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Gavin Pommerenk

Moanalua basketball  •   #5  G  Senior

In one of its biggest games to-date this season, Gavin Pommerenk rose to the occasion for the Moanalua boys basketball team.

Pommerenk, a 5-foot-8 senior shooting guard, netted a regular season-best 20 points to lead Na Menehune to a much-needed 65-57 win over visiting Roosevelt Friday night. The win snapped a four-game losing streak and lifted Moanalua to 4-4 in the OIA East Division I standings this season. 

"It's huge," Menes coach Brandon Dumlao said of his team's first victory since Dec. 30. 

Dumlao detailed how his players – led by Pommerenk – set short- and long-term goals, as well as personal objectives during a team meeting last week. 

"One of their goals was to be above .500 and be above fourth in the East and that win against Roosevelt keeps us in the hunt for that goal," Dumlao said. "Once we have them start to be accountable and setting their own goals, we as a coaching staff just support that. It's not us telling them, ‘This is what you need to do,' it's them having a twenty-minute discussion amongst themselves about what they want the rest of their season to be and Gavin took the lead aspect in that."

Pommerenk is a first-year starter for Moanalua, but has been on the team the past three seasons. As one of the few players with game experience, Pommerenk is in a position of leadership; He was selected by his teammates as a team captain this winter. 

"The first word that would come to mind for me when describing Gavin is fiery. If there's anybody that brings emotion to our group and that energy, it's really him. We kind of go as he goes," Dumlao said. "If he's fully engaged, the group gets fully engaged. If he's feeling it that day, it's on us to make sure we get him the ball, but the guys really follow his body language, his emotion and his energy that he brings from day to day."

It was in that recent team meeting that Pommerenk put his leadership ability on display. 

"Everybody got to talk and say what they needed to say and he was at the forefront of that, which is kind of awesome to see and watch," Dumlao said. 

Like his leadership, Pommerenk's production on the hardwood has grown by leaps and bounds this year. As a sophomore two years ago, Pommerenk saw limited action and averaged a modest 2.7 points per game. Last year he appeared in all 29 games for the Menes and averaged 4.0 points. He scored in double-figures in three games last season, including a season-high 12 points against Mililani. 

This season Pommerenk is averaging 10.8 points per game in the regular season and 11.4 per game overall. He scored 10-or-more points in all but four of Moanalua's 15 preseason games. 

"Honestly, production-wise it's been kind of a surprise for me this year. I knew he'd be a steady force, a steady factor for us but he opened up the year kind of going off. He was averaging 18 points per game for the first few weeks and was doing it in multiple ways, which I think was more surprising for me because coming into the year it was more of, ‘How do we get Gavin corner jumpers?,' but he's been catching it, going off the bounce, floater here, off the backboard there, so he's become more than just a jump shooter," Dumlao explained. 

While Pommerenk deserves the majority of the credit for the work he put into honing his craft, Dumlao also pointed out the contributions of assistant coaches Pakalani Bello and Lt. Col. Michael Wingfield. 

"Colonel opens up the gym for Gavin this whole past year and that's kind of how we kept track of how much work he was putting in. I mean, Colonel would be in there until 10 p.m. with him putting up shots and Paka's talked with him about how to approach teammates and how to lead, so we have the right staff to kind of guide him both as a leader and as a player. They've done a really good job with him," Dumlao said. 

Pommerenk opened the OIA East season with a 12-point outing against Farrington. He notched 14 and 12 points, respectively, against Kalaheo and Kaimuki, but his 20-point effort against the Rough Riders Friday was most indicative of how diligently Pommerenk has worked all year long. 

"The other night he kind of showed what he's been doing all year for us. Even from back in our summer league games he was showing that he was taking on that leadership role and he's really improved to become an all-around player for us, which is definitely a surprise for us, but knowing the amount of time he's put in in the summer and the offseason, it's not surprising actually when you think about it," Dumlao said. "He's probably been the most steady person for us, for sure. We know exactly what we're getting from this guy every day."

Pommerenk has evolved from being primarily a catch-and-shoot guy to a more well-rounded player. 

