Point Loma struck a definitive first blow in important December PacWest action, beating Azusa Pacific on the road to earn Team of the Week honors. Hawai`i Hilo’s Darren Williams was almost perfect as the Vulcans ran past island rival HPU. Dominican’s Jaayden Bush played a stopper role as the Penguins held Fresno Pacific to 56 points to move to 2-1 in conference play.

2022-23 Results/Schedule
2022-23 Standings
2022-23 Statistics
D2SIDA West Region Poll

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hawai`i Hilo’s Darren Williams, G, Sr., 5-8, 140, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.        
Hawai`i Hilo played just one game last week but point guard Darren Williams put up numbers that grabbed attention in UHH’s 97-79 home win over Hawai`i Pacific. Williams had a season-high 28 points, missing just two shots in 39 minutes. The southern California native hit 11-of-13 attempts, including 6-of-7 from three-point range. He also had five assists and three steals to help lead the Vulcans to a 3-0 mark in PacWest play and they are now 5-1 overall. On the young season, the third-year Vulcan standout leads the PacWest in assists (5.7), three-point percentage (.553), is second in steals (2.5) and is fourth in scoring (19.2).
 
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Dominican’s Jaayden Bush, G, Fr., 5-10, 160, Carson, Calif.                                
True freshman Jaayden Bush was great on both ends of the court during Domincan’s 79-56 win over Fresno Pacific on Saturday that moved the Penguins to 2-1 in the PacWest. The 5-10 guard had 18 points and three steals, but also earned his coach’s (Justin Argenal) praise on the defensive end. “Jaayden led us against FPU with his tenacious defensive effort,” Argenal said. “His on-ball pressure and communication on the defensive end was the difference. Although this is a individual award, it is also a reflection of our teams’ effort and recent success.”

SEA LIONS COOL OFF COUGARS: The PacWest Team of the Week is the POINT LOMA SEA LIONS. Point Loma became the first team in the PacWest to cool off the previously on fire Cougars of Azusa Pacific, topping the previously No. 3 regionally ranked squad at home, 73-61. Point Loma, now atop the PacWest standings at 4-0, knocked down 16 three-pointers (32 shots) and held the Cougars to just 26 first half points. Kaden Anderson had 20 points and 13 rebounds and Shamrock Campbell added 16. Point Loma, now 8-3 overall, also beat Biola on the road last week, nailing all 16 of their free throw attempts in the 87-79 win. Campbell had 20, Brian Goracke added 19 and Anderson had 15 in the balanced attack.

REGIONAL REVIEW: Point Loma’s win over Azusa Pacific created some movement in this week’s D2CIDA West Region poll. Four PacWest teams are on the list. (1) Cal State San Bernardino 6-1, (2) Saint Martin’s 8-1, (3) Western Washington 6-1, (4) Point Loma 8-3, (5) Cal Poly Pomona 6-1, (6) Azusa Pacific 8-3, (7) Montana State Billings 7-3, (8) Biola 7-3, (9) Hawai`i Hilo 5-1, (10) Seattle Pacific 6-3.
 
PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: Academy of Art, Dominican and Hawai`i Hilo each had just one game last week and capitalized by winning it…Biola and Azusa Pacific both went 1-1…Biola’s Daniel Esparza had 16 points in the loss to Point Loma and had 17 in a 83-63 win over Concordia. BU’s Erik Howlin had 38 total points in the two contests…George Reedy led four players in double figures with 15 points in APU’s 78-53 victory over CUI…Academy of Art got back on track with a 74-71 win over Chaminade. Mike Asante had 17 points and six boards…Chaminade’s Isaac Armaral-Artharee had a monster game against the Urban Knights with 29 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals, hitting 9-of-12 shots from the field including 5-of-8 from behind the arc…In Dominican’s win over the Sunbirds, Bush had 18 points, Garrett Siebels had 19 and PJ Volz had 17 in the balanced attack….Biola blitzed visiting Concordia, thanks additionally to Tyus Parrish-Tillman’s 14 points, nine boards and three blocked shots. Maximo Milovich added a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds…In addition to Darren Williams’ big night, Hilo also got large production from Carlos Ramsey, Jr.’s 24 points and six rebounds, along with the always productive Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones’ nine points, ten rebounds and six assists. Kalique Mitchell had 17 points, five rebounds and four steals for Hawaii Pacific.

MORE CONFERENCE CLASHES THIS WEEK: There are games almost every night this week in the PacWest, beginning with tonight’s (Monday) game between Chaminade and Holy Names…The Silverswords continue their northern California swing with a big game at Dominican on Wednesday. Biola (at Dominican) and Azusa Pacific (at Academy of Art) are two more large games in the bay area next Saturday. Point Loma welcomes Holy Names on Saturday and Concordia hosts Fresno Pacific, while other PacWest teams will step outside of conference play—Hawaii Pacific vs. Simon Fraser, Hawaii Hilo vs. Milligan and Chaminade hosts St. Edwards. Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade will also play Sunday and Monday in the Hoops in Hawaii Classic, same for Hawaii Hilo in the Big Island Classic.