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Timothy Dorn

Mililani basketball  •   #1  F/C  Sophomore

Despite standing 6 feet, 7 inches tall, Timothy Dorn is about as unassuming as they come.

Dorn, a first-year starting forward/center for the fourth-ranked Mililani boys basketball team, is in the midst of a breakout sophomore season this winter. Just don't expect him to talk about it all that much.

"He's just very mature," Trojans coach Garrett Gabriel said of Dorn, who is averaging a team-high 15.2 points per game.

"He can be playful and he's good with the younger brothers of some of the kids on the team, but he's just easy to like because of his easy-going personality; He's a very good kid around the community," Gabriel added.

As a freshman a year ago, Dorn averaged 7.7 points per game as a reserve. He scored in double digits in five games, including a season-high 21 points against Waialua early in the year. Dorn was the fifth-leading scorer on a team that went 18-5 overall, including a 12-1 mark in league games, and lost in the first round of the state tournament.

This season, however, Dorn has been at the forefront of the Trojans' undefeated run through the OIA West. He opened the regular season with a 27-point outing against Kapolei and tallied 20 points against Aiea a week later.

"I just think he's very silky, very smooth. He's like a stretch 4 (power forward), but at 6-7 he can protect the rim for us; He's had some nice blocks and he changes shots so we can kind of funnel things to him and do some different things that without someone of that size, we wouldn't be able to do. He's been super valuable for us these past two years," Gabriel said.

Dorn followed up his 20-point game against Na Alii with 16 versus Pearl City and 17 against Waianae two nights later. Last week, in wins of Radford and Leilehua, Dorn had 19 and 11 points, respectively. Against the Rams he made a couple of 3-pointers and also was 7-of-9 shooting from the free-throw line.

"That was a good sign because he's a good free-throw shooter, but against Waipahu he struggled at the line (1 for 7), but other than that he's been pretty consistent and I told him that he's going to get fouled a lot and that's free points, so he's got to make those and be consistent from the line, so we constantly stress the importance of getting those when he does get the opportunity," Gabriel said.

In a hard-fought 52-50 win over the previously-unbeaten Mules Friday night, Dorn displayed his varied skillset despite being held below his scoring average. Dorn shot 5 of 8 from the field, but also grabbed 11 rebounds to record a double-double. He also notched three steals, two blocks and two assists against just one turnover; Dorn was whistled for only one personal foul in the win.

"He's more of an all-around player than people give him credit for. He's had to guard smaller guards and he knows how to guard them without fouling. I don't like when he's away from the basket because he does rebound well when he's around the basket, so we try to keep him in there as much as possible, not only for his size and rim protection, but because he's smart enough to play without fouling, to get in there and get rebounds because of his size," Gabriel said.

Gabriel detailed some of Dorn's growth and development since his freshman season.

"Midway through his freshman year he started to really pick up what we were doing. We went back and forth whether or not he should start because of his size, but he was weaker so it was a little harder last year, but he picked up weight and strength and he got in the weight room but once he picked that understanding up last year he became super valuable for us, even from last year but more so this year," Gabriel said.

With the Trojans having graduated three of their top four scorers from a year ago – including All-OIA West selections Jayden Kipapa (first team), Creighton Ofsonka (second team) and J Marxen (third team) – Gabriel knew that much of the production would have to come from returnees the likes of Dorn and junior Roman Gabriel.

"We knew Tim would have to step up his game, not only from the scoring standpoint, but also defensively and he's shown that. This last game against Leilehua, he knew he struggled offensively, but he said so himself that if it's not working out offensively, he's got to help the team in other ways and he takes that to heart," Gabriel added.

Beyond his basketball abilities, Dorn was also tasked with serving in a leadership role as a team captain this season. Gabriel, along with his coaching staff, select the captains each year.

"He showed glimpses of that last year. Even as a freshman, he was just very positive with the guys, very optimistic. There were several seniors last year but he had a maturity level that was older than bring a freshman so I'm not surprised because he's a good leader," Gabriel said, "and he can play – it's not only that he's 6-7."

Dorn, along with senior center Lauvai Pine – who scored a team-high 19 points against Leilehua Friday – share captain duties for the Trojans.

"We always stress with them that they have to dictate what they want. They're the captains and it's their team and Tim's been more vocal – I hear him talking more – and even though he and (Pine) are talkers, they like to lead more through their actions. There are times that they have to be the voice of the team because, as I tell them, ‘A lot of these guys depend on you, not only for your play and your actions on the court, but when the team is not doing well they look to you, to hear your voice' and that it doesn't always have to come from the coaches because it's just more meaningful coming from them and he's done that and he's very positive in the way that he does it, so he has a knack of doing that and I'm bias, but I think he's very special, easily a top-five player in the state," Gabriel declared.

