OIA West: Two-sport star Neumann a step above rest in West

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mililani senior Puna Neumann was the OIA West Player of the Year in volleyball and basketball. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

As the OIA West Player of the Year in basketball this past season, Neumann elevated above defenders and lofted feathery jump shots into the net.

More importantly, he lifted the Trojans to division championships in each sport.

Neumann, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, led Mililani (10-0) in hoops by averaging 13.7 points per game and had his best outings in crucial times.

He scored a game-high 22 points, including several late baskets, to help the Trojans defeat arch rival Leilehua, 65-61, in two overtimes. Neumann also scored 19 points to help the Trojans defeat Radford, 57-52.

He is joined on the OIA West all-star first team by Radford's Tauran Moore, Leilehua's Angelo Massey, Kapolei's Warren Simanu and Campbell's Tristan Bailey.

Moore, a 6-3 senior, averaged 14.2 points per game and helped the Rams (7-3) reach the playoffs for the ninth straight season. In a 56-42 victory over Nanakuli, Moore scored a game-high 25 points, including four 3-pointers.

Massey, a 6-4 senior, came off the bench last season but this year stepped into a starting role and produced 15.2 points per game. He scored 15 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a victory over Campbell.

The Mules (7-3) made the playoffs for the fifth straight time.

Simanu, a 6-6 senior, averaged 15.7 points per game and helped the Hurricanes (7-3) to their second playoff appearance in three years as a varsity program.

Bailey, a 6-3 junior, led the West in scoring with 18.4 points per game. In back-to-back games against Kapolei and Waialua, he scored 30 and 29 points, respectively.