Two offensively challenged teams played the sort of game one might expect Saturday afternoon at the Vulcans’ gym on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus, but the visitors from Chaminade had a little surprise for their hosts that might have been the difference in a 59-54 win, the first of the year for the Silverswords (1-5, 1-3 in Pacific west Conference).
Two offensively challenged teams played the sort of game one might expect Saturday afternoon at the Vulcans’ gym on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus, but the visitors from Chaminade had a little surprise for their hosts that might have been the difference in a 59-54 win, the first of the year for the Silverswords (1-5, 1-3 in Pacific west Conference).
“The first one’s the toughest they say,” said Chaminade coach Bobby Keanini, “but I don’t know about that, I think they’re all tough, but tonight we made some strides.”
Chaminade played no zone other than on out of bounds plays in the first game against the Vulcans a week ago on Oahu, but in the rematch they played nothing but zone.
“It wasn’t very good at the start but we made some adjustments at halftime, people communicated better and the difference was there,” Keanini said. “They missed a lot of shots they would probably make normally, but we’ll take it.”
The Vulcans (1-5, 1-3 PWC) probably felt more like the game was given away than it was taken from them.
Both teams had slow starts as evidenced by the frigid first-quarter shooting statistics that had the Vulcans converting 28 percent of their field goal attempts (5-18), while the Silverswords were held to 23.5 percent after making only 4 of 17 shots.
Sydney Mercer was the only UHH player to score in the first five minutes then Asia Smith came off the bench and made her presence felt prior to twisting her ankle in the second quarter and having to come out, but she had six rebounds in six minutes, preventing the Vulcans from being dominated on the boards.
Mercer finished with a game high 22 points on 10-for-16 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the foul line, but that wasn’t what caught her eye as she gazed at as stat sheet after the game.
“See that?” she said, pointing at her three turnovers, “that means I personally gave them three extra possessions, that’s pretty bad in a game as close as this was.
“We all have to do better,” Mercer said. “There were so many times we would have a good defensive possessions and then we would let up a bit right at the end. Same things happened on offense, little lapses here and there.
“We have got to play better than this.”
UH-Hilo led most of the game but 10 second half turnovers helped the game slip away.
Chaminade had a 38-37 lead after three quarters, but freshman Sharlei Graham-Bernisto opened the fourth with 3-point basket — her only points of the game — and the Vulcans were back in front, briefly.
After that, the Silverswords went on a 10-2 run and the Vulcans never lead after that point.
“We moved the ball better in the first half, it looked pretty good,” said coach David Kaneshiro, “but then we lost it in the second half. I don’t think we played with the same energy and we needed to.”
Last year’s leading scorer, sophomore Kim Schmelz returned from a twisted ankle but she hadn’t had a full practice all week. She played just 19 minutes and was 0-for-3 from the floor.
“We need her healthy,” Mercer said. “When Kim is sitting on the bench, we’re not as good as we can be, so getting her back is going to be big.”
The Vulcans have the week off for finals and will mix daily practice sessions in. Next up is Division II power Alaska-Anchorage next Saturday at the Hilo Civic.