Dorn and the Trojans (19-4 overall, 10-0 league) will be the top seed out of the Western Division in next week's OIA Division I tournament. They have a bye into the quarterfinals of the 12-team bracket and will host either West fifth-seed Radford or East fourth-seed Kalani on Feb. 7.

BOYS BASKETBALL 

Trotter Apo, Baldwin — Scored 21 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Blaize Arakawa, Saint Louis II — Scored 18 points in a loss to Damien 

Josiah Auffhammer, Kihei Charter — Scored 24 points in a loss to Maui Prep 

Jordan Babcock, Kekaulike — Scored 29 points in a loss to Lahainaluna 

Blaise Brumaghim, Roosevelt — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kaimuki 

Dawson Calhoun, Radford — Scored 18 points in a loss to Mililani 

Darius Chizer, Mid-Pacific — Scored 18 points in a loss to Punahou 

Levi Damo-Agcaoili, Damien — Scored 22 points in a win over Hanalani and scored 24 points in a win over Saint Louis II 

Jacques Djurberg, Lahainaluna — Scored 21 points in a win over Kekaulike 

Josh Ellis, Campbell — Scored 21 points in a win over Waialua 

Reef Hangai, Iolani II — Scored 20 points in a loss to Le Jardin 

Kawohi Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 20 points in a win over Pahoa and scored 23 points in a win over Hilo 

Keenan Kahoekapu, Kalaheo — Scored 26 points in a win over Kaiser 

Keaka Kauhane, Kapaa — Scored 24 points in a win over Kauai 

Kai Kimhan, Le Jardin — Scored 22 points in a win over Iolani II 

Kache Kaio, Kahuku — Scored 26 points in a loss to Kailua 

Layden Kauka, Kohala — Scored 23 points with three rebounds, three steals and a block in a win over Waiakea and scored 17 points with six steals, five rebounds, four assists and one block in a win over Kau 

Kalil Kubinski, Kekaulike — Scored 20 points in a loss to Lahainaluna 

Dylan Kuia, Baldwin — Scored 18 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Ikena Leao, Hilo — Scored 25 points in a win over Honokaa 

Bruce Lee, Hawaii Prep — Scored 24 points in a loss to Konawaena 

Jeziah Mahaulu, Christian Liberty — Scored 32 points in a win over St. Joseph 

Zion Milare, Maryknoll — Scored 18 points with three rebounds, two assists and one steal in a win over Kamehameha and scored 19 points in a win over Saint Louis 

Stefan Ognjanovic, Aiea — Scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Waianae 

Giovanni Olivia, Le Jardin — Scored 25 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist 

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

Lauvai Pine, Mililani — Scored 19 points with six rebounds, one assist and a block in a win over Leilehua 

Cash Prettyman, Konawaena — Scored 19 points in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Maddox Pung, Kailua — Scored 24 points in a win over Kaimuki 

Eli Shibuya, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 21 points in a win over Maryknoll II, scored 18 points in a loss to University Lab and scored 35 points in a loss to Le Jardin 

Taiga Sugitaya, Island Pacific — Scored 23 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist 

Lucas Summerhays, Island School — Scored 18 points in a loss to Waimea 

Jackson Swirsky, Le Jardin — Scored 20 points in a win over Iolani II 

Noah Takahata, Hanalani — Scored 22 points in a loss to Kamehameha II 

Aiden Takeuchi, Punahou II — Scored 24 points in a win over Saint Louis II 

James Taras, Punahou — Scored 25 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Kyler Wade, Kamehameha — Scored 15 points with 11 rebounds in a loss to Maryknoll

Caden Williams, Radford — Scored 18 points in a loss to Mililani 

Twain Wilson, Leilehua — Scored 21 points with two rebounds, two steals and one block in a loss to Mililani 

BOYS SOCCER

Jackson Cosner, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Kapolei 

Caleb Ishizaka, Mililani — Scored a goal and assisted on another in a win over Campbell 

Manoa Joao Monteiro, Pearl City — Scored a goal and assisted on another in a win over Roosevelt and scored two goals in a win over Kalani 

Keoni Kalulu, Leilehua — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington 

Justin Katayama, Castle — Scored one goal and assisted on two others in a win over Waipahu 

Max Lozada, Seabury Hall — Scored three goals in a win over Kihei Charter 

Cody Mar, Campbell — Scored three goals in a win over Kaiser 

Rider MacMillan, Castle — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua and scored two goals in a win over Waipahu 

