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Brooke Samura

Hawaii Prep basketball  •   #23  G  Senior

Brooke Samura gets buckets.

The 5-foot-4 senior guard increased her scoring output each season and through six games this preseason, averaged 33.2 points per game (ppg) to lead Hawaii Preparatory Academy to a 3-3 overall record. She is relentless to get to the free throw line and converted 61 of her 94 free throw attempts.

As a sophomore, she averaged 14.2 points per game and she increased that average to 26.7 last season as a junior. She was named to the All-Hawaii Division II First Team and averaged a double-double, 29.6 ppg and 14.0 rebounds in the state tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

"Brooke has really found herself as being unstoppable when it comes to scoring. Before, she was a pass first point guard, but she can attack, shoot, pass, and defend. She has a super high basketball IQ. She's a complete package in terms of offensively and defensively too, she's scrappy and gets steals. She can guard 1 through 5 and can guard quick guards and the post," said Hawaii Prep first-year head coach Sierra Huebert-Sanchez, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant.

The Kauai Invitational proved to be a good learning experience for Hawaii Prep. Ka Makani lost their first game to Kalani, 39-36, where Samura poured in 26 points, nine rebounds, and four assists but came up short.

"We didn't know what to expect, we were up a lot and they came back and beat us by three. Coming out of that game, I was frustrated with how we did and let them come back. Going into the Kauai game, it was the mentality, this is our game and we're going to run the show and it's our game. The mentality to come out better than we did against Kalani," Samura said in a phone interview.

"She's usually shooting 20 free throws a game, and that's a big reason we lost the Kalani, she shot only two free throws," Huebert-Sanchez said.

Fueled by a desire to get back into the win column, Hawaii Prep pulled out a 59-44 win over the host team as Samura scored a career-high 46 points on 14-of-27 shooting from the field and went 17 for 24 (70.8 percent) from the free throw line. She pulled down five boards and had seven steals on defense.

She broke down the Red Raiders' 2-1-2 press and her scoring onslaught came in transition on layups and pull up jumpers. Knowing that Kauai was aggressive and the officiating was tight, she used that to her advantage. It got to a point where the Red Raiders tried to face guard her.

"Majority of the time, I can beat girls off the ball. Majority of the points were off the free throws and refs were calling it tight. I was taking it to the big girls, they were playing physical and I used it to my advantage to get to the line," Samura said of getting to the free throw line for 24 attempts.

"It was an outstanding performance. It was a back-to-back double header, we only played six or seven. The girls were tired and they were drained. We are not going to let that happen again. We pushed through since the beginning and we had her down for 46, and she didn't let off. She kept taking it to them and they couldn't stop her," Huebert-Sanchez added.

She averaged 34.0 points per game on Kauai. She had a 29 and 10 double-double performance in a 42-28 win against Iolani II.

Ka Makani fell to Waimea, 52-44 where Samura had 35 points despite struggling from the field, but shot 18 for 29 (62.0 percent) from the free throw line in their final game on the Garden Isle and finished 2-2 in the Invitational.

"I was happy with the 2-2 split. But I think it's a good experience for the other girls. It was the first close game (against Kalani) we had this season, what it's like to play under pressure and close game scenarios. We wanted to win that game, but it didn't count but it was good for us to see that. It's good to play new teams and it was a good challenge and it was good to see other islands and their play. We had some good team bonding," Huebert-Sanchez said of the preseason trip.

As the lone senior on the roster, Samura has to blend leading by example and guiding and teaching her young teammates along the way.

Hawaii Prep drew defending BIIF Division I champion and Division I State runner-up Konawaena to open the season. She shot 12 of 21 from the field and 10 for 12 from the free throw line for 33 points in a 91-45 loss to open BIIF play.

"Majority of our girls went home and we played with six girls. Four of the six never really touched the ball this year. The goal against Konawanea was to have fun. The goal was to keep it under 50 and it was the attitude was to chip away and the small goals. That was still an outcome and finding success in little things," Samura said.

On the court, Samura will find ways to score. She has been lethal from the mid range and would find space on the baseline to hit pull up jumpers.