"From his sophomore year, skill-wise, he's improved probably a thousand percent in my mind. He was an aspiring point guard at first, but then we realized his real skill set is what we say is ‘hunting corners' and knocking down those corner 3s and he's done a good job doing that for us, but his main attribute is commanding the floor – he's basically our floor general both offensively and defensively. His basketball IQ is really high and he basically plays the role of a point guard without being a point guard for us," Dumlao said. 

Pommerenk has been a key contributor on the defensive end as well, Dumlao noted. 

"Defensively he's our communicator. Our theme this season has been communication and we've kind of struggled in that, but he's been the guy that's been most steady on defense as well and he's just a guy that knows what he's supposed to be doing out there. Considering our team being so young and inexperienced, he's been able to just move these guys along and get them to play together. 

Against Roosevelt Pommerenk shot 4 of 8 from beyond the arc and 8 of 18 overall from the field. He also grabbed seven rebounds – including four on the offensive glass – to go along with two steals and one assist. Conversely, he only turned it over once and was whistled for one foul. 

"After our Kahuku game a key for us was to have everybody crash the boards and Gavin's been the spark and the guy who gets us going, so the seven rebounds kind of shows you exactly what I'm talking about behind that," Dumlao said. 

Over the years Dumlao has found that effort is never something he's had to worry about when it comes to Pommerenk. 

"This kid will pretty much run through a wall for you. He's just fearless and even if things don't work out the way that he thought it would, it don't matter, it's on to the next and coming back at ‘em again, so that's one thing that I think of in the three years of knowing him is this dude is just fearless. For such a small dude, he's absolutely fearless," Dumlao said. 

Moanalua and Roosevelt are tied for fifth place in the OIA Division I East standings with one week remaining in the regular season, but the Menes hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Rough Riders. 

Pommerenk and Na Menehune next play at Kaiser (2-6) Wednesday, before they close out the regular season at home against Kalani (5-3) Saturday.

BOYS BASKETBALL 

Trey Ambrozich, University Lab — Scored 25 points in a win over Le Jardin and scored 19 points in a win over Damien 

Josiah Amuimuia, Waiakea — Scored 18 points in a win over Christian Liberty 

Jayvie Arellano, Waialua — Scored 18 points in a loss to Mililani 

Jordan Babcock, Kekaulike — Scored 26 points in a loss to Lahainaluna and scored 34 points in a win over Baldwin 

Jastyn Babino, Honokaa — Scored 21 points in a win over St. Joseph

Jayah Bayol, Lahainaluna — Scored 33 points in a win over Kekaulike 

CJ Bostic, Kalaheo — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kahuku and had 15 points with 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks in a win over Kailua 

Blaise Brumaghim, Roosevelt — Scored 26 points with six rebounds, six assists and two steals in a loss to Moanalua 

Chase Connor, Lanai — Scored 18 points in a win over Hana 

Levi Damo-Agcaoili, Damien — Scored 26 points in a win over Punahou II 

Zion Donnell, Nanakuli — Scored 18 points in a win over Pearl City 

Bromo Dorn, Seabury Hall — Scored 20 points in a win over Molokai 

Kobe Garcia, Seabury Hall — Scored 19 points in a win over Molokai 

Miles Hornage, Campbell — Scored 30 points in a win over Waianae 

Kawohi Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 18 points in a win over St. Joseph 

Kache Kaio, Kahuku — Scored 20 points in a win over Kalaheo 

Jordan Kernaghan, Campbell — Scored 18 points in a win over Pearl City 

Tyson Kuahia-Faafia, Kau — Scored 21 points in a loss to Hawaii Prep 

Layden Kauka, Kohala — Scored 24 points, including five 3-pointers, three assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block in a win over Christian Liberty 

Zion Milare, Maryknoll — Scored 19 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Nahiku Nahale-a, Kamehameha — Scored 18 points in a loss to Punahou 

Vince Obreros, McKinley — Scored 21 points, including five 3-pointers, in a loss to Roosevelt 

Payton Pana, Hilo — Scored 20 points in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Maddox Pung, Kailua — Scored 23 points with five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in a win over Moanalua 

Eli Shibuya, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 24 points in a win over Kamehameha II and scored 27 points in a loss to Punahou II 

