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KS-Maui's Schnitzer up for any challenge; Samura filled up stat sheet for HPA in D2 states




Dylan Schnitzer

KS-Maui basketball  •   #23  G  Junior

Whatever may lie ahead of him, Dylan Schnitzer is always up to the task. It's part of what makes the Kamehameha-Maui junior special, as his coach describes. 

"Dylan never backs down at all," Kamehameha-Maui coach Angus Peters III said. "Any challenge us coaches throw at him throughout the season, whether it be handling the majority of the ball pressure, or even guarding the best player on the other team, he steps up to the challenge."

Schnitzer, a 5-foot-9, 150-pound point guard and second-year player for the Warriors, has put his willingness to face all challengers on display over the course of the season — a season that has seen his team surge to its first league championship in 15 years. 

"I think the best way to describe his attitude is, ‘no fear.' No matter what it is, he'll do it and he usually does it pretty well," Peters said. "He's extremely competitive and he brings that competitive nature and he just does whatever he needs to do for the team to get the W; He can fit into whatever role you need him to fit into."

The junior leads the Warriors (8-5) in scoring at 12.8 points per game in league play and is among the top scorers in the Maui Interscholastic League. 

"Overall, he's been having a great season both offensively and defensively," Peters said. "He's not a senior, he's not a captain, but definitely over the course of the season he became another leader, a big leader on our team and I mean, in my perspective, he's been consistent all season and he's been one of our bigger threats all season."

Scoring, however, is just one aspect of Schnitzer's game. 

"He's a quick, shifty guard that handles the ball well. He likes to attack the rim, he's very aggressive and he's a good creator for the rest of his teammates," Peters said. 

"His first instinct is to drive to the bucket, but in the second half of the season he really came around and found his outside shooting touch, which opened up a lot for us with him being able to hit that outside shot because we have a lot of trees," Peters described of lengthy roster of bigs that include seven players who stand at least 6 feet, 3 inches tall. "Everyone on Maui knew that, so him being able to hit from the outside kind of got our bigs a lot of opportunities."

Schnitzer, who is also a wide receiver on the school's football team and a member of the boys volleyball squad, scored a season-high 22 points in a win over Baldwin two days before Christmas. Two weeks later, he had 21 points in a loss to Lahainaluna — the second of three straight losses for KS-Maui. Since then, however, it won four of its next five games. In a MIL tournament game last Tuesday, Schnitzer poured in a game-high 19 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, in a 56-49 win over Baldwin in overtime. 

"That Baldwin game we came out as a team aggressive, but the discipline wasn't there and him being our main ball-handler, he kind of — with some discussion with us as a coaching staff — kind of took it upon himself to be more in control," Peters said. "He had the advantage against who was guarding him so we advised him to get more aggressive."

Peters noted that the Bears focused their effort on the defensive end of the floor on senior guard Poo Aiu (10.5 points per game). 

"They basically face-guarded Poo the entire time and took him out of the game, so Dylan, late in the game — after a few timeouts, a few discussions — took it upon himself to be that aggressive player on both ends of the court. I think for him, it started on the defensive end; He applied pressure, got a few steals and turned those into layups. He was extremely aggressive from mid-way through the fourth quarter, all the way to overtime," Peters said. 

The Warriors needed every bit. They rallied from a 10-point deficit after three quarters with a 25-point fourth quarter to send it beyond regulation. 

KS-Maui came back from down six with 30 seconds to play, Peters recalled. 

"That last 30 seconds was more of a team effort, everyone kind of locked in on D and made big plays; Dylan more so kept us in it until that moment, but obviously he played a big part, especially on the defensive end, where we were pressing the last few minutes of the game and trying to force Baldwin into making mistakes, but it was definitely a team effort," Peters said. 

After the Warriors pushed it beyond regulation, they outscored the Bears, 9-2, in the extra period. 

KS-Maui went on to post a 57-34 win over Lahainaluna in the MIL tournament final a night later. The night after that, they topped the Lunas once more, 47-37, in a winner-take-all playoff for the league crown. 

"This was our first MIL championship since 2008, so the boys are extremely excited and extremely hungry to go even further and we're looking forward to coming up to states and doing what we do and showing what we got," Peters said. 

Schnitzer and the Warriors are seeded third in this week's Heide & Cook/HHSAA Division I State Championships. They will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Maryknoll, the No. 2 team in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in a quarterfinal at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium. 