"Once the shots go in, I get into a rhythm, once I make one, I'm good and I know my flow. I like hitting mid range jumpers or off a screen, I will take a jumper. Just getting to the rack, majority of the time it can be a guaranteed foul to get myself on the line. It's mostly mid range and layups. For baseline jumpers, I would drive down the corner of the three point line and if they gave me space, I would take it," Samura said.

One of her favorite players to watch is in the collegiate ranks. She admires University of South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley for her grit, toughness, and basketball IQ.

"I admire her game and how she handles the ball, her IQ is top notch. I like girls who are confident in their ability. I admire the way she plays and because I'm a point guard, you have to be creative on how to get the rack and how she handles pressure. That's what I do when I watch her," Samura said.

Off the court, Huebert-Sanchez noted Samura's passion for Hawaiian Studies and the Hawaiian Language as well as her athletic prowess in other sports.

"Brooke is a good student and she's into Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language. She passed all the Hawaiian Language classes and they made a level five honors class just for her. She's really into Hawaiian Studies and could make it her career and it's her passion. She's a three sport athlete, a standout volleyball player, and a track and field athlete," Huebert-Sanchez said.

Colleges in Division II, III, and JUCO are looking at her, but she wants to see if more offers come in during the season before committing. But for now, it's about competing in the BIIF and making it to the dance in her final year of high school ball.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Naiara Bal, Maui — Scored 15 points in a win over Baldwin 

Adalyn Ballard, Parker — Scored 15 points in a win over Kealakehe 

Aliyah Bantolina, Campbell — Scored 21 points in a win over Kamehameha II, scored 18 points in a win over Punahou and scored 15 points in a win over Sierra Pacific 

Khloe Bicoy, Molokai — Scored 16 points in a win over Haleakala Waldorf 

Tehani Docktor, Campbell — Scored 22 points in a win over Kamehameha II 

Nihoa Dunn, Kamehameha — Scored 18 points with eight rebounds and three assists in a win over Hamilton 

Nora Goldsmith, Parker — Scored 18 points in a win over Kealakehe 

Aubree Gonzales, Baldwin — Scored 23 points in a win over Kalaheo 

Puaena Harrington, Waiakea — Scored 20 points in a loss to Hamilton, scored 23 points in a win over Lahainaluna and scored 20 points in a win over Kahuku 

Tavina Harris, Konawaena — Scored 18 points in a win over Moanalua and scored 18 points in a win over San Juan Hills 

Haikela Hiraishi, Konawaena — Scored 15 points in a win over San Clemente and scored 15 points in a win over Campbell 

Leila Hooper-Phifer, Molokai — Scored 15 points in a win over Haleakala Waldorf 

Veniza Jackson, Lanai — Scored 15 points in a loss to Baldwin and scored 20 points in a loss to Kalaheo 

Justice Kekauoha, Iolani — Scored 14 points in a win over San Juan Hills, scored 17 points in a win over Sierra Pacific and scored 16 points in a win over San Clemente

Lizzy Kennedy, Kalaheo — Scored 14 points in a win over Lanai 

Lia Leasiolagi, Kalaheo — Scored 14 points in a win over Lanai 

Shailoh Liilii, Moanalua — Scored 21 points in a loss to San Juan Hills and scored 15 points in a loss to Iolani 

Jolie Mantz, Waiakea — Scored 17 points in a win over Hilo, scored 19 points in a loss to Hamilton, scored 23 points in a win over Lahainaluna and scored 16 points in a win over Kahuku 

Taysia Molina-Schulte, Campbell — Scored 15 points in a win over Punahou and scored 15 points in a win over San Clemente 

Heather Neumann, Baldwin — Scored 17 points in a win over Lanai and scored 17 points in a win over Kalaheo 

Rheanna Nobleza, Moanalua — Scored 21 points in a loss to San Juan Hills 

Kyra Okuyama, Maui — Scored 17 points in a win over Maui 

Mikela Salazar-Harrell, Konawaena — Scored 23 points in a win over San Clemente

Brooke Samura, Hawaii Prep — Scored 30 points with 14 rebounds, seven steals and three assists in a win over Pahoa, scored 26 points with nine rebounds, four assists, one steal and a block in a loss to Kalani, scored 46 points with five rebounds, seven steals and three assists in a win over Kauai and scored 29 points with 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block in a win over Iolani II 

