On a Hawaii Prep team full of seniors, it didn’t take long for sophomore Brooke Samura to make her mark as an impact player.
After a season where Ka Makani claimed the BIIF Division II Championship and returned to the HHSAA State Tournament, it’s clear HPA has something special in their sophomore sensation. Samura has been voted by the league’s coaches as the BIIF Division II Player of the Year.
“I had a big smile, a big smile,” said Samura of her reaction to the honor. “In all honesty, I couldn’t be the player of the year if I didn’t have the team to back me up and the team to help us make it that far. I’ve really got to give props to my team.”
Samura quickly earned her teammate’s respect by virtue of her slashing, playmaking abilities on the court and her work ethic off the court.
“They have very high respect for her; for her talent, for the person she is, and just her work ethic,” said Samura’s coach Greg Dunigan, who was named the BIIF Division II Coach of the year. “They jumped onboard with her.”
In Samura’s varsity debut, she scored 18 points in a 56-7 blowout victory over Ka’u, immediately putting the league on notice.
When it came time to compete against rival Kamehameha – HPA’s biggest competition for the conference title – Samura proved she was ready to deliver in a big way. In the first meeting on Jan. 22, she scored 17 of her team’s 30 points in a three-point victory; Samura was particularly effective late, scoring eight of those 17 points in the fourth quarter to help her team secure a victory.
Samura was clutch once again when the two teams squared off with the BIIF Championship on the line, delivering perhaps her signature performance on the season. In addition to 12 points and 15 rebounds, she hit the game-winning basket with just 13 seconds left to lift Hawaii Prep to their first BIIF title since 2019.
“I have to give props to Kaila (Kaahu),” said Samura of hitting the game-winner. “She was there, she got the steal, she gave the pass. I was just there to follow.”
Samura doles out praise for her teammates as effectively as she dishes out passes while leading the team on the court. Kaahu and Kyana Brucelas both earned first-team All-BIIF nods, Tiffany Bento was named to the second team, and Brenna Kiyota and Ali Wawner were named as honorable mention selections.
“I’m proud of how far we came; I’m proud of the connections we made and the friendships we made throughout the season,” said Samura. “It’s good to be able to play on a team on the court and still be a team off the court.”
“I’ve never seen a team play every game, every second as hard as this team does,” added Dunigan. “They played very hard, and that was so much fun to see.”
That intensity was on display during HPA’s three games in the state tournament on Oahu. Ka Makani nearly earned a spot in the semifinals, with a furious fourth-quarter comeback against Hanalani falling just one point short. Following a 54-47 victory over Kauai on Friday, Samura and Co. stuck with top-seeded Damien for three quarters in the fifth place game at the Neal Blaisdell Center.
“I don’t think they quite understand what they accomplished… We played with the best of the state for 11 out of 12 quarters,” said Dunigan. “The last one is the one you usually remember, but that first game, we were one point away from getting to the final four. We played with the best of the state for 11 out of 12 quarters; boy oh boy, that’s a huge accomplishment.”
Samura’s 20 points in the contest against Damien may serve as a springboard into her junior season. Ka Makani will have plenty of shoes to fill, but with Samura leading the way, the sky is the limit for any Hawaii Prep team
“I know I’m going to be missing my starters – they’re all seniors – so I’ve got to get the girls together and see if they want to work hard to improve,” said Samura. “We’ve got to work for it.”
All-BIIF Girls Basketball
Division II
Player of the Year: Brooke Samura, HPA
Coach of the Year: Greg Dunigan, HPA
First Team
Kyana Brucelas, sr, HPA
Sarah Schubert, jr, Kamehameha
Maela Honma, soph, Kamehameha
Kaila Kaahu, sr, HPA
Keanu Marie Huihui, soph, Kamehameha
Second Team
Florie Tagabi, sr, Pahoa
Kamille Febo-Santiago, jr, CLA
Heidi Vidal, sr, Ka’u
Tiffany Bento, sr, HPA
Baeleigh Lukzen, soph, Kamehameha
Honorable Mention
CLA: Audrey Akina-Makaneole
HPA: Brenna Kiyota, Ali Wawner
Honokaa: Tawnee Carvalho, Goddess Gonzalves, Ulu Lewis, Kristen Ragasa, Rylee Velasquez
Kamehameha: Xayliah Longakit, Kealohalaumaka Rapoza
Ka’u: Riley Ann Brown, Grace Smith, Tyra Wing Yuen
Kohala: Leiana Carvalho, Camile Fuertes, Keycinth Kaolowi, Savannah Kupukaa, Mahealani Pang
Pahoa: Azariya Brown, Justine Crusat, Jaylynn Kaawaloa-Alidon, Kuuipo Sylva