Cougars senior has eyes on coaching basketball

Three weeks ago, Washington State senior Dawnyelle Awa sat in a hotel room in Los Angeles with the Cougars’ women’s basketball coaching staff.

They watched intently on the computer as Konawaena wrapped up its second straight girls basketball state championship with a 44-34 win over Maryknoll.

Awa was obviously pumped up as a Konawaena alumna. Her mother, Bobbie, is the Wildcats’ coach, and it was the first back-to-back state titles for Konawaena since Dawnyelle’s junior and senior seasons.

The WSU coaching staff was pretty excited as well. Coach June Daugherty has built an impressive pipeline to the Big Island, which fed her Awa and Lia Galdeira in 2012 and will again boost the Washington State program next season when reigning state player of the year Chanelle Molina joins the team.

When asked about that evening in a phone interview on Monday, Awa, whose father is the coach of the boys basketball team, couldn’t help herself.

Coaching is in her blood, and instead of sharing her happiness for her mom’s success or her alma mater’s victory, she immediately broke it down like she was preparing to coach the team next season.

“Maryknoll’s obviously a team to look out for in the future,” was Awa’s first response about the game. “They have a lot of young players who played really good.”

It’s the way it goes with this family, which has made the last week a little uncomfortable for the 5-foot-9 senior captain.

Awa, who tends to deflect the individual accolades and praise away from her as much as possible, has received a lot of attention and recognition for her outstanding four-year career recently.

With mom and dad in attendance, she was one of four seniors honored after her final regular-season home game on Saturday.

It marked the 108th consecutive game started by Awa, who will surpass 3,000 career minutes on the court in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament on Thursday against Southern California.

She ranks sixth on the school’s career assists list with 352 and will finish in the top five in both career starts and career games played.

Washington State finished ninth in the conference with a 5-13 record after starting the year 9-2 in preseason, but has won two of its last three.

Awa points to those games as reasons for optimism heading into a tournament that could mark the end of her collegiate career.

“We’ve obviously had a tough season, losing a lot of games, but I think we’re playing our best right now and that matters most,” Awa said. “I do believe we’re finally putting it all together.”

Awa’s seen her playing time decrease roughly six minutes per game this season but is still putting up career-high numbers of 6.0 points and 1.7 steals. She is shooting a career-best 41.7 percent (20-for-48) from 3.

“The numbers may look good that I’m starting all of the time, but I play an equal amount of minutes as the other point guard on the team,” Awa said. “Everyone on our team contributes really well.”

There’s that coachspeak again. Even when pressed to praise herself and reflect on all of her accomplishments the past four years, she refused.

When the season ends, she’s already lined up a spot in the WBCA coaching program in April and has an internship set up with the BIIF this summer. She may get an opportunity to play overseas, but it just seems like that coaching lure is too strong.

This week might be the last chance for her parents to do any more on-the-court coaching with their daughter, and “trust me,” as Awa puts it, they are both getting in all of the little pointers and tidbits they can.

“Oh yeah, they haven’t stopped coaching me from far, you know that,” Awa said. “They’re driving over (to Seattle for the Pac-12 tournament on Tuesday) to watch. I’m sure they’ll have stuff to say after the game.”

The game against No. 9 seed USC is at 4 p.m. on Thursday and will be shown on the Pac-12 Network.

AROUND THE NATION

Maeda, Poe on All-NWC team

The Whitman (Wash.) basketball duo of forward Hailey Ann Maeda and guard Casey Poe were named to the All-Northwest Conference second team last Tuesday.

Maeda, a 2011 Punahou alumna, ended her career averaging career highs of 9.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She also set a single-season mark for total assists with 41 and shot 72 percent from the free-throw line.

Maeda had four double-doubles, including three in a four-game stretch, and finished with 13 double-digit scoring performances and seven double-digit rebounding games.

Poe, a 2014 Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate, averaged a team-high 11.8 points per game in her first season as a starter and added 71 assists.

The Missionaries’ season ended Thursday in the semifinals of the NWC tournament.

Poe hit a running jumper with seven seconds left to force overtime, but Whitman eventually lost to Puget Sound 84-79.

Poe finished with 13 points, six assists, four rebounds and a block in 37 minutes, while Maeda had 12 points, seven rebounds and an assist in 32 minutes before fouling out.

Zarka to defend NCAA D-III title

Kenyon College (Ohio) senior Maria Zarka is on the verge of defending her 2015 NCAA Division III 1-meter diving championship after winning the event at the Central Regional Diving Championship on Saturday in Granville, Ohio.

The 2012 Kalaheo alumna won the 3-meter diving event earlier and completed the regional sweep scoring a 454.75 in the 1-meter.

She peaked in the 1-meter event when she performed three straight dives with a 2.4 degree of difficulty. She tallied her best score of 50.40 on any individual dive performing a 1 1/2 somersault pike.

Zarka will compete in both events at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships on March 16 in Greensboro, N.C.

Baseball

>> KJ Harrison, Punahou ’14: The Oregon State first baseman finished 6-for-16 with a double, triple, six runs scored and two RBIs to help the Beavers go 4-0 at a tournament in Surprise, Ariz.

