Trey Ambrozich is having the type of basketball season that his coach knew he was always capable of.

The University Laboratory School junior ranks among the leading scorers in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and has been a pivotal part of the team's success in its move up to the Division I ranks.

Ambrozich, a 6-foot-7, 180-pound forward and third-year starter for the Jr. ‘Bows, is averaging 16.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 blocks per game – all team-high marks.

"His versatility makes him special," UH Lab eighth-year coach Ryan Tong said of Ambrozich, who earned All-ILH Division II first team honors at the conclusion of both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

"I think this year in particular Trey's really come a long way as far as just trusting the process, having faith in his teammates, having faith in himself, having faith in the coaching staff and really buying in and so I think that that has made a huge difference in what we're seeing now," Tong added.

Ambrozich has scored in double figures in seven of the Jr. ‘Bows nine league games this winter, including three games of at least 24 points. He has recorded five double-doubles and came up one rebound shy of a double-double on two other occasions.

"He an ability to play both in the post and on the perimeter. He can put the ball on the floor, he has good vision, he's a good passer and then he can also mix things up in the paint and be physical when he has to – grab rebounds, get putbacks – so he has that versatility where he can play both inside and out," Tong described.

Ambrozich has led the team in scoring in each of his three varsity seasons. He averaged 10.3 points per game as a freshmen, when the Jr. ‘Bows reached the D2 state final, but lost to Kohala by a narrow margin, 40-38; Ambrozich hit a couple of treys in that game and finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks.

The following year Ambrozich upped his scoring average to 14.3 points per game, but missed the final five games of the season due to a back injury. UH Lab lost in the state semifinals at the D2 tournament last February. The injury also forced Ambrozich to miss the boys' volleyball season in the spring, but the Jr. ‘Bows were able to overcome his loss as they went on to capture their first state volleyball championship.

"To lose your best player at probably the worst time at the end of the season, that was a huge blow for us to not have him going into the state tournament," Tong lamented.

While Tong's squad was without Ambrozich's services for a potential repeat run to the state finals, the dual-sport athlete faced a long road to recovery to get back into playing shape.

"It was a process and I think mentally and physically it did take a toll on him, but he's worked tremendously hard to get back to where he is now. When he came back in the summer, he wasn't the same. He was still trying to work through that rehab process and even at the beginning of the season you could see that he still wasn't 100 percent, but he's dedicated himself to his rehabilitation and it's really paying off now," Tong said.

He added, "I think he's a lot stronger than he was just from the summer, so he's come a long way since then and I think mentally he knows that and he's playing at a high level based on the fact that he's getting healthier."

Not only has Ambrozich worked to regain his strength, he's expanded his repertoire and skillset, Tong noted.

"His freshman year he was more of a (small forward), so he was kind of a guard-slash-forward. He played on the perimeter a lot because we had (6-foot-3) Koa Laboy and (6-foot-4) Duke Mobley. That kind of evolved a little last year into more of a hybrid, where he played in the post and he played on the perimeter and this year is just a combination of all of that," Tong said.

He went on, "This year we're having him do a little more as far as being a post presence, but he's also having to be a force defensively and his rebounding has been huge for us. LaBoy is a rebounding machine for us, but if you could have two of them and (6-foot-4) Alika Ahu as well just really cleaning up the boards on both sides of the floor, it really makes a huge difference for us."

Ambrozich is shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the free-throw line this season. Additionally, he has tallied four games with at least five assists and four games with at least two blocks.

In a 66-49 win over Mid-Pacific on Jan. 11, Ambrozich scored 16 points, grabbed 15 boards and added five assists, three blocks and one steal. Five nights later, he went poured in 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting, to go along with nine rebounds, five blocks, one steal and an assist.

"He's really bought into his role, he's really embraced it and he's put in a string of exceptional performances, which is what I've always envisioned of Trey. He has the potential to, in my opinion, play at the next level and so it's just really putting together these pieces and a large of it is having that trust and faith what we're doing and in himself and his teammates," Tong stated.

Tong is definitive in his choice of words to describe Ambrozich's importance toward the team's success.

"Well, to put it bluntly, if Trey's performing at an optimal level, we're hard to beat – we're really hard to beat. We rely on him to have that consistency where he's not just scoring points for us, but grabbing rebounds, blocking shots, even distributing the ball and when I talk about his evolution and embracing his role, he's not looking to always shoot the ball first. He's looking for the open teammate and so the thing about it is for us to be successful, he needs to be consistent with all of that, but also his energy, his effort, his attitude – things that we try to promote and teach these kids – Trey's really going to have to embrace all of that and he has, he really has; He's come a long way and so it's been great to see," Tong said.

