By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
Upsets can be a thing of beauty, but it doesn’t happen that often when an NCAA Division II school takes on a D-I team.
Still, there’s always that slim chance that something special can happen and it inspires the underdog.
The University of Hawaii at Manoa will take on D-II UH-Hilo in a women’s exhibition basketball game at 7 p.m. tonight at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. And although the much taller Rainbow Wahine are the heavy favorites, the Lady Vulcans plan to give it their best shot.
“It’s a big challenge for us,” Vulcans head coach David Kaneshiro said earlier this week. “Our players are excited about the game and we’re happy for the opportunity. We’ll play hard and do the best we can.
“We know it’ll be a different environment, especially playing at Stan Sheriff against a D-I team. But we know we’ll learn a lot and try to make the most of it. We’re looking forward to playing.”
It’s the season-opener for both teams and it’s the debut of new Rainbow Wahine head coach Laura Beeman, a former University of Southern California assistant who took over the program after UH coach Dana Takahara-Dias was not retained following her third season at the helm.
Beeman has brought in a handful of recruits, including 6-foot-2 junior Pua Kailiawa, a former Ka’u High School standout, and has several returnees. They include a pair of ex-Big Island prep stars in juniors Vicky Tagalicod (Hilo) and Kanisha Bello (Kamehameha/Waiakea). Both started on numerous occasions last year under Takahara-Dias.
Kaneshiro is in his third year at UH-Hilo and sports a 23-27 overall record, including 16-18 in the Pacific West Conference.
The soft-spoken coach has nine returnees, including eight seniors, and four newcomers on his 13-member squad.
The Vulcans don’t have much size, especially with the graduation of all-conference performer Hillary Hurley, who averaged 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game last season. Her 6-2 frame and strong play in the post will be missed.
“Hillary was the best low-post, back-to-the-basket player in the league last year,” Kaneshiro said. “We’ll miss her size and inside play, but I think we have a good group that will work hard together and be competitive in the paint.”
Kaneshiro said his team will work together to offset Hurley’s contributions from a year ago.
“It’s going to be more of a team effort,” the UHH coach said in an earlier interview. “We need everyone to step up in what they can bring to the team. On defense, we’ll need to play solid and be in better finishing position to block out and rebound. On offense, we won’t have a down-low, back-to-the-basket player like Hillary, but we have some players who can finish strong in the paint.”
But the third-year Vulcans coach is also pleased with how his team prepared for this season.
“The returnees worked hard over the summer and came back better players,” Kaneshiro said. “They’re quicker and stronger, and their experience from last year should help us this year. They’ve already developed good team chemistry with the newcomers, and they’ve all shown they’re willing to sacrifice for the team.”
Following Friday’s exhibition contest, UH-Hilo opens its collegiate season in hosting Chaminade on Nov. 17.
Kaneshiro’s returnees include:
• Kirsten Shimizu, a 5-0 senior point guard from Sacramento, Calif., who averaged 9.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. She also had 63 assists and 44 steals.
• Jameia McDuffie, a 5-2 senior guard from Bellflower, Calif., who averaged 6.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per gameto go along with 55 assists and 43 steals.
• Kirsty Imai, a 5-4 senior guard out of Waiakea High School who averaged 5.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game plus dealt out 46 assists.
• Natalie Mata, a 5-6 senior guard out of Farrington High on Oahu who averaged 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
• Shannon Rousseau, a 5-7 senior forward from Colorado Springs, Colo., who averaged 3.9 points and 2.3 assists per game.
• Jazz Corpuz, a 5-5 senior guard from Kihei, Maui who saw limited time last year while averaging 3.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.
• Jazlyn Afusia, a 5-10 senior forward from Torrance, Calif., who averaged 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
• Elise Spain, a 5-10 senior forward from Fremont, Calif., who averaged 2.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
• Thea Hanato-Smith, a 5-6 sophomore guard out of Konawaena High who averaged 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds as a true freshman.
The newcomers are:
• Kamie Imai, a 5-9 junior guard/forward out of Waiakea High and a transfer from Utah State. She played limited minutes for two seasons under coach Raegan Pebley and returned to play at UHH with her older sister, Kirsty.
• Jazzmyn Davis, a 5-10 junior forward from Pacoma, Calif., who played two seasons at College of the Canyons in Valencia, Calif. She earned all-state honors and helped lead her team to consecutive league titles. She averaged 14.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last season.
• Briana Smythe, a 5-10 junior forward from Winnetka, Calif., She played her first two seasons at Los Angeles Valley College and earned all-conference honors. She averaged 9.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last season.
• Mandi Lum, a 5-4 freshman guard out of Hawaii Preparatory Academy. She was a Ka Makani standout in basketball, volleyball and softball.