>> Corey Nakakura, ‘Iolani ’15: The Northern Colorado right-hander tossed 31⁄3 innings of shutout relief, allowing one hit with no walks and four strikeouts in a 3-2 win over CSUN on Sunday to salvage a game in the series.

>> Ryan Yamane, Punahou ’11: The Northern Colorado second baseman singled and scored twice in the 3-2 win over CSUN.

>> Tyler Yamaguchi, Mid-Pacific ’15: The Northern Colorado third baseman doubled home the deciding run and was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI in the win over CSUN.

>> Cal Muramaru, Mid-Pacific ’14: The Puget Sound sophomore outfielder went 5-for-14 with a double, homer, four runs and three RBIs as the Loggers lost two of three against Linfield (Ore.) over the weekend.

>> Nickolas Alarcio, Mid-Pacific ’12: The Puget Sound senior rightfielder went 3-for-11 with a homer, three runs and two RBIs in the series against Linfield.

>> James Dejesus, Kamehameha ’14: The Puget Sound sophomore centerfielder hit .400 (4-for-10) with a triple, four RBIs and a stolen base against the Wildcats.

>> Kian Kurokawa, Hilo ’13: The Puget Sound right-hander closed out the Loggers’ only win of the series against the Wildcats, tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning in a 9-5 win on Saturday.

>> Kekoa Kaulukukui, Moanalua ’12: The Linfield junior went 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI in the 9-5 loss to Puget Sound.

>> Ashkon Kuhaulua, Kamehameha ’07: The Menlo (Calif.) College right-hander struck out 13 in 71⁄3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with three walks in a 2-1 loss in 10 innings to Shawnee State on Friday.

>> Dane Fujinaka, Mid-Pacific ’11: The Menlo College catcher finished 4-for-8 with a walk and three RBIs as the Oaks took three of four against Shawnee State over the weekend.

>> Alika McGuire, Kamehameha ’12: The Westmont (Calif.) College center fielder hit .333 (4-for-12) with two walks, two runs and an RBI in a sweep of Biola University over the weekend.

>> Zachery Muenster, Punahou ’13: The George Fox (Ore.) right-hander pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing only one hit, in a 13-3 win over Willamette (Ore.) in the series opener on Saturday. Muenster threw 22⁄3 scoreless innings over the entire series with two walks and a strikeout.

Women’s Basketball

>> Kylie Maeda, ‘Iolani ’12: The Brigham Young senior scored a career-high 19 points in the final regular-season game of her career on Saturday as the Cougars lost to Gonzaga 73-55. Maeda, who was named All-West Coast Conference honorable mention this week, shot 7-for-10 from the field and 5-for-6 from the 3-point line, and added three rebounds and two assists. The Cougars are the No. 1 seed in the WCC tournament after winning their first outright regular-season title.

>> Alexandra Masaquel, ‘Iolani ’13: The William & Mary (Va.) junior forward scored a career-high 28 points on 12-for-15 shooting and added four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in a 78-65 win over Towson on Friday. The scoring output was the highest this season by a Tribe player.

>> Samantha Alakai, Punahou ’14: The Smith College (Mass.) sophomore had 11 points, five rebounds and an assist in a 54-47 loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute last Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the NEWMAC tournament.

>> Mikaela Limper, Mililani ’14: The Puget Sound guard had three points, five rebounds and an assist off the bench in a 76-57 loss to George Fox in the championship game of the NWC tournament on Saturday.

Men’s Golf

>> Alex Chiarella, Seabury Hall ’12: The San Diego senior held the first-round lead after an opening 5-under 67 before finishing in a tie for eighth place at 2-under 216 in the Southwestern Jones Invitational that ended Tuesday.

>> PJ Samiere, Punahou ’14: The San Diego State sophomore closed with his best round, a 1-over 73, to finish in a tie for 40th place at 9 over in the Southwestern Jones Invitational.

>> SeungJae Maeng, Moanalua ’12: The Pacific (Calif.) senior battled back from an opening-round 75 to shoot a 2-under 68 and even-par 70 to finish in a tie for 17th place at 3 over in the Del Walker Intercollegiate Golf Classic that ended Tuesday.

Women’s Golf

>> Marissa Chow, ‘Iolani ’12: The Pepperdine senior closed with a 6-over 78 on Tuesday to finish in a tie for 30th place at 14-over 230 at the Bruin Wave Invitational.

>> Nani Yanagi, Waiakea ’12: The Washington State senior opened with a 3-over 75 before finishing in a tie for 70th at 25 over at the Bruin Wave Invitational.

Men’s Gymnastics

>> Joshua Yee, Thompson Academy ’12: The Oklahoma senior finished second on the vault with a 15.100 and fourth on both the pommel horse (14.4) and high bar (14.850) in a win over Minnesota on Saturday.

Women’s Gymnastics

>> Joey Ching, Punahou ’12: The Air Force senior scored a 9.50 on the vault and a 9.525 in the floor exercise in a win over Southeast Missouri on Friday.

