UH-Hilo’s women’s basketball team has made do with just nine players in uniform all season, and lately they’ve been dressed to thrill.
If something finally clicked for Vulcans (4-2), coach David Kaneshiro didn’t see it. This was always part of the plan – well, not the part about a lack of depth – especially considering the team’s experienced backcourt.
“I think it’s just gradual improvement, and I don’t point to one particular thing,” Kaneshiro said. “I think the offense, we’re making better decisions and that’s leading to better execution. I think the players are learning more about their strengths and weaknesses, especially on the offensive end.
“Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
It can be cliche, but it’s true: After a respite for finals, UHH faces it’s toughest test yet. Ahead of the NCAA Division II mandated seven-day winter break, the Vulcans step out of conference for the final time this season at 1 p.m. Sunday as they welcome fifth-ranked Alaska-Anchorage to Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
“We’re trying to play our best game of the year,” Kaneshiro said.
It might take that for the Vulcans to pull off their third consecutive rousing win. The Seawolves (8-0) haven’t had a team come within seven points of them all season, and the Vuls have never been closer than 12 in six tries against Anchorage. This will be the team’s sixth meeting in Hilo since the 2015-16 season.
“They’re just really good,” Kaneshiro said. “If you don’t match the energy and toughness they bring every second to the floor, they can overwhelm you.”
With veteran guards Mandi Kawaha (18.5 points per game) and Sara Shimizu (14.5) playing some of the best basketball of their careers, UHH seems equipped to handle a little chaos, and Nikki Miller (11.5 points, 12.0 rebounds) is becoming double-double machine down low.
The Seawolves, however, will have a definitive advantage when it comes to quantity. Anchorage only has two players scoring in double figures – 5-foot-5 guard Nicole Pinckney (10.1 points per game) leads the way – but coach Ryan McCarthy has regularly shuffled 11 players on and off the floor, all of whom average double-digit minutes. Eight of those players score at least five points a game.
Defensively, the Seawolves allow only 51.3 points per game, and they forced 32 turnovers Friday night in a 69-41 in over Concord (7-4) in Honolulu. They opened their trip to the islands with a 70-55 victory against Hawaii Pacific on Tuesday.
“Their pressure defense is really good,” Kaneshiro said.
If roster reinforcements, such as forward Bree Olson, are to arrive, they won’t come Sunday, when UHH will roll with nine again, the coach said.
Freshman guard Mindy Kawaha has returned from injury to allow UHH to have seven regulars in the rotation, providing quality minutes in wins against Point Loma and HPU. Freshman guard Heaven Samayoa-Mathis has blossomed in starting the past four, playing at least 36 minutes each time.
“I’m really proud of our team, just in terms of energy, games and practices,” Kaneshiro said. “They have a great attitude and are trying to get better.
“They don’t seem satisfied.”
Thrill-seekers never are.
HPU’s Takatsuka placed on leave
Hawaii Pacific women’s basketball coach Reid Takatsuka has been placed on leave pending an investigation into “issues relating to athletes’ well-being,” the school announced on Friday.
The statement issued by HPU said Sharks men’s basketball coach Darren Vorderbruegge will serve as the interim head coach for the women’s team. Takatsuka entered his 11th season as head coach with a 209-65 record and is a five-time PacWest Conference Coach of the Year. The Sharks are 4-6 this season and have dropped five straight in December.
Takatsuka had an unexplained absence at HPU’s loss to UH-Hilo on Sunday, Dec. 12 at Hilo Civic, where preseason PacWest player of the year guard Amy Baum didn’t make the trip.