are 35-0 all-time in state tournament play heading into the 6 p.m. tipoff.

Punahou, coached by the masterful Ken Smith, is deep, balanced and talented, as always.

Only Kamehameha, which got swept by Punahou in the ILH season, stands in the way. The ILH dispatched the OIA’s last hopes — KS 5-1 over Kahuku, Punahou 12-4 over Roosevelt — in Friday’s semifinals.

It’s the ninth all-ILH final in the last 10 years.

Kamehameha senior Payton Bosque has a record seven hat tricks in state tournament play. If the Warriors are to pull the upset, she will likely have a lot to do with it. In three games so far this tournament, she has 11 of her team’s 27 goals.

Here’s a list of the active state tournament streaks by a school (before Saturday night’s results). Team titles only.

26 — Punahou boys tennis
14 — Punahou girls tennis
9 — Punahou water polo
7 — Pearl City boys bowling
6 — Hawaii Baptist Academy boys volleyball (DII)
5 — Punahou boys volleyball (DI)
5 — Punahou girls golf
5 — Punahou girls cross country (DI)
5 — Seabury Hall girls cross country (DII)
4 — Punahou boys swimming and diving
4 — Hawaii Prep girls soccer (DII)
3 — Kamehameha boys track and field
3 — Kapolei boys judo
3 — Punahou boys paddling
3 — Konawaena girls basketball (DI)
2 — Campbell softball (DI)
2 — Roosevelt girls judo
2 — ‘Iolani boys wrestling
2 — Punahou girls swimming and diving
2 — Punahou boys soccer (DI)
2 — Hawaii Prep boys soccer (DII)
2 — Seabury Hall mixed paddling
2 — ‘Iolani boys cross country (DI)