Beavers return to Valley Isle to host relocated Maui Classic | News, Sports, Jobs

May 2024 · 5 minute read

Oregon State guard Talia von Oelhoffen is shown during a game against Villanova on Nov. 12. Von Oelhoffen, the daughter of former NFL player Kimo von Oelhoffen of Molokai, and the Beavers enter this year’s Maui Classic — set for today and Wednesday at Seabury Hall — with an 8-0 record. AP file photo

The Oregon State University women’s basketball team has made Maui an annual trip that it simply never wants to miss.

This year, that feeling is prevalent more than ever for the Beavers’ Maui Classic tournament, which is now in its seventh year.

When head coach Scott Rueck saw the images of the Aug. 8 wildfires that devastated Lahaina and caused significant damage Upcountry, as well, he knew that his program and the players in it would want to help.

OSU hoped to play in the Lahaina Civic Center before turning its thoughts to the South Maui Community Gymnasium — both were unavailable due to wildfire relief efforts.

After it appeared there might not be a place to hold the tournament this season, the Beavers turned to Seabury Hall and things fell into place with the four-game event set for today and Wednesday at the Erdman Athletic Center.

“We’re always excited to be here, this is a highlight of the year for us and it gets better every year as our relationships grow deeper and deeper with the community,” Rueck said before practice on Monday. “And especially this year, understanding as well as we can, what the people of Maui have been through.

“We’re excited to be back, just to partner with them and do what we can, you know, just to invest even deeper.”

The EAC will host four games in the next two days — tonight at 5 p.m., Texas Tech (10-0) will play Tulsa (8-3) and Oregon State (8-0) will face Southeastern Louisiana (4-5) at 7:30.

On Wednesday, Tulsa and Southeastern Louisiana will play at 5 p.m., while Texas Tech and Oregon State could both be unbeaten going into the tournament final at 7:30.

“I think so, yeah, for sure it is (a good matchup),” Rueck said of the OSU-TTU game. “Southeastern Louisiana has played teams tough this year, they’re talented. Tulsa, same, another talented team. Then Texas Tech being a Power-5 school would definitely be the headliner with us — a very well-coached, talented group that expects to win every night.

“So, it should be two fun, competitive nights of basketball. It will be.”

Tickets to the event are free and can be downloaded at verticalsportsmaui.com. Seabury Hall officials said floor seating will be added and standing room will be available as well, bringing capacity for the Erdman Athletic Center to 1,200.

Rueck was part of the first BasketballMaui — the predecessor to tournament organizer Vertical Sports Maui — clinic at Seabury Hall in 2009, where he made a connection with BasketballMaui founder Ben Prangnell.

Rueck was the head coach at NCAA Division III George Fox at the time.

“NBC Camps had partnered with BasketballMaui and I helped run NBC Camps at George Fox back in the day,” Rueck said. “So, the owner of NBC Camps, Fred Crowell, partnered with Ben Prangnell to put on a camp and Fred called me and asked if I wanted to come work.”

“My wife and I came over and worked that camp and from what I remember and what I’ve been told, it was at Seabury. So, this is a full-circle deal here.”

Rueck is thankful to the Seabury Hall ohana for helping to get a suitable spot for the tournament.

“I know that it was a challenge to find gym space this year, for obvious reasons, emergency services and the support means all of the public facilities were being used to take care of the people,” Rueck said. “We were planning to be up in Lahaina this year, but they needed that facility. Then we were going to come back to the brand-new gym here in Kihei was the plan. Then we found out that was unavailable.

“Therefore, we were scrambling and I think it was all hands on deck, trying to find a qualified gym. And we’re so fortunate that Seabury was willing to step up, we’re extremely grateful, it’s a beautiful facility and I think it’s going to serve as a great host site.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

Oregon State guard Talia von Oelhoffen is shown during a game against Villanova on Nov. 12. Von Oelhoffen, the daughter of former NFL player Kimo von Oelhoffen of Molokai, and the Beavers enter this year’s Maui Classic — set for today and Wednesday at Seabury Hall — with an 8-0 record. AP file photo

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