The University of Hawaii at Hilo already has had a senior night of sorts.
Joey Rodriguez scored 24 points and a pair of other seniors were among the six to reach double-figures Thursday night during 92-82 victory against Holy Names at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Yevgeniy Dyachenko (16 points) and Dominique Campbell (12) also helped the Vulcans (12-13, 8-11 Pacific West Conference) reverse their fortunes in the second half against the last-place Hawks (3-24, 1-18), who have lost 10 in a row.
On Saturday, UH-Hilo will honor Rodriguez, Dyachenko, Campbell and Darnell Williams during the official Senior Night against Dominican (12-15, 9-10). Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at Hilo Civic.
Like the men, the Lady Vulcans (9-14, 8-11) also will miss the PacWest tournament.
In lieu of the playoffs, however, Jordan Kealoha said she couldn’t think of a better way to end her competitive basketball career than next to her fellow seven seniors.
“It’s been great,” said Kealoha, who has spent the two seasons with UH-Hilo. “We’ve been more than teammates. They’ve been more like a family on and off the court.”
At 5 p.m. Saturday, UH-Hilo plays Dominican (13-12, 10-9) as it honor its seniors: Kealoha, Whitney Edens, Danielle Kooyman, McKenzie Mangino, Hayley Reynolds, Charlotte “CC” Rodes, Kirstie Williams and Hilo High graduate Chelsey Santos.
The balance of the group arrived last year as the Vulcans made the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
“At the beginning of the season, the goal was definitely to get back to the tournament, especially since we had so many seniors,” said Kealoha, who played at Mid-Pacific on Oahu and originally signed with Division I Sacramento state.
“But I think we’re still proud of everyone else. The highlight was beating (second-place) Cal Baptist on the road (Feb. 12). It showed when we play like that, that anything can happen in conference. “
Kealoha is a captain along with post players Reynolds and Mangino.
Mangino leads the way, averaging 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds, while Reynolds has taken on an increased role this season, averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Kealoha pointed to their intangibles.
“They’re always there to pick up every teammate,” she said. “Very good leaders.”
The men won’t make the playoffs, but they do have a chance to secure their third three-game league winning streak.
Of course, they had two three-game losing streaks and are recently coming off a five-game slide.
On Thursday, UH-Hilo started the second half on an 11-2 run and lead by five on Rodriguez’s 3-pointer a little more than three minutes in.
Rodriguez hit two free throws to start an 11-1 spurt as the Vulcans took their first double-digit lead on Dyachenko’s jumper.
Junior helped the Vulcans on Thursday night, too. Tre Johnson scored 15 points with 11 rebounds, Vandyon Lockett added 12 and Darius Johnson-Wilson had 11.
Holy Names outshot UH-Hilo making 46.4 percent, but it was outrebounded 45-32. Dante Robinson had 18 points.