 "Photo: JEFF HUANG")
The Rainbow Warrior basketball team will not be facing an ordinary Division II team this week. The ’Bows will be up against the No. 1 Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i Seasiders.
Tomorrow’s 7:05 p.m. game in the Stan Sheriff Center will be the team’s last preseason exhibition game before starting regular season play next weekend in the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.
“We are getting up and down and it really helps us get into game shape,” senior forward Bill Amis said. “This gives us a chance to play against someone else and work on our offense and defense in a live situation.”
Hawai‘i looked good in its preseason opener taking out the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Vulcans 76-65 last Friday. The ’Bows were able to pull away thanks to Amis, who had a team high in points (27), rebounds (12), blocks (5) and steals (2).
Junior point guard Hiram Thompson took a big step forward in grabbing the team’s starting role with a solid 19 points, five rebounds and four assists, while his competition, juniors Jeremy Lay and Dwain Williams, were out due to injuries.
“Injuries are part of the game and we understand that,” head coach Bob Nash said. “We are just trying to get as many healthy bodies as we can see in the next exhibition game (and see) how much improvement we have made as a team in preparation for that first game (Nov. 13 against Southern Utah).”
BYUH is coming off a 27-1 season and returns its top two scorers in forward/center Lucas Alves and guard Tsung-Hsien Chang. Also, former Rainbow Warrior guard Gary Satterwhite transferred to BYUH after last season.
Rainbow Wahine turn new page
Dana Takahara-Dias will make her coaching debut for the Rainbow Wahine basketball team in a preseason exhibition against the Hawai‘i Pacific University Sea Warriors.
The game with the Sea Warriors is tonight at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. This will be the ’Bows’ only exhibition before starting regular season play.
The Rainbow Wahine return leading scorer junior guard Keisha Kanekoa and eight other letterwinners off a team looking to improve on last season’s 8-23 record.
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