Chansen Smith, Farrington — Scored 26 points, including five 3-pointers, with two steals and one rebound in a loss to Kalani 

Taiga Sugitaya, Island Pacific — Scored 18 points a win over Lanakila Baptist 

Jackson Swirsky, Le Jardin — Scored 18 points, including five 3-pointers, in a loss to University Lab 

Mauloa Tagabi, Honokaa — Scored 19 points in a win over St. Joseph 

Nela Taliauli, Iolani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Punahou 

James Taras, Punahou — Scored 21 points in a win over Kamehameha 

Mano Tiritas, Kaiser — Scored 20 points in a win over McKinley 

Rodnyl Tuscano, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 23 points in a win over Assets

Ayndra Uperesa-Thomas, Punahou — Scored 18 points in a win over Iolani 

Kyler Wade, Kamehameha — Scored 18 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Caden Williams, Radford — Scored 25 points in a loss to Leilehua 

Flynn Williams, Maui Prep — Scored 22 points in a win over Kihei Charter

Nixis Yamauchi, Maryknoll — Scored 19 points in a win over Iolani 

BOYS SOCCER 

Jedidiah Griffin, Punahou — Scored a goal and assisted on two others in a win over Le Jardin 

Esken Guarin, Seabury Hall — Scored two goals in a win over Molokai and scored three goals in a win over Molokai 

Andrew Lovell, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Keane Palmer, Iolani — Scored three goals in a win over Saint Louis 

Kyan Smith, Mid-Pacific — Scored three goals in a win over Damien 

Tyler Tom, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals and assisted on another in a win over Damien 

Makana Kamakeeaina

Kahuku basketball  •   #20  F  Sophomore

Makana Kamakeeaina is enjoying the shorter commute to school these days. 

The Hauula-native is in her first year at Kahuku after transferring from Damien over the summer and has been thriving on the basketball court for the undefeated Red Raiders. Kamakeeaina, a 5-foot-11 sophomore forward, ranks third on the team in scoring (11.8 points per game) this season, but her impact goes far beyond her offensive production. 

"She just does what she needs to do in her position and the guards trust her enough to get her the ball, that she'll catch it, so I think overall just her presence in the paint has been good for us," Kahuku coach Artevia Wily-Ava said. 

As a freshman last year, Kamakeeaina averaged 6.8 points per game for Damien during the ILH regular season. She ranked third on the team in scoring for the Monarchs, who were a Division I team last season. The high-caliber competition against teams the likes of Kamehameha, Maryknoll, Punahou and eventual four-time state champion Iolani has served Kamakeeaina well going into this winter. 

Kamakeeaina earned her spot in the starting lineup over the course of the preseason, Wily-Ava described. 

"In the preseason we kind of rotated a lot of bodies in and out, but I think how it worked out (that she made the starting line), it's just her IQ. I've got other girls who are ready to be in the paint and who are pretty tall and lengthy, but I think for her, it was more her IQ because she plays so much basketball so her IQ pretty much fit into the starting lineup," Wily-Ava said. 

Kamakeeaina grew up playing basketball in youth leagues on the north shore. She has reunited with many of those teammates on this year's Kahuku team. 

"She pretty much played in our community PAL basketball league with all the girls who are on the team right now and then they also played club basketball together for a couple years, but Makana probably plays the most basketball year-round out of all the girls. I believe she plays club and then goes into high school season, then right back into club again, so she plays a lot of basketball year-round," Wily-Ava said. 

Kamakeeaina has developed a varied skill set over the years and as Wily-Ava notes, the ability to step out and hit a jump shot from the perimeter is also within her repertoire. 

"Her size is one of the pretty obvious things, but for her size she moves pretty well and then she just goes where she's supposed to and she has good teammates who are going to find her if she's open. She's pretty well-rounded and she'll hit a 3 once in a great while for us, so I think she can step out and catch and shoot a 3, but her presence is known on the inside, for sure," Wily-Ava said. 

As the season has gone on, Kamakeeaina has increased her production on the offensive end. She has scored in double-digits in the last six games and is averaging 13.8 points per game over that stretch. Kamakeeaina recorded a season-high 18 points in a win over Roosevelt two weeks ago. 

