Three HPU Sharks selected to All-PacWest teams ahead of conference tournament
BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MAR 6, 2024
SAN DIEGO – The Hawai’i Pacific Sharks men’s basketball team received three honors from the PacWest Conference on Wednesday afternoon as guard Melo Sanchez was placed on the conference’s 2nd-team while Diggy Winbush and Maj Dusanic each received 3rd-team recognition.
It was the first time any of the three had received end-of-year PacWest honors.
The 2nd-team selection for Sanchez is the highest placement for a Shark since the 2020-21 season when Lachlan Viney made 1st-team. The sophomore shooter returned to HPU from the transfer portal this past offseason and put in work, finishing the regular season averaging the 9th-most points-per-game of any player in the league. The 6-foot-4 sniper also finished 2nd in the conference with 70 made 3-pointers this season, trailing only Azusa Pacific’s Ken West.
Winbush, who joined the Sharks extremely late after last season and snatched the starting point guard job quickly, received 3rd-team honors in his first season at the Division II level. The Los Angeles, California product averaged the 4th-most assists per game of any player in the conference for the entire year and 2nd-most after league play began. Winbush also led the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio with 80 dimes to just 43 giveaways while averaging the 2nd-highest point total on the team.
Dusanic was also named to the PacWest Conference’s 3rd-team after a fantastic second season in blue and grey as the captain forward poured in averages of over 11 points, five rebounds and two assists per game on a scorching 62% from the field, all while starting every one of HPU’s 28 contests this season. The Slovenian forward nearly doubled his scoring output from a year ago while posting three double-doubles, helping push the Sharks to the 3rd-best record in the league. HPU was predicted to finish 9th out of 11 teams in the preseason PacWest coach’s poll.
Hawai’i Pacific will take on 6th-seeded Azusa Pacific on Thursday in San Diego, California in the quarterfinals of the PacWest Tournament with tip-off scheduled for 10:30 a.m. HT and will be broadcast on Hawai’i Sports Radio Network, 95.1 FM, AM 760 and hawaiisportsradio.com. The winner will face #2 seed and regular season co-champion Academy of Art on Friday at 10:30 a.m. HT in the semifinals.
The Cougars, who were selected in the preseason as the conference’s top team, are led by three-time PacWest 1st-team selection Ken West and are looking to avenge last year’s performance when APU fell to Point Loma in the title game, 80-68.
High-speed Hawai’i offense on full display in exhibition win over Hawaii Pacific
HONOLULU – Runnin’ Rainbow Wahine. The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team took to the floor for the first time under the leadership of first-year head coach Khalilah Mitchell on Wednesday night, dominating to the tune of a 90-38...
After years of change, HPU’s Maile Salang finds home in Hawai’i
HONOLULU – Before making her way to the islands, Maile Salang was a bit of a school nomad. From Oregon originally, Salang graduated high school in the Philippines. She split her time between two different elementary schools, two separate middle...
Kamehameha-Maui moves back into Top 25 of Lasquero’s Football Power Rankings
Michael Lasquero gives his Top 25 best teams in the state heading into the 12th weekend of the Hawaii High School Football season.1. Kapolei (7-1) Previous rank: 1 Last week: idle This week: idle Analysis: As the No. 1 seed in the OIA Open...
Sharks Weekly: HPU Women’s Basketball Builds on Experience, Unity Entering Year Two
Hawai‘i Pacific University women’s basketball enters its second season under head coach Brent Gibson with a stronger sense of identity and a roster looking to build on the foundation established a year ago. Gibson joined Sharks Weekly alongside...
Rainbow Wahine Invitational Tees Off with Purpose, Supporting Kaua‘i Hurricane Relief
KAUA'I, HAWAI'I – The 30th Rainbow Wahine Invitational is about more than golf this year, as the University of Hawai‘i's annual women's golf tournament brings together collegiate athletes and supporters to help Kaua‘i families recovering from...
Pair of clean sheets help Justin secure Mountain West Defense Player of the Week
HONOLULU – The leader of the “No Goal Patrol” keeps powering up. University of Hawai’i junior goalkeeper Kennedy Justin was named the Mountain West’s Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after helping the Rainbow Wahine soccer team extend its...
Sylvester snags Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honors
HONOLULU – Host a block party, reap the rewards after. University of Hawai’i middle blocker Miliana Sylvester was named the Old Trapper Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week on Monday morning after posting 22 total...
New Mexico overcomes nightmare first half to hand fourth straight loss to Hawai’i
HONOLULU – The devil is in the details. Despite holding a double-digit halftime lead, committing less penalties and forcing more turnovers than the defense that entered the night pacing the country in total takeaways, the University of Hawai’i...
Postgame Notes & Quotes: Hawai‘i Falls to New Mexico After Second-Half Shutout
HONOLULU — Hawai‘i carried a 10-0 lead into halftime Saturday night but was unable to hold off New Mexico, falling 21-10 in its 75th Homecoming Game at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The Rainbow Warriors (1-6, 0-4 Mountain West) held the...
Hawai‘i Looks to Turn the Page Against Surging New Mexico on Homecoming
HONOLULU — At the midway point of the season, Hawai‘i finds itself searching for answers. The Rainbow Warriors have remained competitive in stretches but have struggled to turn opportunities into victories, a trend they hope to reverse Saturday...