>> Tracie Villanueva, Moanalua ’13: The Seattle Pacific junior finished fifth on the balance beam with a 9.80 and scored an 8.950 on the bars in a tri-meet against San Jose State and Alaska Anchorage on Friday.

>> Kristi Hayashida, Home school ’13: The Seattle Pacific junior scored a 9.7 on the beam on Friday.

Softball

>> Reina Furuya, Punahou ’12: The Penn State senior shortstop hit .667 (6-for-9) with a double, walk, three runs and an RBI to help the Nittany Lions finish 2-2 in the Citrus Classic over the weekend.

>> Mikela Manewa, Kapolei ’12: The Oregon State senior second baseman finished 9-for-17 with two doubles, a homer, five runs, two RBIs and a stolen base to help the Beavers finish 4-1 at the Mary Nutter Classic over the weekend.

>> Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez, Mililani ’14: The UNLV center fielder went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base to help the Rebels romp Wisconsin 14-3 in the opener of the USF Tournament on Friday.

>> Brennalyn Nakamura, Lahainaluna ’12: The New Mexico State senior utility player hit .500 (4-for-8) with four walks and two runs scored to help the Aggies finish 2-4 at the Mary Nutter Classic.

>> Mysha Sataraka, Punahou ’12: The UCLA third baseman finished 4-for-13 with five walks, a run and three RBIs as the Bruins went 2-3 in the Mary Nutter Classic.

>> Kacie Oshiro, Mililani ’13: The East Carolina right fielder went 5-for-12 with a triple, two walks, three runs and an RBI to help the Pirates finish 4-1 in the Citrus Classic II over the weekend.

>> Paige Salavea, University ’14: The Lewis & Clark (Ore.) sophomore finished 4-for-15 with a double, two runs and a stolen base in four losses to Whitworth (Wash.) over the weekend.

>> Tiana Rosario, Campbell ’13: The Lewis & Clark junior was 4-for-12 with a walk, two runs and an RBI against Whitworth (Wash.).

>> Ateisha Norton, Kamehameha ’14: The Lewis & Clark sophomore catcher hit a two-run double in a 10-7 loss to the Pirates in the series opener on Saturday.

Men’s Track And Field

>> Pierce Murphy, Island School ’11: The Colorado senior won his first indoor conference title, taking the men’s 3,000-meter race with a time of 7:51.15 at the MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday. Murphy ran the fourth-fastest time ever by a Buff and posted the 12th-fastest time in the NCAA this season.

>> Michael Chin, Christian Academy ’13: The Northern Arizona junior finished in fifth place in the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:54.42 and helped the Lumberjacks finish second in the men’s distance relay at the Big Sky Championships on Saturday.

Women’s Tennis

>> Alyssa Tobita, Mililani ’14: The Oregon sophomore picked up victories at No. 2 doubles and No. 3 singles in a 5-2 win over UC Santa Barbara on Saturday and a 4-3 victory over Hawaii on Sunday.

>> Ashley Ishimura, Punahou ’15: The Creighton freshman won in straight sets at No. 1 singles and won in a tiebreak at No. 1 doubles to lead the Bluejays to a 4-1 victory over Oral Roberts on Friday.

>> Kristen Poei, ‘Iolani ’13: The CSUN junior won 6-0 at No. 1 doubles and in straight sets at No. 3 singles in a 7-0 win over Colorado State on Saturday.

>> Skyla Alcon, Mid-Pacific ’15: The CSUN freshman dropped just four points total in wins at No. 2 doubles and No. 5 singles against CSU.

Men’s Volleyball

>> Micah Ma’a, Punahou ’15: The UCLA freshman had a team-high 25 assists, nine kills, nine digs and an ace in a four-set win over Southern California on Saturday.

>> Gabriel Vega, ‘Iolani ’12: The Stanford junior had five kills, five digs, a block assist and an assist in a sweep of UC San Diego on Thursday and seven kills, three digs and two block assists in a sweep of UC Irvine on Friday.

>> Evan Enriques, KS-Hawaii ’14: The Stanford sophomore libero had a team-high seven digs against UCSD and eight digs and an assist against the Anteaters.

>> Rocky DeLyon, Seabury Hall ’12: The California Baptist senior outside hitter had a team-high nine kills while hitting .467 and added three digs in a three-set loss to UC Santa Barbara on Friday.

>> Emmett Enriques, KS-Hawaii ’15: The Cal Baptist freshman had a team-high six digs against the Gauchos.

>> Ryan Thomas, KS-Hawaii ’12: The Mount Olive (N.C.) senior had a game-high 16 digs and two assists in a three-set loss to Erskine on Saturday.

>> Casey Bolda, Kaiser ’13: The Lakeland College (Wis.) junior outside hitter had nine kills, five digs, two assists, an ace and a block assist in a three-set loss to Dominican University on Saturday.

>> Luuga Vailu’u, Moanalua ’14: The North Greenville (S.C.) sophomore hit .312 with nine kills, two block assists, two digs and an ace in a four-set loss to Coker College on Friday.

Stats compiled by the Star-Advertiser’s Billy Hull. To submit an athlete for nomination, email bhull@staradvertiser.com.