BOYS BASKETBALL

Leonard Ah You, Kahuku — Scored 19 points with 14 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks in a win over Moanalua 

Poo Aiu, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored 19 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Trey Ambrozich, University Lab — Scored 16 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist and scored 13 points with 11 rebounds and a block in a win over Hanalani 

CJ Bostic, Kalaheo — Scored 18 points with nine rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block in a loss to Moanalua 

Julius Bueno, Maui — Scored 16 points in a win over Kekaulike 

Shiloh Caminos-Cooper, Leilehua — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kailua 

Mizah Carreira, Campbell — Scored 21 points in a win over Mililani 

Colby Casinas, Moanalua — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kahuku 

Noa Donnelly, Kailua — Scored 18 points in a win over Leilehua 

Cyrus Faradineh, Moanalua — Scored 13 points with 13 rebounds in a loss to Kahuku 

Noah Flores Alexander, Lahainaluna — Scored 17 points in a win over Maui 

Gerald Gallardo, Farrington — Scored 17 points with nine rebounds, two blocks and a steal in a win over Kalani 

Jaron Gilmore, Kalaheo — Scored 18 points in a loss to Moanalua 

Kawohi Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 11 points with 11 rebounds in a win over Konawaena 

Kache Kaio, Kahuku — Scored 27 points with eight rebounds, two steals and an assist in a win over Moanalua 

Keaka Kauhane, Kapaa — Scored 25 points in a win over Kauai and scored 26 points, including five 3-pointers, in a loss to Kauai 

Layden Kauka, Kohala — Scored 31 points in a win over Honokaa 

Todd McKinney, University Lab — Scored 17 points in a win over Damien 

Skylar Miyasato, Moanalua — Scored 17 points in a win over Kalaheo and scored 24 points in a loss to Kahuku 

Coby Molina, Konawaena — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Dominique Mose Smith, Farrington — Scored 15 points with 15 rebounds, three blocks, one assist and a steal in a win over Kalani 

Cade Myers, Kauai — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kapaa 

Creighton Ofsonka, Mililani — Scored 15 points with 12 rebounds in a loss to Campbell 

Jonny Philbrick, Kailua — Scored 17 points in a win over Leilehua 

Kiandray Rideout, Honokaa — Scored 29 points in a win over Kau, scored 10 points with 10 rebounds in a loss to Kohala and scored 21 points in a win over Maui Prep 

Joshua Schutter, Kalani — Scored 16 points in a loss to Farrington 

Taiga Sugitaya, Island Pacific — Scored 20 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist 

Mauloa Tagabi, Honokaa — Scored 20 points in a win over Kau and scored 18 points in a win over Maui Prep 

Noah Takahata, Hanalani — Scored 34 points in a win over Le Jardin 

Christian Yagin, Hanalani — Scored 21 points in a loss to University Lab 


BOYS SOCCER

Elijah Dinkel, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored four goals in a win over Makua Lani and scored two goals in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Tobias Johnson, Waiakea — Scored two goals in a loss to Hilo 




Brooke Samura

Hawaii Prep basketball  •   #23  G  Junior

While the Big Island Interscholastic Federation was already well-aware of Brooke Samura's capabilities on the basketball court, the rest of the state was enlightened last week. 

In four games at the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Division II State Championships, the Hawaii Prep junior averaged 31.7 points, 14 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.0 steals to help her team go 3-1 and finish fifth overall. 

"I think states is where she really opened up as a basketball player," HPA coach Shawna-Lei Kuehu said of Samura, a 5-foot-6 shooting guard and second-year starter.

Kuehu, the first-year Ka Makani coach, noted that Samura was in a bit of a slump heading into the state tournament. 

"Brooke actually struggled a bit with her shooting the last two weeks of BIIF competition and for her as an athlete, she knew she wasn't shooting as great as she was in the first half of the season, so coming into states we had a conversation about it," Kuehu recalled. "I told her that there was a lot more the game that just shooting and that still can still have a big impact on the game can be with her rebounding, her passing and by just letting the game come to her instead of putting up shots, but at the same time, I know a lot of that was just pressure that she put on herself because of the competitor that she is."

Samura, as a sophomore last season, was tabbed as BIIF Player of the Year in D2, which put her on a pedestal coming into this year. Looking back on the run that the that her team made to a league title and the quarterfinals of the state tournament, Kuehu expressed that despite the lofty expectations upon Samura, she met each one. 

"I would be lying if I said that our team didn't move with her — because it does — and so she is our ‘it factor,' we don't hide that. We don't hide that at all. We know that she draws a lot of attention because of how skilled she is and how good she is as a basketball player and she did not disappoint at all. If anything, she got more comfortable in her role as a producer on our team and she took a step up in her game since her sophomore season and now she's in more of a leadership role," Kuehu said. 