Darsee Seegmiller, Maui — Scored 30 points in a win over Kalaheo 

Keilani Stewart, Punahou — Scored 14 points in a win over Sierra Pacific 

Rylee Velazquez, Honokaa — Scored 18 points in a win over University Lab and scored 19 points in a win over McKinley 

Jirah Villanueva, Radford — Scored 18 points in a win over Castle 

Ahnastaziah Wright, Punahou — Scored 14 points in a loss to Campbell, scored 16 points in a loss to San Juan Hills, scored 16 points in a win over Sierra Pacific and scored 17 points in a win over San Clemente 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Jericho Adolpho, Molokai — Scored 16 points in a win over Hana 

David Aiona, Honokaa — Scored 18 points in a loss to Radford and scored 16 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific 

Trey Ambrozich, University Lab — Scored 19 points in a win over Saint Louis, scored 22 points in a win over Campbell and scored 18 points in a loss to Kailua 

Jayah Bayol, Lahainaluna — Scored 22 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific 

Mateo Browning, Roosevelt — Scored 17 points in a loss to Honokaa 

Darius Chizer, Mid-Pacific — Scored 20 points in a loss to Nanakuli and scored 15 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Levi Damo-Agcaoili, Damien — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kalani 

Jacques Djurberg, Lahainaluna — Scored 19 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific 

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

Zion Donnell, Nanakuli — Scored 16 points in a win over Kaiser 

Noa Donnelly, Kailua — Scored 16 points in a win over Kamehameha 

Jens Evans, Kahuku — Scored 16 points in a win over Hilo 

Roman Gabriel, Mililani — Scored 17 points in a win over Moanalua 

Miles Hornage, Campbell — Scored 20 points in a loss to University Lab and scored 17 points in a loss to University Lab 

Matteus Ioane, Leilehua — Scored 16 points in a win over Moanalua 

Keaka Kauhane, Kapaa — Scored 19 points in a win over Roosevelt and scored 16 points in a win over Kaiser 

Layden Kauka, Kohala — Scored 26 points in a loss to Campbell and scored 28 points in a win over Waipahu 

Dillon Kellner, Punahou — Scored 18 points in a win over Westlake Christian 

Dylan Kunz, Kailua — Scored 19 points in a win over Kamehameha 

Koa Laboy, University Lab — Scored 20 points in a win over Campbell and scored 20 points in a win over Campbell 

Carson Lam, Kalani — Scored 16 points in a win over Damien 

Mana Lau Kong, Iolani — Scored 21 points in a win over Roosevelt, scored 17 points in a win over Westside Christian and scored 15 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Tevainui Loft, Lahainaluna — Scored 22 points in a loss to Mililani 

Logan Mason, Mid-Pacific — Scored 18 points in a win over Roosevelt

Riley Miura, Mid-Pacific — Scored 17 points in a win over Roosevelt and scored 16 points in a win over Honokaa 

Payton Pana, Hilo — Scored 21 points in a win over Hanalani 

Lauvai Pine, Mililani — Scored 20 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Maddox Pung, Kailua — Scored 16 points in a win over Waipahu and scored 19 points in a win over University Lab 

Tanoaalofa Scanlan, Punahou — Scored 17 points in a win over Westside Christian 

Tristen Scully, Kapaa — Scored 16 points in a win over Farrington 

Pupu Sepulona, Saint Louis — Scored 19 points in a loss to University Lab 

Matthew Shigetani, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 25 points in a win over Kaiser 

Trystin Stevens, Leilehua — Scored 18 points in a win over Westside Christian 

Lucas Summerhays, Island School — Scored 18 points in a win over Kaiser 

Mauloa Tagabi, Honokaa — Scored 19 points in a win over Roosevelt and scored 22 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific 

Noah Takahata, Hanalani — Scored 20 points in a loss to Hilo and scored 21 points in a win over Hawaii Prep 

James Taras, Punahou — Scored 17 points in a win over Radford 

Mano Tiritas, Kaiser — Scored 16 points in a loss to Island School and scored 18 points in a loss to Kapaa 

Trey Toyama, Kaiser — Scored 17 points in a loss to Island School 

Brennan Wastell, Kapolei — Scored 17 points in a win over Kaimuki 

Jeremiah White, Kaimuki — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kapolei 

Caden Williams, Radford — Scored 19 points in a win over Honokaa