Iolani junior midfielder Matt Alexander and the Leilehua junior post Tywanna Abbott led their respective teams to critical wins in league play last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

Purchase image 1 of 1

Male Athlete of the Week: Matt Alexander, Iolani soccer
Matt Alexander found himself in a different role than usual Saturday: that of the goal scorer, rather than facilitator.

Alexander, a junior midfielder, knocked in the lone goal in Iolani's 1-0 win over Punahou in a pivotal Interscholastic League of Honolulu game at Eddie Hamada Track and Field at Kozuki Stadium.

It was Alexander's first goal of the season and helped Iolani, the defending Division I state champion, remain undefeated at 3-0 in the ILH.

"I don't think he scored in the preseason either, but I don't think that's necessarily the primary thing that defines Matt's play," Raiders' coach Chris Lee said of the 5-foot-6 Alexander. "He's had a number of assists this year. He's just a real tireless worker in the midfield, he's got good vision and has done a good job of distributing the ball for us."

In the 53rd minute of Saturday's game against the Buffanblu, Alexander split a pair of defender on the left flank and fired of a left-footed shot from about 12 yards out that scooted past the goal keeper and into the right side of the goal.

"He started the play by stepping in and winning that pass off of Punahou and just through his individual dribbling ability he was able to beat those two defenders and put that shot in front of the goal," Lee said. "

Alexander is in his second season on the Raiders' varsity squad, but came off the bench last season. Lee is hoping Alexander will be among those to help fill the void left behind to the graduation of stars such as KJ Ahlo, who is now at the University of San Francisco, and Tim Leong, who is at USC.

"KJ had that real individual flair and creativity that be brought to our team and I think Matt brings some of that also," said Lee, who is banking of his team growing up quickly.

"I wouldn't say we're young. I would say more inexperienced," Lee said. "We're pretty junior- and senior-heavy, but with all the seniors that we lost last year, we're relatively experienced."

Another new face in the lineup is goalie Danny Leong — the younger brother of Tim — who has allowed just one goal in the regular season.

"He's done a really good job for not playing for a while — like Timmy, water polo is really his sports — but he used to play (soccer) a long time ago and he was actually a good player," Lee said of the younger Leong. "When he was younger I thought he was better than Tim, technically, although he was a little smaller than Tim."

Alexander and the Raiders (3-0) continue their ILH schedule against Damien Tuesday.

Female Athlete of the Week: Tywanna Abbott, Leilehua basketball
As a third-year member of the Leilehua girls' basketball team, a lot is expected out of Tywanna Abbott by her coach.

So far, she's delivered.

Abbott, a 5-foot-10 junior forward/center, is averaging 17.5 points per game and scored a combined 47 points in the Mules' past two games, including a hard-fought 50-48 win over Nanakuli last Tuesday.

"She's gotten a little bit stronger, a little more experienced and she was young last year so she didn't really understand the game, but she's starting to understand it more now," Dumlao said of Abbott. "She had more confidence in herself now and when you play with confidence you have more energy."

Abbott, who has been a started since her sophomore year, poured in a game-high 23 points against the Golden Hawks.

"She played well all-around," Dumlao said. "She scored in transition, she scored on pull ups and she scored in the post, so it wasn't like she dominated in one area. She was balanced scoring, so that's a plus for us."

She also scored 23 points in a 52-46 preseason win over reigning Division II state champion Honokaa back on Nov. 16.

Off the court Dumlao describes Abbott as "mature" and as a "hard worker."

"She was kind of young in her early years, taking a back seat to (2014 graduate) Carissa McBride, but she's being more vocal now and her grades are really good, too," Dumlao said. "She's always up for practice and always tries her best in practice."

Dumlao said the Mules' win over Nanakuli was especially crucial after a 36-27 loss to Radford to open the Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division season back on Dec. 18.

"It was a really big win because (Nanakuli) is one of the teams to beat," Dumlao said. "They've got a good inside and outside game, they have a really experienced coach and they have some good guards."

The Mules will be turning to Abbott, as well as senior guard Jerri Maluyo, to shoulder much of the load this year.

"That's the dynamic duo," Dumlao said of the pair. "They look for each other. Tywanna gets all of her (assists) from Jerri — Jerri always looks for her in transition, in the post — and they're starting to jell, but I think the best is yet to come from them."