With only four returnees (of which, only two played significant minutes a year ago), Kuehu knew that she would have to rely heavily upon both Samura and senior Ali Wawner, who averaged 12.7 points per game in BIIF play this winter. 

"Brooke had more support last year from the seniors she had on that team and maybe her role wasn't as defined, or didn't have to be, whereas now she took on this role to be our leader, our impact player and our everything," Kuehu said. "We built it around Brooke and filled in the pieces, but the supporting players have been wonderful and I have no doubt that they'll get more comfortable and start to flourish themselves."

Kuehu first met Samura when she was a middle schooler and regular participant at workouts with Club Paakai, a free community basketball training program for youth ages 10 to 17. 

"I would see her coming in and working out, training and you definitely could tell that there was something special about her. She had the passion to want to play basketball and just a competitive grit to her," Kuehu said. "She had the drive and wanted to be the best, but yet she's so humble and hard working with a good work ethic. I knew she had something special about her and I know that she's slowly unlocking her potential, for sure."

Samura can do it all on the basketball court, Kuehu said. She's also the setter on the HPA girls volleyball team in the fall. 

"What makes Brooke special is she's a great teammate. She's is everything a student-athlete should be, she takes care of business in the classroom, her family life at home and when it comes to being a great athlete and teammate, for her to take on the responsibility of putting the team on her back, putting in the time outside to hone her craft — whether it's volleyball or basketball, it doesn't matter which sport — she's just a great teammate and she puts her teammates in positions to be confident and successful and that's tough, then to show in day in and day out, games and practices; It's not just with the numbers that she puts up and the amount of work that she puts in, but it's the amount of pride that she has in her work," Kuehu said. 

In an opening-round win over Molokai Wednesday, Samura scored a season-high 38 points. She also grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out six steals, recorded six steals and added a block, for good measure. She went for 27 and 12, with three assists and five steals in a quarterfinal loss to Hawaii Baptist the following day and came back with 29 and 11, five assists and seven steals in a win over Pearl City Friday. Samura closed out the week with 33 points and 19 rebounds, three assists and four steals in a win over Sacred Hearts in the fifth-place game Saturday. 

"She's our everything: our leader, our defensive spark, our eyes on the floor, floor general, our scorer — she is our everything and she's taken on that responsibility well working with me, along with the girls just to make sure we're successful and confident in the roles and positions that we have," Kuehu reiterated. "Brooke has definitely been a big part of our success, but the great thing about basketball is it's a team sport and all of them are great and so coachable, so it's been enjoyable this season and I'm just so proud of these girls and how far they've come."

Samura, who earned All-Hawaii Honorable Mention a year ago, was selected by the media and HHSAA to last week's All-Tournament Team. She also received Honorable Mention All-Hawaii distinction in volleyball earlier this year. 


GIRLS BASKETBALL

Nahenahe Alo, Sacred Hearts — Scored 22 points with four rebounds, four assists and one steal in a win over Castle and scored 16 points with five rebounds, three steals and two assists in a win over Lanai 

Aliyah Bantolina, Campbell — Scored 21 points with three rebounds, four assists, one steal and a block in a win over Waiakea 

Julissa Bollinger, Radford — Scored 18 points with 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals in a loss to Maui 

Jacy Anne Dela Cruz, Maui — Scored 15 points with three rebounds, three steals and an assist in a loss to Iolani 

Kaiesha DeWeever, Pearl City — Scored 21 points with four rebounds and two steals in a win over Honokaa 

Nihoaokealii Dunn, Kamehameha — Scored 14 points with 14 rebounds, three assists, one steal and a block in a win over Lahainaluna, scored 12 points with 13 rebounds in a loss to Konawaena and scored 11 points with 15 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in a win over Campbell 

Puaena Herrington, Waiakea — Scored 22 points with seven rebounds and three steals in a win over Kahuku, scored 18 points with five rebounds, two steals and an assist in a loss to Campbell, scored 32 points in a win over Maui and scored 20 points with five rebounds, two assists and two steals in a loss to Lahainaluna 

Maela Honma, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 14 points with 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in a win over Sacred Hearts 

KeanuMarie Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 32 points with seven rebounds, one assist, a steal and a block in a win over Sacred Hearts and scored 31 points with nine rebounds, three blocks and a steal in a win over Hawaii Baptist 