"She's been more consistent, she's making baskets and she just fills in where she's supposed to so that it benefits the entire team," Wily-Ava said. "We've got some shooters on our team this year and she's one that will step out and take that shot – because everybody's got the green light to take good shots – so if she's comfortable that she can hit that shot at that time, then she'll pull the trigger on that."

Kamakeeaina recorded back-to-back games with 15 points in wins over Kaiser and Moanalua last week. 

"Her presence in those games was key for us. We're a bigger team and we don't really always get the calls that we wish we would, but it's just all about finishing in the end and just making buckets and I think the box scores pretty much show what she can do," Wily-Ava said. 

Wily-Ava was especially pleased to see Kamakeeaina grab 15 rebounds against Na Menehune. She also tallied a couple of steals and one assist and shot 7 of 8 from the field. Five of Kamakeeaina's rebounds came on the offensive glass. 

"Her double-double against Moanalua was a big thing for her. We were keeping her legs fresh the whole game. Our post coaches would sub her out when she was tired, so we pretty much kept her legs fresh so I'm glad that she made use of that. They'd take her out, let her get a quick break, then she went back in and kept producing so that was a big thing for her," Wily-Ava said. 

As a team the Red Raiders have been a dominant force in the OIA East all season. They are averaging nearly 79 points per game, while holding opponents to fewer than 27 each time out. Four different players are averaging at least 11 points per game. 

"We have a pretty good team. All the girls have good chemistry with each other, the energy is good, so they all just support one another and they're not really looking at who's scoring, they just want to win the game," Wily-Ava said. "As for Makana, this is her first year with us after being at Damien last year, so hopefully she's enjoying it here."

Kamakeeaina and the Red Raiders (11-0), who moved up a spot to No. 6 in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, are the top seed out of the Eastern Division in the OIA Division I tournament, which gets underway with Thursday's opening round. 

Kahuku will have a first-round bye and host either Kalani (5-6) or Leilehua (7-3) in a quarterfinal matchup Friday. Tip off for that game is scheduled at 6 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Shynastee Ahina, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 25 points in a loss to St. Andrew's, scored 15 points in a win over La Pietra and scored 31 points in a win over Island Pacific 

Kalena Akinaka, Kekaulike — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui, scored 16 points in a loss to Lahainaluna and scored 25 points in a win over Baldwin 

Ceanne Baliaris, Kamehameha II — Scored 15 points in a win over Iolani II 

Maile Bellevou, Mid-Pacific — Scored 19 points in a loss to Damien 

Khloe Bicoy, Molokai — Scored 21 points in a win over Maui Prep 

Gabby Bowles, St. Andrew's — Scored 17 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission 

Hope Cacal, Iolani II — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kamehameha II 

Hereiti Casey, Kamehameha II — Scored 22 points in a win over Iolani II 

Jazlyn Corpus, Kauai — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kapaa 

Aiesha DeWeever, Pearl City — Scored 15 points in a win over Aiea 

Kaiesha DeWeever, Pearl City — Scored 18 points in a win over Waipahu 

Lola Donez, Lahainaluna — Scored 21 points in a win over Kekaulike 

Skylyn Fagarang, Kapaa — Scored 16 points in a win over Kauai 

Myah Galdeira, Kailua — Scored 16 points in a loss to Moanalua 

Aubree Gonzales, Baldwin — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kekaulike 

Puaena Harrington, Waiakea — Scored 22 points in a win over Christian Liberty 

Amelia Heimuli, Waipahu — Scored 21 points in a loss to Pearl City and scored 27 points in a win over Waianae 

Elisa Holakeituai, Kahuku — Scored 15 points in a win over Kaiser 

Maela Honma, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 32 points in a win over Hawaii Prep and scored 22 points in a win over Honokaa 

Kiana Hoolulu, Kailua — Scored 24 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Farrington 

Keanu Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 30 points in a win over Hawaii Prep and scored 36 points in a win over Honokaa 

Veniza Jackson, Lanai — Scored 23 points in a win over Seabury Hall 

Mysha Kaliikea-Foster, Kapolei — Scored 19 points in a loss to Radford 

Brooke Kurasaki, Mililani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Campbell 

