[ UH BASKETBALL ]
Wallace: Wheeler’s streak due to end
Is this the year the streak ends?
UH's Twilight Ohana
Women
Black (Bob Nash/Lacole Brooks): Amy Sanders, Dalia Solia, Cassidy Chretien, Pam Tambini, Emily Helmly, Tanya Smith, Amy Kotani, Callie Spooner (injured).
White (Jackson Wheeler/Pat Charity): Alofa Toiaivao, Janevia Taylor, Saundra Cariaga, Brittany Grice, Amber Lee, Brittany Aiwohi, Shannon Nishi.
Men
Black (Brooks/Nash): Julian Sensley, Stephen Verwers, Matt Lojeski, Matt Gipson, Dominic Waters, Deonte Tatum, Milos Zivanovic, Tramaine Ellison.
White (Charity/Wheeler): Ahmet Gueye, Matt Gibson, Chris Botez, John Wilder, Bobby Nash, Hiram Thompson, Jack Miller.
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Riley Wallace thinks so.
The Hawaii head basketball coach has predicted that associate coach Jackson Wheeler's six-year winning streak in UH's annual intrasquad scrimmages to open practice will finally be broken at Friday's Twilight Ohana at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"Wheeler's streak ends," Wallace declared after the teams for the men's and women's scrimmages were determined in a draft held yesterday at the UH basketball offices. "And you know I'll pay for that the rest of the year if he wins."
The assistant coaches from the men's and women's teams will team up to coach the intrasquad scrimmages that cap Friday's festivities. Wheeler and women's assistant Pat Charity lead the White squads. Bob Nash and Lacole Brooks will coach the Black teams.
Nash and Wheeler will be the head coaches for the women's scrimmage with Charity and Brooks taking over for the men's game.
"They'll be fine," women's head coach Jim Bolla said of the men's assistants coaching his players. "Basketball is basketball and it's short enough a time that they won't do too much damage.
"Riley and I will sit back and have a good laugh."
Wheeler and Charity took junior center Alofa Toiaivao with the first pick of the women's draft. Nash and Brooks countered with senior guard Amy Sanders.
Nash and Brooks later used the top pick in the men's draft on senior forward Julian Sensley, while Wheeler and Charity took junior transfer Ahmet Gueye.
"I have to make sure I keep (Wheeler's) record intact, that's my main concern," Charity said. "We're going to have some strategy to make sure we win, because if we don't it'll be my fault, I can hear it already."
The White team also picked Bobby Nash, keeping the junior off his father's team and sparking talks of a possible trade.
"I wanted him, he was my next pick. Wheeler got him so I just have to beat him," Bob Nash said.
The theme for Twilght Ohana, formerly known as Midnight Ohana, is "Night of the Stars." Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is free.
The event includes a mini-carnival on the arena concourse and live music. The team introductions are scheduled to start at 9 p.m. with players and coaches dressed up as their favorite celebrities. The 3-point contest, slam-dunk competition and the women's and men's scrimmages follow.