Ambrozich kept his hot streak going in three UH Lab wins last week. In a 51-50 victory at Iolani last Tuesday, he scored 16 points with 16 rebounds and three assists. He went for 25 and 13, along with two assists, two steals and a block in Thursday's 56-48 win over Maryknoll. Ambrozich closed out the week in a 69-65 win over Mid-Pacific that saw him log a career-best 26 points with 13 boards and five assists.

"Again, just being selfless and doing all the little things that we preach; He was trying to motivate his teammates and it's been consistent since the beginning of the season and in the ILH every game is a huge game and on any given night anyone can upset a team, so we're fortunate to be in the position that we're in right now and controlling our own destiny," Tong said.

UH Lab edged No. 2 Punahou Tuesday night, 49-48, to extend its winning streak to four games and sits in sole possession of second place in the ILH Division I standings. Ahu notched a game-high 20 points, Ambrozich 13 and Kenna Quitan chipped in 10 in the win. 

"As a team we're fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to play at the Division I level and we were on the fence whether we were going to move up or stay down, but I thought if we stayed down it would really be doing a disservice to this particular group of kids because I thought they could compete at the D1 level. We're fortunate we have the pieces to play at the D1 level, but to compete at the D1 level we're blessed and we don't take this opportunity for granted and we're trying to make the best out of it, for sure," Tong expressed.

Ambrozich and the Jr. ‘Bows (7-3), who are ranked third in this Week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, will face the Buffanblu for a second time in five nights when they visit Hemmeter Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.

UH Lab concludes the ILH regular season next Wednesday at No. 10 Kamehameha.   

BOYS BASKETBALL

David Akiona, Honokaa — Scored 32 points in a win over Christian Liberty 

Jordan Babcock, Kekaulike — Scored 22 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Kyran Canete, Pahoa — Scored 27 points in a loss to Kohala and scored 36 points in a win over Keaau 

Darius Chizer, Mid-Pacific — Scored 20 points in a loss to Iolani 

Bromo Dorn, Seabury Hall — Scored 28 points, including six 3-pointers, with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in a win over Maui Prep 

Regan Fritz-Betiru, Kaimuki — Scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, in a loss to Farrington 

Roman Gabriel, Mililani — Scored 24 points in a win over Kapolei 

Austin Green, Kapaa — Scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Island School and scored 35 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win over Waimea 

Isaiah Harmon, Radford — Scored 21 points with 10 rebounds, two steals and one block in a loss to Aiea and scored 25 points in a loss to Nanakuli 

Camren Holt-Ho, Kauai — Scored 26 points in a win over Island School 

Jayden Hook, Kohala — Scored 22 points in a win over Pahoa and scored 21 points in a win over Parker 

Kawohi Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 21 points in a win over Kealakehe 

Reese Jenkins, Kauai — Scored 20 points in a win over Waimea 

Dylan Kuia, Baldwin — Scored 25 points in a win over Maui 

Samuel Lim, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 23 points in a win over Le Jardin 

Chansen Liulama-Smith, Farrington — Scored 28 points in a win over Kaimuki 

Jeziah Mahaulu, Christian Liberty — Scored 22 points in a loss to Parker and scored 21 points in a loss to Honokaa 

Logan Mason, Mid-Pacific — Scored 21 points in a loss to Punahou and scored 24 points in a loss to University Lab 

Riley Miura, Mid-Pacific — Scored 23 points in a loss to University Lab 

DeMarion Olloway, Kealakehe — Scored 23 points in a win over Waiakea 

Jaizaiah Pahinui-Willets, Keaau — Scored 21 points in a loss to Pahoa 

Tanoa Scanlan, Punahou — Scored 22 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Josiah Shinbara — Scored 25 points with five rebounds, five assists and three steals in a win over Kalaheo 

Kai Shively, Maui Prep — Scored 41 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Kulanihakoi

Kukia Tagabi, Honokaa — Scored 37 points in a win over Christian Liberty 

Aidan Wong, Iolani — Scored 23 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Kiai Yasso, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 29 points, including eight 3-pointers, in a win over Kealakehe 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Pihaeu Akiona, Hanalani — Scored 18 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist and scored 19 points in a win over University Lab 