Abbott and the Mules (2-1) return to the court Tuesday, when they visit Aiea.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Samuta Avea, Kahuku — Scored 22 points in a win over Mid-Pacific

Denhym Brooke, Kahuku — Scored 25 points in a win over Mid-Pacific

Cole deSilva, St. Joseph — Scored 26 points in a loss to Saint Francis

Logan Earles, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 22 points in a loss to Maryknoll II

Michael Fernandez, St. Anthony — Scored 19 points in a win over Assets

Manato Fukuda, St. Joseph — Scored 18 points in a loss to Christian Academy

Clarence Gathers, Mililani — Scored 18 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist

Joseph Gouty, Leilehua — Scored 18 points in a win over McKinley

Avery Guillermo, Maryknoll II — Scored 17 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission

Jonah Howard, McKinley — Scored 18 points in a loss to Zhejiang (China)

Chance Kalaugher, Kaiser — Scored 21 points in a win over Le Jardin

Chas Kubo, Hanalani — Scored 20 points in a win over Punahou II

Jansen Kupau, Saint Francis — Scored 20 points in a win over St. Joseph

Kelsey Lewis II, Kaiser — Scored 19 points in a loss to Mililani

Isaac Liva, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 17 points in a win over Waianae

Keoua Mahiko, Kaiser — Scored 20 points in a loss to Mililani

Cory Mitchell, Kalani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Wilson

Rocky Mori, Damien — Scored 23 points in a win over Roosevelt

Macjun Otarra, McKinley — Scored 27 points in a loss to Leilehua

Nicolas Palleschi, Hawaii Prep — Scored 18 points in a win over Mount Pleasant (Calif.)

Chanse Ramirez, Mililani — Scored 21 points in a win over Hawaii BAptist

Jake Smith, Farrington — Scored 18 points in a win over Punahou II

Justice Sueing, Maryknoll — Scored 18 points in a win over Moanalua

Pukana Vincent, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 18 points in a win over Iolani II

Boris Vukovic, Saint Francis — Scored 22 points in a win over St. Joseph

Maleek Walker, Radford — Scored 20 points in a win over Christian Academy

Abdel-Kader Ziane, Kapolei — Scored 17 points in a loss to University High

BOYS SOCCER
DJ Aquino, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington

Naia Graham, Kailua — Scored five goals in a win over Farrington

Kalahikiola Judd, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Waialua

Niko Kala, Waianae — Scored two goals in a win over Nanakuli

Boogie Mattos, Campbell — Scored two goals in a win over Aiea

Keola Norton, Kamehameha — Scored two goals in a win over Damien

Joseph-Tiueni Purcell, Kahuku — Scored three goals in a win over Kaimuki

Aaron Russ, Radford — Scored three goals in a win over Leilehua

Stanton Spencer, Waianae — Scored two goals in a win over Nanakuli

Zachary Trevorrow, Pac-Five — Scored two goals in a win over Saint Louis

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Regina Dela Cruz, Kapolei — Scored 24 points in a loss to Aiea

Kaylie Espinas, Kalani — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kahuku

Victoria Kintz, Kaimuki — Scored 26 points in a loss to Roosevelt

Kacey Kuchenbecker, Le Jardin — Scored 20 points in a loss to Hanalani

Naia Leitupo, Kahuku — Scored 19 points in a win over Kalani

Vae Malufau, Punahou — Scored 20 points with 13 rebounds and four assists in a win over Iolani

Ciera O'Brien, Nanakuli — Scored 17 points in a loss to Leilehua

Alexis Pana, Hilo — Scored 23 points in a win over Waiakea

Starr Rivera, Roosevelt — Scored 23 points in a win over Kaimuki

Rose Shimaoka, Kaiser — Scored 17 points with six rebounds and four assists in a win over Farrington

Cheyenne Teo, Kahuku — Scored 18 points in a win over Kalani

Patria Vaimaona, Kailua — Scored 28 points and had eight rebounds in a win over McKinley

Kyra Young, University High — Scored 16 points in a win over St. Andrew's

GIRLS SOCCER
Kamaile Aluli, Kahuku — Scored six goals in a win over Kaimuki

Maila Aluli, Kahuku — Scored three goals in a win over Kaimuki

Helena Ankien, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington

Sophia Aweau, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki

Tia Furuta, Mililani — Scored four goals in a win over Waialua

Tommi Hintnaus, Kaiser — Scored two goals in a loss to Moanalua

Pikake Hix, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki

Kristen Hori, Iolani — Scored three goals in a win over Pac-Five

Kailana Kaeo, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Waialua

Sarah Lau, Kamehameha — Scored two goals in a win over Sacred Hearts

Taylor Marumoto, Iolani — Scored two goals in a win over Saint Francis

Sam Masca, Iolani — Scored two goals in a win over Pac-Five

Jayna Morikawa, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Waialua

Caitlin Tatemichi, Roosevelt — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley

Hope Tsuneyoshi, Kamehameha — Scored three goals in a win over Sacred Hearts