King leads Wahine in Green-White scrimmage

Laura Beeman spent most of the Rainbow Wahine basketball team’s Green vs. White scrimmage on Friday in the stands passing out schedule cards while her assistants controlled the sidelines.

In the moments UH’s fourth-year head coach did focus on the floor, she saw some areas to address in practice on Monday, most notably on defense, as well as encouraging signs she hopes will draw the fans back to the Stan Sheriff Center this season.

“What I did really enjoy was how much fun they seemed to have with each other,” Beeman said. “There was some really good chemistry with their own Green or White team, but then there was some really good chemistry and energy just amongst the (13) that were out there.

“We‘ve got a journey. We’ve got a long, long, long journey. But right now I think they like each other, I think they’re having fun and that just gives us a lot of build on.”

Destiny King scored a game-high 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting to lead the White to a 48-47 win. Center Megan Huff hit three of five attempts and finished with nine points and six rebounds. Connie Morris added eight rebounds and four points.

Ashleigh Karaitiana led the Green with 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Sarah Toeaina added 11 points and Kalei Adolpho finished the night with seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds and the Green had a comeback from an early 13-point deficit fall just short.

Beeman plans to give the Wahine the weekend off and they’ll get back to work on Monday with an exhibition against UH Hilo on Wednesday.

The first two 10-minute quarters of Friday’s scrimmage were played under normal timing rules with a running clock for the third. The Wahine called it a night after the third quarter and Beeman thanked the fans for coming.

Along with the new quarter format and free-throw rules (two shots after the fifth foul of each quarter), the tight finish gave the Green to use some end-of-game strategy. With the Green trailing by a point, Toeaina missed a shot and Huff grabbed the rebound. The Green fouled twice on inbounds then got the ball back when the White threw the ball away with 11.3 seconds left.

Assistant coach Alex Delanian called timeout, allowing the Green to advance the ball into the front court under another new rule. Briana Harris’ shot coming out of the break was wide and the White held on.

“As you can see we kind of need some work on our defense and just the game situations and like the end of the game situations when its close like that,” King said. “We have to start getting into that mode.”

While the seniors led the way, the newcomers had their moments as well.

Leah Salanoa led the freshman class with nine points. Guard Olivia Crawford forced a turnover early in the game, scored on a drive to the basket and knocked down a 3-pointer to give the White a 14-3 lead a the 6:45 mark of the first quarter. She added another 3-pointer in the second quarter and finished the night with eight points. Andie Easley also hit a 3-pointer for the White.

“They still are learning the physicality and the pace of the game,” Beeman said. “Hitting a 3, that’s great, but you have to defend. That’s just being a freshman, that’s still learning the game a little bit.”

Freshman Lahni Salanoa, Leah’s twin sister, left the game midway through the first quarter with a cut on her hand and did not return. Beeman said Salanoa has a deep gash that will probably require stitches.

“She handled it like a champ,” Beeman said. “Always concerned when someone gets hurt, but it’s not one of those structural (injuries), when you’re dealing with ligaments and tendons, it’s kind of a superficial type of thing.”

Green 13 26 8 — 47
White 22 24 2 — 48

GREEN—Brianna Kennedy 4, Briana Harris 4, Sarah Toeaina 11, Leah Salanoa 9, Lahni Salanoa 0, Ashleigh Karaitiana 12, Kalei Adolpho 7.
WHITE—Andie Easley 3, Marissa Wimbley 7, Olivia Crawford 8, Megan Huff 9, Connie Morris 4, Destiny King 17.
3-point goals—Green: none. White: 5 (Crawford 2, Easley, Wimbley, King).