Spooner learned
from the best
Callie Spooner knew she was the only post player returning to the Hawaii basketball team this year.
She knew there were two freshman recruits who would challenge her for playing time.
Southern Methodist at Hawaii
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, KFVE (Ch. 5)
Radio: Live, KKEA (1420-AM)
Tickets: All seats general admission. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 for children (age 4-17) and UH students.
Parking: $3
A year ago, Spooner spent most of her freshman year on the bench learning the Rainbow Wahine system, adjusting to college life and getting a basketball education going up against senior post Christen Roper in practice.
"It was tough going up against Roper every day and getting rejected every day. She is the best shot blocker ever," said Spooner, who averaged about six minutes on the court in 18 games.
"It was a great learning experience. I learned how to play against someone who was bigger and stronger."
Spooner knew her expectations and the expectations of the coaches would be higher this season of the "veteran" post player, even though her Division I experience was limited. She spent much time last summer at The Hoop, a club near her Vancouver, Wash., home.
"I trained. I lifted weights and I played a lot of pickup and against guys a lot," said the 6-foot-3 sophomore. "I could have come back in better shape, but preseason workouts definitely get you ready for the season."
When the Wahine opened the 2003-04 season, freshman Brittany Grice got the starting nod at post and held it for five games. Goo switched to Spooner in the St. Mary's game and she responded with a career-high eight points.
Spooner rebounded well for three games, then her point and rebound numbers fell and then, unfortunately, she fell.
In the shootaround before the San Jose State game, Spooner was practicing her post moves, and when she came down from one of them, she stepped on an errant basketball, spraining her right ankle. She did not play against the Spartans and is listed as day-to-day for tonight's and Saturday's home games.
Fortunately, she says, it is nothing worse than a sprain. She is eager to return to action.
A participant in the Washington state championship game her last three years at Prairie High School with a title her junior year, Spooner thought that she would play college ball in California. That was until she made her official recruiting visit, the first of four, to Hawaii.
"When I came out here, I just loved it," said Spooner, who also visited UC Riverside, Nevada and San Diego State, the other finalists in her decision-making process.
"It was a tough decision. I just felt better about UH, about the players and coaches," she said. "I sat down with my parents and we made comparisons and looked at differences, but after my San Diego visit, I knew it was Hawaii. I think my parents were excited and a little nervous. They had never visited here, but they left the decision up to me. If I was OK with it, they were OK with it."
Describing herself as a pretty laid-back, easy-going person who has future goals but takes one step at a time, Spooner feels she has made fair progress on the court, but still has a ways to go.
"My confidence has improved in shooting the ball, in my ability to make good moves and in my strength down low," she said.
She said she missed family and friends last year, but there really wasn't much homesickness and she adjusted.
"And, basketball keeps me so busy," said Spooner, who also played volleyball and participated in field events during track season.
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Probable starters
Hawaii (3-9 overall, 1-2 WAC)
Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Janevia Taylor (Fr.) 5-5 6.2 2.4 2.2 F April Atuaia (Jr.) 5-10 12.4 5.0 2.2 F Amy Sanders (So.) 5-11 5.8 6.0 0.6 F Jade Abele (Jr.) 6-1 16.0 5.2 2.8 C Brittany Grice (Fr.) 6-4 4.4 4.0 0.0
Southern Methodist (7-6, 3-1)
Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Kaira White (Jr.) 5-6 8.4 2.2 2.2 G Kendall Shead (So.) 5-11 7.6 5.5 4.2 F Katie Cross (Jr.) 6-0 3.8 3.2 0.8 F Sarah Davis (So.) 6-2 9.8 6.7 1.8 C Kim Walter (Sr.) 6-2 6.0 3.9 0.6
Notes: The Rainbow Wahine lead the series 12-2. ... In the last meeting, Feb. 8, 2003, UH won 69-60 to gain a split of the two-game conference series. ... Senior wing April Atuaia has moved into a tie for fourth place with Crystal Lee on the career 3-pointers list with 90. ... The Mustangs are winless in seven previous games in the islands.
