HPU's Sellitto roams sideline for probably last time
By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Staff Writer
HILO, Hawai'i — A fully relaxed Tony Sellitto reflected on what probably was his final game as a coach Saturday night in a dark corner of Hilo civic after his Sea Warriors had clubbed the University of Hawai'i-Hilo.
Advertiser library photo • Feb. 26, 2002
Following a 78-72 defeat on Friday, his Hawai'i Pacific University team never trailed in rolling to a 97-69 romp in the rematch to claim second place in the Pacific West Conference. Whether that will land the 18-9 Sea Warriors into postseason play was unknown but considered doubtful yesterday.
"I'm a lucky man," said HPU coach Tony Sellitto.
"I'm a lucky man," said Sellitto, reflecting on his long Honolulu career in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and the last 14 at HPU, where he won a national championship and rolled up 295 victories. The latter was the most in Hawai'i history by a men's college coach.
Sellitto, usually a lightning rod at Hilo civic, said a quiet farewell to the place where he "loved to play." Even Vulcan officials last week described him as the man the fans "loved to hate."
Because "this is a basketball town," explained Sellitto, he knew he would be challenged and tested whenever he brought in Maryknoll or Hawai'i Pacific.
The Sea Warriors simply rained 3-point buckets in the first half — 9-for-15 versus Hilo's 1-for-5 — and took a 59-29 halftime lead while outshooting the hosts — 59 to 28 percent from the floor.
Even when he was up by 30 late in the second half, he was criticizing his players and challenging officials. "Give him one more technical," yelled many of the 2,400 fans from the stands — some not in jest.
The score got worse in the second half as the Sea Warriors pushed ahead by as many as 34 at 73-39.
Hilo never got closer than 22 when a mini rally closed it to 73-51.
It was not just shooting. HPU outhustled and outplayed UHH, leading in every statistical category.
The drubbing, however, did not spoil Hilo's farewell to four-year starting guard Scott Prather.
UHH's lone senior, who is headed to graduate school at Manoa, brushed aside tears as he said thanks on his last night wearing the red, white and blow of the Vulcans.
While Sellitto said goodbye, quietly signing a single autograph, Prather got the full and loud treatment.
Hilo coach Jeff Law said even if he coaches as long as Sellitto, he always will use Prather as the example of the scholar-athlete and as someone who gave it his all despite the odds.
The 5 foot 11 Prather led UHH (18-9) in its worst home effort of the season with 17 points. Most of his scoring came late.
His career was too good to be measured against a disappointing wind up.
The Maui High graduate came to UHH, where his only scholarship was offered. He was much more than a basketball player with far more academic citations than athletic despite establishing the school's all-time record in steals and being among UHH's top five in assists, points and three-pointers.
Sellitto did not mind the attention going to the 22-year-old local star over the finale of a man nearing Social Security after 37 seasons in Hawai'i.
"Hey, when we had our senior night we got beat up pretty good, too," he said of last Tuesday's 78-64 loss to Brigham Young University-Hawai'i.
Despite the shaky finish, UHH wound up with Law's best record in four seasons and the school's best overall since 1988-89 under Bob Wilson.