Khloe Bicoy, Molokai — Scored 15 points in a loss to Lanai 

Jade Brown, Baldwin — Scored 19 points in a loss to Lahainaluna

Gianna Burks, Le Jardin — Scored 17 points in a win over Island Pacific 

Bryia Carenio, Waiakea — Scored 15 points in a win over Parker

Loryn-Rose Carvalho, Kohala — Scored 16 points with nine steals, four rebounds and three steals in a win over Honokaa 

Tyra Carvalho, Kapaa — Scored 18 points in win over Kauai 

Kate-Lynn Colipano, Kekaulike — Scored 22 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Jazlyn Corpuz, Kauai — Scored 16 points in a win over Island School and scored 22 points in a loss to Kapaa 

Melina Cudiamat, Sacred Hearts — Scored 15 points in a loss to University Lab 

Juseana Delatori, Lahainaluna — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kekaulike, scored 23 points in a win over Baldwin and scored 16 points in a loss to Baldwin 

Nihoa Dunn, Kamehameha — Scored 22 points with seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in a win over Iolani and scored 18 points in a win over Punahou 

Destinee Dupree, Lanai — Scored 16 points in a win over Hana and scored 17 points in a win over Hana 

Kacie Febo-Santiago, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 15 points in a win over Pahoa 

Miyah Galdeira, Kailua — Scored 15 points in a win over Pearl City 

Kanoa Gogue-Kahalekai, Baldwin — Scored 21 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Pua Herrington, Maryknoll — Scored 31 points in a loss to Punahou and scored 27 points in a win over Iolani 

Ellana Klemp, Hanalani — Scored 15 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist and scored 24 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Kalia Marquez, Kohala — Scored 23 points with five rebounds, five steals and three assists in a win over Honokaa 

Maesha Muaau, Nanakuli — Scored 15 points in a win over Roosevelt 

Jazmyn Navarro, Kau — Scored 18 points in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Lanakila Nitta, Kamehameha II — Scored 16 points in a win over Punahou II 

Mirianna Pimauna-Beck, Hana — Scored 15 points in a loss to Maui Prep 

Dorian Pokipala, Castle — Scored 17 points in a win over Waianae 

Sierra Ramos, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 18 points in a win over Sacred Hearts 

Makelah Richardson, Roosevelt — Scored 15 points in a loss to Nanakuli 

Taira Samiano, Kapaa — Scored 18 points in a win over Waimea 

Pua Saole, Punahou — Scored 24 points in a loss to Iolani 

Scout Smith, Maui Prep — Scored 17 points in a win over Hana 

Kailea Sokau Masulit, Island School — Scored 15 points a loss to Kauai 

Rayah Soriano, Iolani — Scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Punahou

Alina Stephenson, Kalani — Scored 16 points with six rebounds and a block in a win over Radford 

Angel Stephenson, Kalani — Scored 12 points with 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals in a win over Radford

Shanntay Stroman, Radford — Scored 22 points with 11 rebounds and three steals in a loss to Kalani 

Annastaziah Wright, Punahou — Scored 22 points in a win over Maryknoll 

BOYS SOCCER 

Nalu Beer, Kapaa — Scored four goals in a win over Island School 

Gideon Gonda, Waipahu — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kalaheo 

Asa Hironaka, Iolani — Scored a goal and assisted on another in a win over Kamehameha 

Odin Kiyabu, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Kea Lerner, Kahuku — Scored a goal and assisted on another in a win over Waipahu 

Mattingly Okinishi, Roosevelt — Scored the lone goal in a win over Aiea 

Brody Person, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over Kalani 

Jonah Poepoe, Campbell — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kailua 

Tayte Sato, Kaiser — Scored two goals in a win over Pearl City 

Cameron Sumile, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over Radford 

Kalen Toguchi, Mililani — Assisted on two goals in a win over Castle 

Damon Turcios, Castle — Scored a goal and assisted on another in a win over Kapolei and scored a goal and assisted on another in a win over Kailua 

Kylen Watson, Kamehameha — Scored two goals in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Brennyn Yoshida, Kapolei — Scored two goals in a win over Kaiser 

GIRLS SOCCER

Madie Buczyna — Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a win over Honokaa 

Talin Fermahin, Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Molokai 

Madisyn Meyers, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored the lone goal in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Cheyenne Uejo, Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Molokai