Talei Laury-Schaefer, Haleakala Waldorf — Scored 17 points in a win over Maui Prep 

Shailoh Liilii, Moanalua — Scored 18 points in a win over Kailua 

Alexus Maae, Kaiser — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kahuku 

Kailanu MacGuire, Lanai — Scored 17 points in a win over Maui Prep 

Olivia Malafu, Kapaa — Scored 24 points in a win over Waimea 

Emma Mangalao, Sacred Hearts — Scored 20 points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in a win over University Lab and scored 17 points in a loss to Hawaii Baptist 

Mahie Marfil, Anuenue — Scored 18 points in a win over Kaimuki 

Hailey Mata, Waimea — Scored 16 points in a win over Kauai 

Dynasty Maunakea, Leilehua — Scored 15 points in a win over Kapolei 

Taysia Molina-Schulte, Campbell — Scored 16 points in a win over Mililani 

Heather Neumann, Baldwin — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kekaulike 

Lanakila Nitta, Kamehameha II — Scored 15 points in a win over Iolani II 

Rheanna Nobleza, Moanalua — Scored 16 points with six rebounds, two steals and one assist in a loss to Kahuku 

Cayden Parado, Campbell — Scored 18 points with four steals, three rebounds and two assists in a win over Nanakuli 

Mele Sake, Iolani — Scored 16 points in a win over Punahou 

Taira Samiano, Kapaa — Scored 24 points in a win over Kauai 

Brooke Samura, Hawaii Prep — Scored 35 points with seven rebounds, one assist and a steal in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii, scored 40 points with eight rebounds and seven steals in a win over Hilo and scored 40 points in a win over Honokaa

Shilee Scanlan, Pearl City — Scored 15 points in a win over Aiea 

Malia Tini, Castle — Scored 15 points in a win over McKinley 

Olena Umetsu, Radford — Scored 17 points in a win over Kapolei 

Rylee Velazquez, Honokaa — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Jirah Villanueva, Radford — Scored 25 points in a win over Kapolei and scored 19 points in a win over Nanakuli 

Shanti Rae Visaya, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored 19 points in a win over Kekaulike 

Kenna Wengler, Damien — Scored 15 points in a loss to Maryknoll, scored 33 points in a win over Mid-Pacific and scored 15 points in a win over University Lab 

Tailele Wily-Ava, Kahuku — Scored 16 points with five steals, three rebounds and two assists in a win over Moanalua 

Tyra Wong Yuen, Kau — Scored 16 points in a loss to Pahoa 

GIRLS SOCCER

Shelby Aoki, Kamehameha — Scored the lone goal in a win over Punahou 

Jadyn Ayano, Kaiser — Scored two goals in a win over Aiea 

Madie Buczyna, Honokaa — Scored two goals in a win over Honokaa 

Emily Daehler, Punahou — Scored the lone goal in a win over Iolani 

Tae Detwiler, Hawaii Prep — Scored the lone goal in a win over Konawaena 

Atianna Tauiai Fuamatu-Maafala, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Kapolei and scored the lone goal in a win over Waipahu 

Faith Hines, Kapolei — Scored two goals in a win over Kalaheo 

Amaris Ishikawa, Campbell — Recorded 10 saves in a win over Mililani 

Deizha Lyn Jacinto, Waipahu — Scored the lone goal in a win over Castle 

Kaelyn Jentsch, Campbell — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kaiser 

Lana Mahi-Murray, Waiakea — Scored two goals in a win over Hilo 

Kaydee Nakamitsu, Kalani — Recorded 10 saves in a win over Leilehua 

Alexyz Nakamoto, Leilehua — Scored five goals in a win over Farrington 

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

Brooke Perreira, Kaiser — Scored the lone goal in a win over Pearl City 

Quinn Quinabo, Seabury Hall — Scored four goals in a win over Molokai 

Kylah Racca, Kauai — Scored two goals in a win over Island School 

Miyah Suster, Campbell — Scored three goals in a win over Moanalua 

Krislyn Uyeda, Moanalua — Scored two goals in a loss to Campbell