Veniza Jackson, Lanai — Scored 15 points with six rebounds and a steal in a loss to Sacred Hearts 

Kya Kanoho, Kamehameha — Scored 18 points with two rebounds, two assists and four steals in a win over Kaiser and scored 16 points with four rebounds and a block in a win over Campbell 

Braelyn Kauhi, Konawaena — Scored 19 points with six rebounds and an assist in a loss to Iolani 

Ellana Klemp, Hanalani — Scored 17 points with nine rebounds, two steals, one assist and a block in a win over McKinley, scored 18 points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals in a win over Lanai, scored 11 points with 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii and scored 15 points with 12 rebounds in a loss to Kapaa 

Telia Laeli, Honokaa — Scored 12 points with 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal and a block in a win over Molokai 

Jordyn Luna, Maui — Scored 15 points with five rebounds, three assists and three steals in a win over Radford 

Alexus Maae, Kaiser — Scored 21 points with six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a loss to Kamehameha 

Trislyn Maeda, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 23 points with five rebounds, two steals and a block in a win over Hawaii Prep and scored 16 points with two assists, one rebounds and a steal in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii s

Olivia Malafu, Kapaa — Scored 18 points with 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks in a win over Pearl City and scored 19 points with eight rebounds and two assists in a win over Hanalani 

Jolie Mantz, Waiakea — Scored 15 points with three rebounds, two assist and a steal in a loss to Campbell, scored 20 points in a win over Maui and scored 16 points with seven rebounds, two steals and an assist in a loss to Lahainaluna 

Akaecia Mateo, Moanalua — Scored 15 points with five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in a win over Kailua 

Keala Montgomery, Lanai — Scored 15 points with 17 rebounds and two blocks in a loss to Sacred Hearts 

KalysaMarie Ng, Sacred Hearts — Scored 18 points with 14 rebounds, three assists and two steals in a loss to Hawaii Prep and scored 21 points with six rebounds, four steals and two assists in a win over Lanai 

Paige Oh, Iolani — Scored 17 points with two rebounds and a steal in a win ver Konawaena 

Ledjan Pahukoa, Lahainaluna — Scored 18 points with four rebounds, four steals, two assists and a block in a win over Waiakea 

Julian Parado, Campbell — Scored 10 points with 10 rebounds, four steals, one assist and a block in a loss to Kamehameha 

Rylee Paranada, Kamehameha — Scored 22 points, including seven 3-pointers, with two rebounds in a win over Lahainaluna 

Callie Pieper, Iolani — Scored 16 points with six rebounds in a win over Maui 

Kristen Ragasa, Honokaa — Scored 25 points, including five 3-pointers, with four assists, two rebounds and two steals in a win over Molokai and scored 15 points with three rebounds and two assists in a loss to Castle 

Rory Anne Redila, Sacred Hearts — Scored 15 points with six rebounds and two steals in a win over Lanai 

Mele Sake, Iolani — Scored 23 points with 13 rebounds and two blocks in a win over Campbell 

Taira Samiano, Kapaa — Scored 15 points with three rebounds, three assists and two steals in a win over Pearl City 

Sonia Seiuli, Lanai — Scored 11 points with 10 rebounds, two steals and a block in a loss to Hanalani 

Malia Tina, Castle — Scored 10 points with 10 rebounds and an assist in a win over McKinley 

Rylee Velasquez, Honokaa — Scored 11 points with 11 rebounds, two assists and four blocks in a loss to Castle 

Ali Wawner, Hawaii Prep — Scored 24 points with seven rebounds, one assist and a steal in a win over Molokai, scored 16 points with nine rebounds, two assists and two steals in a win over Pearl City and scored 18 points with 12 rebounds, six blocks and a block in a win over Sacred Hearts 


GIRLS SOCCER

Macie Buczyna, Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a win over Waianae 

Jaylee Curran, Campbell — Scored two goals in a win over Hilo 

Marley Espiau, Kamehameha — Scored the lone goal in a win over Campbell 

Mia Hironaka, Kapaa — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kapaa 

Dalen Lau, Punahou — Scored the lone goal in a win over Mililani 

Destiny Look, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Nanakuli 

Solala Nasu, PAC-5 — Scored two goals in a win over Kauai 

Emeli Rubel, Kapaa — Scored the lone goal in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Xevani Salanoa, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Waiakea 

Kelsi Soo, Waianae — Scored three goals in a win over Waialua 

Kristen Uyeda, Moanalua — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kapolei 

Sophia Wilson, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored three goals in a win over Kailua 



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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