Vulcan basketball teams collect more wins

The UH-Hilo men’s and women’s basketball teams played a double-header, sweeping Northwest Indian College on Saturday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Women

The Vulcans’ women’s squad nearly put up triple digits — eclipsing 90 points for the second consecutive game as UH-Hilo rolled through the Eagles 99-49.

Keirstyn Agonias led with 15 points (7-of-11 shooting) as six Vulcans finished with double-digit scoring figures. Kendall Oda added 13 points (4-6 FG) off the bench as Kaile Cruz and Melanie Hiu added 10 apiece.

Kamalu Kamakawiwoole totaled her first double-double of the season, putting up 12 points (5-8 FG) and 12 rebounds.

UH-Hilo opened the game out to a 12-2 lead, but Northwest Indian College got to the free throw line and managed to put together an 8-1 run to make it just a three-point score with under four minutes to go in the opening period.

The Vulcans steadied their lead before striking hot and outscoring the Eagles, 20-2, through the opening portions of the second quarter to put themselves out further ahead for good. UH-Hilo outscored NIC 21-15 during the third quarter and 27-10 in the fourth.

UH-Hilo moved to a 2-2 overall record.

The Vulcans will be back in action Monday, Dec. 4 to open the conference season taking on Pacific West Conference newcomer Westmont College at 5 p.m. in the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. It will be Wear White Night.

UH-Hilo will continue two days later (Dec. 6) taking on Fresno Pacific in another doubleheader.

Men

The final scoreboard showed triple digits in the home column as the UH-Hilo Men’s Basketball team downed Northwest Indian College 102-65.

Jake Kosakowski led with 20 points, hitting on six three-pointers as the Vulcans totaled 15 for the highest number of splashes since a Feb. 2022 matchup against HPU when they sniped 14 shots from beyond the arc. The 15 3-pointers ranks as the fourth-best output in program history (at least, according to the current iteration of record keeping) and is tied with four other performances — the last one against Azusa Pacific during the 2017-18 season.

Jarin Edwards followed with 15 points (5-6 FG) off the bench, going 3 for 3 in perimeter shooting. Carlos Ramsey Jr. (14 points) and Zoar Nedd (eight points) added a pair of three-pointers each with Telryn Villa (eight points) and Drew Yezbak (seven points) pitching in three-point splashes as well.

The Vulcans attempted 32 long-range shots (.469), the most taken in a single-game going back two seasons when they finished with 37 attempts against Academy of Art in Feb. 2021.

UH-Hilo last surpassed the 100-point mark last season in a 103-91 victory over Chaminade on the last day of the 2022 calendar year.

UH-Hilo moved to a 5-2 overall record (1-0 Pacific West Conference).

The Vulcans’ next test will follow the women’s team, at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4 against Westmont College.

UH-Hilo will continue two days later (Dec. 6) taking on Fresno Pacific in another doubleheader.

Flying Hawaiian Foundation

The Flying Hawaiian Foundation honors the legacy of former Vulcans Men’s Basketball player J. Kimo Keiter-Charles. The Honoka‘a native was a Hilo High School graduate and played for the Vulcans from 2001-2005 where he helped the program qualify for the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship in 2003 and 2005.

Keiter-Charles passed away in 2020 at the age of 38 years old after complications from pancreatic and liver cancer treatments.

The Flying Hawaiian Foundation was formed in 2021 and has raised over $30,000 to support the Big Island community.

Board members Ryan Hogue, Chris Keiter, Cece Walsh and Gary Ahu Jr. made a halftime check presentation to the UH-Hilo Men’s Basketball program to the tune of $3,500.

The foundation will be hosting the Flying Hawaiian Golf Benefit May 31, 2024 at the Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Information is available on their Facebook page.