Hawaii Grown Report: College Athletics
Billy Hull
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Gaddis finding a home on the basketball court with Whitworth
Early-season success for Whitworth's
Courtney Gaddis (Kalani '07) hasn't helped her bout with a major sickness.
"I am super homesick," she said. "I miss Zippy's really bad."
Gaddis says she's "actually surprised" about how much playing time she's received as a freshman for the Pirates. She is averaging nearly seven points and three rebounds in 17 minutes a game for Whitworth, which is 3-1 in conference play.
She saw a familiar face last Saturday when Pacific (Ore.) visited the Pirates. Boxers freshman Megan Kamehiro was a teammate at Kalani and one of her best friends.
"I wanted to cheer for her when I was on the bench, but I couldn't," Gaddis said. "It was kind of different."
Gaddis finished with five points and four rebounds in 17 minutes, while Kamehiro nailed a 3-pointer for Pacific in a 66-53 win.
Sophomore Holly Saito (St. Andrew's '05) played 12 minutes for Pacific, which also has Trixy Miller (Kamehameha '05) on its roster.
Johanna Sai (Kamehameha '07) also plays for Whitworth. She didn't play against Pacific, but has appeared in eight games this year.
Unlike Gaddis, Sai has settled into life away from home -- she says basketball helps
"I have my days, but it's not that bad," Sai said. "Basketball makes the time go by faster."
Gaddis may become a two-sport star -- she plans on trying out for volleyball in the spring.
"I'm going to try out the training in the spring," she said. "I'm considering it."
» Gonzaga senior Rachel Kane (Punahou '04) had eight points, five assists and four rebounds in 20 minutes as the Zags routed LMU 81-65. Redshirt freshman Tatriana Lorenzo (Kamehameha '06) added three rebounds and an assist for the Bulldogs.
» Washington University junior Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Punahou '05) started and had five points, four assists and a rebound as the Bears defeated the University of Chicago 67-56 in their conference opener.
» Menlo senior Kepua Lee (Moanalua '04) poured in a game-high 28 points on 11-for-22 shooting and added seven rebounds in a 73-58 win over Holy Names. Junior Kelci Fushikoshi (Lahainaluna '05) nailed three 3-pointers and added 14 points and five rebounds for the Oaks. The Hawks featured a starting guard trio of Larisa Nakasone (Roosevelt '05), Chelsie Kadota (Roosevelt '05) and C'ani Kealoha (Farrington '07). Nakasone finished with 10 points, while Kealoha had nine and Kadota added eight. Freshman Jamie Ronolo (Moanalua '07) played 12 minutes off the bench for Holy Names.
» Concordia (Calif.) freshman Nicole Fu started and had 14 points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal in a 72-53 win over Fresno Pacific.
» Grinnell College sophomore Miki Nakamura (Kamehameha '06) had three points and three rebounds in 16 minutes in a 76-48 loss to nationally ranked Lake Forest College.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
» Washington State senior Derrick Low (Iolani '04) scored all 24 of his points in the second half and hit five 3-pointers in the final 5 minutes, 48 seconds in a 81-74 loss to then-No. 5 UCLA. Low finished with six 3s in the game and added three assists and two steals in 27 minutes The loss dropped the Cougars' ranking from No. 4 to No. 8.
» Colorado School of Mines junior Kyle Pape (Iolani '05) scored 15 points and added five rebounds and three assists in a 66-61 victory over Colorado State-Pueblo. Sophomore guard Ken Moses (Mililani '06) started for the ThunderWolves, but did not score. Pape followed that performance by scoring a game-high 20 points the next night in a 12-point loss to Adams State.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
» Brigham Young senior setter Brian Congelliere (Saint Louis '02) had 34 assists to lead the top-ranked Cougars to a three-game sweep of UC San Diego.
» UC Irvine junior Brent Asuka (Iolani '05) had five digs and an assist as the Anteaters were swept by Long Beach State on Wednesday.