Zamonte Miller, Leilehua — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington

Katin Oh, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a win over Kaiser 

Shane Oyama, Konawaena — Scored two goals in a win over Parker 

Sye Sandobal, Aiea — Scored two goals in a loss to Kaiser 

Zackary Sutcharitkul, Leilehua — Scored the lone goal in a win over McKinley 

Logan Transfiguration, Waipahu — Scored two goals and assisted on another in a win over McKinley 

Kaeden Tunupopo, Campbell — Recorded 11 saves in a loss to Mililani 

Damon Turcios, Castle — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua 

Lola Donez

Lahainaluna basketball  •   #10  G  Senior

Lola Donez is putting together quite the special senior season for the Lahainaluna girls basketball team.

The 5-foot-11 guard leads all Division I players statewide with nearly 27 points per game this winter, but the numbers only tell part of the story for Donez and the 10th-ranked Lunas.

After a couple of years in California – where she earned just about every accolade she could as a standout for Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) – Donez returned to the Valley Isle for her final season of prep hoops.

Three days after Donez moved back, her hometown of Lahaina suffered immeasurable damage as a result of the Aug. 8 wildfires, which to-date has claimed the lives of more than 100 people and wiped away hundreds of homes in West Maui.

"We told her that we would understand if she had to leave and go play somewhere else and she said, ‘Coach, this is even more reason I have to stay for my community. It's not about basketball anymore, but about being here with my friends and family and trying to help in any way that I can,' and she's done that," Lahainaluna coach Iolani Kaniho said of Donez, who left the state for the mainland due to the COVID pandemic.

Donez picked up honors that ranged from All-Ventura Country to All-State and earned Player of the Year recognition in the league that her school competed in. She eventually was picked up by Jason Kidd Select, an elite-level AAU team, and was the LA Daily News' Breakout Player of the Year in 2023.

"When COVID happened she did what she had to do and went up to California, played a couple of years there and got some accolades with her summer travel and got her (college scholarship) offers and decided that her heart was here and she wanted to come home for her senior year and we were blessed that she made that decision and everything is working out for us right now," Kaniho said.

Donez, who grew up playing in the youth leagues of Maui, gave a verbal commitment to the University of California, Berkeley. She signed her National Letter of Intent with the Golden Bears in November.

"She's probably the best player I've ever seen and I've been around for a while," Kaniho stated.

"She has elite handles, nobody can press her. Teams tried to press us a couple times earlier in the year and she just destroys presses by herself. She's a three-level scorer: She can score at the rim, she has probably the best mid-range game I've ever seen – inside of 15 feet she's probably a 90-percent shooter – and she's added the 3 ball this year. She'll do whatever is necessary, but for us we need her to score. She's also an elite defender and she's the one we put on the other team's top player," Kaniho added.

Before Donez returned, however, the outlook for the season was bleak to say the least for the Lunas. Kaniho noted that even before the devastation caused by the fires, he was slated to lose 10 of 11 players from last year's roster, including Maui Interscholastic League Player of the Year Tavina Harris, who transferred to Konawaena. Two others transferred to King Kekaulike, another to Kapaa.

"We lost everybody," Kaniho recalled. "We had one returner in Juseana (Rae Delatori) so we didn't think we would even have a season, so after Lola decided to come home, we were like, ‘OK, now I guess we gotta find a team.' "

Kaniho explained that when Donez left Maui, several of her then-teammates stopped playing basketball. Upon her return, however, she coaxed them out of ‘retirement' and back onto the hardwood.

"She's a heck of a recruiter," Kaniho laughed. "She talked to a couple of players and somehow got eight girls to come and everything seems to be working out right now.

Donez was an easy selection as a team captain, but really her reach extends beyond the Lahainaluna teammates.

"COVID shut down our local (youth) league and it never reopened, so there's no bridge from our newer players and she's pretty much been the bridge that's kind of linking our past to our future. She grew up with us and by coming back she's helping to restart our youth program. The younger kids come to our practice and they all follow her around and she works with them, hugs them, loves all of them, goes to their middle school games, so it's not just the games but everything she's done affects the people around her. She packs the stands, people come to watch her and it's been a great thing, especially with all the things that happened here there's just nothing to cheer for right now, but her and our team doing so well right now hopefully allows people to take their minds off of things like that," Kaniho expressed.

Donez has scored no fewer than 18 points in any of her team's 12 games in MIL play this year. She dropped 30 points on Maui High back on Dec. 15 and tallied 39 points against Baldwin on Jan. 5. Donez drained a half-dozen 3-pointers in the win over the Bears, but she managed to better that mark this past Friday, when she drained seven treys – all of them before halftime – and set a school record with 43 points in a win over Kekaulike.

