Now comes the calm after the storm.
After a lost three days in Honolulu, coach GE Coleman sounded like a coach who was eager for a break to see if his UH-Hilo’s men’s basketball team can find itself.
He’ll get it, and a 16-day layoff comes at an opportune time with Ryley Callaghan nursing an injury to his ribs.
The senior guard returned to the lineup Monday night but played just 11 minutes in a 92-80 loss to Tampa at the Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic in Honolulu that dropped the Vulcans to 3-7 to close out 2017.
UH-Hilo takes a break from organized activities during the Division II-mandated dead period and can return Dec. 27 to begin preparations for the real grind. The Vuls resume Pacific West Conference play Jan. 3 at Hilo Civic against Notre Dame de Namur.
“I would like to have gotten a win tonight, but we had a strong effort and can now rest and get healed up,” Coleman said in a release after Monday night’s loss. “We will take seven days off to get healthy and then start preparing for PacWest play, where it counts.”
When it counted most in Honolulu, UH-Hilo’s defense was lacking. A common theme in all three losses was the opponents finding comfort on offense, shooting 50 percent or better.
With Callaghan (two points) sitting the second half, running mate Trey Ingram scored 25 on the strength of 6-of-13 shooting from 3-point range to take over the team scoring lead while adding seven assists.
In danger of getting blown out by the Spartans (5-6) in the second half, Ingram’s 3-pointer sparked an 11-0 run to give the Vulcans new life. A rare 3-pointer by Denhym Brooke (15 points, 12 rebounds) tied the game 54-54, and Eric Wattree III’s 3-pointer gave UH-Hilo its last lead at 59-58 with 9:06 remaining.
During the final 10 minutes, D-II Tampa, converted 16 of 17 free throws. Pat Bacon, a 6-foot guard, made a living at the line, making 12 of 13 en route to a game-high 28 at the Honolulu Convention Center. Bacon averages 22.5 per game.
“I thought we had a great effort against a very physical and talented team,” Coleman said. “Without Ryley, that is a lot of scoring and experience to give up. Still, we may not have had the best execution tonight, but I was very pleased with the effort.”
Devin Johnson just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, helping the Vuls control the glass. Strong inside efforts from Brooke and Johnson have become something the Vulcans have been able to rely on, but the Vuls have lived and died from from 3-point range.
Chaminade made 13 3-pointers in a 101-72 win Saturday, Montana State-Billing hit 9 of 11 in the second half Sunday to pull away to a 81-63 victory, and the Vulcans hoisted up 34 3s on Monday, making 13.
