Saturday, October 17, 1998
Rockin’ at midnight
The Hawaii basketball teams
By Cindy Luis
kick off their seasons in style
at Midnight Ohana
Star-BulletinOK. So they faked the helicopter landing. But that didn't stop Erin Galloway from flying.
The 6-foot-8 senior for the Hawaii men's basketball team soared over three somewhat reluctant participants to successfully defend his slam dunk title at the 11th Midnight Ohana. Galloway lived up to his nickname of "Helicopter" by defying gravity and withstood a serious challenge from newcomer Geremy Robinson.
The first practice of the season opened early this morning with a bang and some bugs -- of the VW type -- as the Rainbows and the Wahine unveiled their 1998-99 teams. Nearly 9,000 were at the Stan Sheriff Center to enjoy carnival games, a 3-point shootout, and the Green-White men's scrimmage during a blast from the past that recognized Hawaii's basketball history from five decades.
"I think we had everything you could want tonight for the fans," said Hawaii men's coach Riley Wallace. "As for our team, I liked the togetherness -- again. They gave up the extra pass, did things that were unselfish. If that's going to be their attitude, then we'll run with it."
The Rainbows showed off some 3-point fireworks during the scrimmage, combining for 17 treys out of 49 field goals. Senior Casey Cartwright hit four of the 3-pointers, finishing with 16 points to help lead the Green over the White, 66-64.
Cartwright switched teams at the last minute and "I don't know how the Green got him," said Robinson, who had 14 points for the White. "He was on my team yesterday and then he was playing for them. I was saying 'Wait a minute.' Then he hit those 3s. Those could have been for us."
The White could have used one of Cartwright's 3-pointers, as well as some defense in the final 10 seconds. Robinson and Bryan Moeller got tangled up in the key, allowing junior guard Johnny White to slip by with the game-winning layup with less than a second to go.
Robinson could have also used another trey during the 3-point shooting contest against Wahine Kylie Page. Page hit nine for 27 points; Robinson sank eight, including the bonus ball for five points, to finish with 26 points.
"This was fun," said Robinson, an All-American at Pearl River (Miss.) Junior College. "Tonight was how I dreamed it would be. I love it here."We've got a lot of weapons and we're getting there as a team. From when I first got here, we have clicked as a family. We have a lot of talent and depth. We're going to shock a lot of people."
He and Galloway were electrifying during the dunk-off. Robinson missed on his reverse jam; Galloway took off from the top of the key, leapfrogging over three people, including trainer Matt Brummel.
"We didn't know what he was going to do until he said, 'you, you and you over here," said Brummel. "I knew he could get high enough. I wasn't worried."
"I had to wait to see what Geremy was going to do before I did mine," said Galloway. "It wasn't planned.
"Geremy is good. He's athletic and quick, good shooter. You don't find many guys like that. He's the whole package."
The fans got a sneak peek at redshirt Pedrag Savovic, a 6-6 guard who transferred from Alabama-Birmingham. Savovic, who will be eligible next season, added 15 points for the Green while guard Johnny White finished with 16.
Mike Robinson and Damon Lee each had 14 points for the White.
The player introductions began with the Rainbow and Wahine being driven into the arena in a variety of vintage vehicles, from a VW bus to a pink Cadillac. Wahine senior guard BJ Itoman made her entrance on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Galloway's much-hyped arrival by helicopter was staged perfectly. The actually landing was filmed several weeks ago at Wheeler Air Force Base; the film was shown on the scoreboard, timed to coincide with Galloway's appearance into the arena.
"We had people actually running out to the parking lot to see the helicopter land," said Wallace. "That was pretty good."
No more smoke and mirrors from now on. The season has begun.
UH Green 66, UH White 64
GREEN (66): Galloway 2 3-4 7, White 7 2-3 16, Silva 0 0-0 0, Garon 0 0-0 0, Gillman 1 0-0 3, Savovic 5 2-2 15, Alexander 4 0-0 9, Cartwright 6 0-0 16. Totals 25 7-9 66.
WHITE (64): McIntyre 2 0-0 5, M. Robinson 5 2-2 14, Lee 5 2-2 14, Czernin 3 1-2 8, G. Robinson 6 0-0 14, Penebacker 0 1-2 1, Moeller 3 2-2 8. 24 8-10 64.
Halftime: Green 32, White 29.
3-point goals--Green (9): Cartwright 4, Savovic 3, Alexander 3. White (8): Lee 2, M. Robinson 2, G. Robinson 2, McIntyre 1.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
