Smith-Schuster wins Polynesian award | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was named the 2018 Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year today.

Smith-Schuster, who also won the award in 2017, is the first repeat selection for the honor established in 2015.

The second-year pro out of Southern California caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He ranked fifth in the NFL in receiving yards and sixth in receptions.

Smith-Schuster, who is of Samoan ancestry, will be formally presented with the award during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner on Jan. 18.

Offensive lineman Mike Iupati and quarterback Marcus Mariota are the only other winners of the award.

Punahou alumnus and Houston place-kicker Ka‘imi Fairbairn, who set the franchise record with 37 made field goals this season, will be honored as the 2018 recipient of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Kupono Award for Excellence.

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Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Central Florida’s McKenzie Milton shared the award last season.

Both award winners also will be recognized during the 2019 Polynesian Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 19, at Aloha Stadium.

Chaminade women edge Academy of Art

Destiny Castro posted 25 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Chaminade women’s basketball team to a 58-54 victory over Academy of Art in San Francisco on Wednesday.

This is the first-ever win for Chaminade against the Urban Knights. The Silverswords (3-7, 2-4 Pacific West) lost the previous 17 contests.

It’s also the first road victory for Chaminade coach Arthur King.

Lily Perkins led Academy of Art (1-8, 0-6) with 19 points.

Urban Knights upset No. 12 Silverswords

Down 11 with 3:04 left in the game, the No. 12 (NCAA Division II) Chaminade men’s basketball team rallied, but Andre Arissol’s potential game-winning 3-pointer missed, and Academy of Art slipped past the Silverswords 71-69 in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Grant Dressler had 22 points, and Erik Scheive added 21 with 10 rebounds for the Silverswords (10-2, 4-2 PacWest). Andrija Blatancic had 24 points and 11 boards for the Urban Knights (3-8, 3-3).