"She had 33 (points) in the first half and I kind of knew she was pumped up because it was senior night and it was a packed house and she's always been one of those players that when the lights come on, she shines the brightest," Kaniho said.

Even though she accounted for 43 of her team's 81 points against Na Alii, Donez didn't do it by playing selfishly.

"She could have went for more but we have a couple of seniors that don't score much and so she was just giving them the ball, trying to get them points and the thing about her is, she's a heck of a player – there's lots of good players, but not all of those players can make everyone around them better and that's what makes her special, is she makes everyone around her better. She tries her best to get her teammates the ball and she celebrates her teammates' successes more than she celebrates her own," Kaniho said.

As expected, opposing teams have thrown just about every defense imaginable at Donez.

"She's faced box-and-one or triangle-and-two every game this season and she's still scoring 27 (points) a game. Guys are full denying her and they still cannot stop her. Her vision is unreal and because of her, we're getting everyone else open," Kaniho said.

After it dropped its first game of the MIL season – 48-38 at Kamehameha-Maui back on Dec. 5 – Lahainaluna has won its next 11 and is in the driver's seat for a 19th consecutive MIL championship.

"It's been an interesting season with a lot of ups and downs and a lot of stuff to unpack," Kaniho reflected.

The Lunas typically begin their preseason training in September, but didn't even have all five starters together for a practice until two weeks for their first tournament this winter.

"Several times this season we had girls miss practice because they had to get relocated from the hotel they were staying at. Three girls on the team lost everything: no house, no car, no nothing. So the fact that these girls still come to practice every day with a smile on their face is pretty amazing. When we put out a team, it wasn't about winning but just giving people something to take their minds off things and that's what I'm most proud of and that's what is making this season so special, how these girls responded and the way Lola is leading this group is just amazing," Kaniho said.

Donez and the Lunas can wrap up the MIL title and a first-round bye at the state tournament with a win over Maui Tuesday night.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Kalena Akinaka, Kekaulike — Scored 24 points in a win over Maui and scored 21 points in a win over Baldwin

Kate-Lynn Calipano, Kekaulike — Scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Baldwin 

Juseana Rae Delatori, Lahainaluna — Scored 21 points in a win over Kekaulike 

Nihoa Dunn, Kamehameha — Scored 17 points with six rebounds and four steals in a win over Punahou 

Skylyn Fagarang, Kapaa — Scored 19 points in a win over Kauai 

Miyah Galdeira, Kailua — Scored 18 points in a win over Nanakuli 

Puaena Harrington, Waiakea — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Keanu Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 20 points in a win over Waiakea 

Veniza Jackson, Lanai — Scored 23 points in a win over Haleakala Waldorf

Kristle Kagawa, Mid-Pacific — Scored 19 points in a loss to Sacred Hearts 

Ellana Klemp, Hanalani — Scored 20 points in a win over Sacred Hearts 

Olivia Malafu, Kapaa — Scored 22 points in a win over Kauai and scored 19 points in a win over Waimea 

Akaecia Mateo, Moanalua — Scored 18 points with four rebounds, one assist and a steal in a win over Mililani 

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

Rylee Paranada, Kamehameha — Scored 17 points in a win over Punahou 

Hailey Perez, Maryknoll — Scored 21 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over University Lab 

Makelah Richardson, Roosevelt — Scored 31 points in a loss to Pearl City 

Taira Samiano, Kapaa — Scored 26 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Kauai 

Brooke Samura, Hawaii Prep — Scored 24 points with 11 rebounds, 12 steals and four assists in a win over Christian Liberty and scored 43 points in a win over Kohala 

Shilee Scanlan, Pearl City — Scored 19 points in a win over Roosevelt 

Adriana Soriano, Kohala — Scored 17 points in a loss to Hawaii Prep 

Rylee Velazquez, Honokaa — Scored 38 points in a win over Kau 

Jasmine Williams, Iolani II — Scored 17 points in a win over Punahou II 

Tuisila Wily-Ava, Kahuku — Scored 17 points in a win over Leilehua

Kaia Yamashita, Molokai — Scored 20 points in a win over Hana 

Hayden Yee, Sacred Hearts — Scored 21 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

GIRLS SOCCER

Anuhea Ilae, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Kamehameha 

Lana Mahi-Murray, Waiakea — Scored three goals in a win over Kealakehe 

Kryslynn Nabarro, Hilo — Scored three goals in a win over Konawaena 

Xehlia Salanoa, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Kamehameha