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.Â
It was the first time any of the three had received end-of-year PacWest honors.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
Wyoming whacks Hawai’i to reclaim Paniolo Trophy
Football provides the option to snatch souls or get your soul snatched. The University of Hawai’i football team experienced the latter of the two on Saturday, seeing their losing ways in Laramie continue as Wyoming (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West) took...
Hakas hits career-high mark as Hawai’i handles New Mexico in Mountain West opener
HONOLULU – Service pressure, near-perfect passing and a pretty strong debut in the Mountain West. The University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team tallied a sweep of New Mexico on Friday night, (25-17, 25-13, 25-21), as Tali Hakas tied a...
Waipahu rolls past Waianae on homecoming night, 42-14
WAIPAHU — Jake Garcia and Jayse Braun connected for three touchdowns as Waipahu rolled past Wai’anae 42-14 in a homecoming game Friday night at the Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex. Garcia, a sophomore quarterback, completed 19 of 34 passes for 388...
Hawai‘i heads to Wyoming looking to retain Paniolo Trophy
Hawai‘i returns from its first bye week of the season with a rivalry trophy in tow and another opportunity to get its season moving in the right direction. The Rainbow Warriors (1-2, 0-1 Mountain West) travel to Laramie to face Wyoming (1-2, 0-0)...
Mitchell brings fast, fun rebrand to familiar Rainbow Wahine basketball product
HONOLULU – Meet the fast and furious Rainbow Wahine. The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team kicked off practices for the 2026-27 campaign on Tuesday, marking the true start to first-year head coach Khalilah Mitchell’s tenure. “Grateful,...
Hawai’i basketball rolls into brand new era with brand new roster
HONOLULU – There’s plenty different about this year’s Rainbow Warriors. The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team officially opened up practice for the 2026-27 season on Monday, embarking on the program’s first journey through a new...
At 6-0, Mililani holding strong atop Lasquero’s latest HS Football rankings
Michael Lasquero gives his Top 25 best teams in the state heading into the eighth weekend of the Hawaii High School Football season.1. Mililani (6-0) Previous rank: 1 Last week: beat No. 3 Kahuku, 28-6 This week: vs. No. 2 Campbell Saturday...
Rainbow Wahine Fall to UCLA in Five-Set Battle to Close Lucky Aces Invitational
LAS VEGAS — Hawai‘i came within two points of closing its non-conference schedule with a win over UCLA, but the Bruins rallied late to hand the Rainbow Wahine an 18-16 fifth-set loss Sunday at Orleans Arena. Hawai‘i (8-3) fell 25-19, 22-25, 25-20,...
Hawaii players at center of Valley City State’s comeback bid against Eastern Oregon
VALLEY CITY, N.D. — Hawai‘i was well represented on the field at Lokken Stadium on Saturday, with former Campbell teammates Brayden Medeiros and Tyson Ball providing one of Valley City State University’s biggest moments in a wild homecoming game against Eastern...
Kalaheo holds off Pearl City in heated matchup of OIA D2 contenders
PEARL CITY – Mustangs move fast. Behind another big night of production on the ground and an opportunistic defense, the Kalaheo varsity football team got some regular season revenge against the Pearl City Chargers with a 37-28 victory on Saturday...