Out of all the signature moments of last Saturday’s senior night for the Hawaii women’s basketball team — the Maori haka to honor Ashleigh Karaitiana, the Hawaiian chant and hula for Shawna-Lei Kuehu — perhaps the most poignant was the simple baseline pass from Ron Mason to injured Rainbow Wahine guard Morgan. Few realized it was a scene that had been played and replayed hundreds of times over the years, not just from a father to a young daughter but from a coach to a young player learning to play the game.

It was accompanied by a look that came through Ron Mason’s trying-to-hold-back-the-tears eyes. One with an unspoken, "You got this, baby girl."

Morgan Mason banked in her ceremonial senior shot, her first public basket since giving Hawaii a 22-16 lead against visiting UC Irvine back on Feb. 19. Some two minutes later, the point guard went down with a severely sprained right ankle, an injury feared by those watching — particularly family in California via the Internet — of yet another to Mason’s right knee.

"It’s been hard watching, but it’s been an eye-opener because I can see how far we’ve come from the beginning of the season," said Mason, who started the first 25 games for the Rainbow Wahine (22-7), the Big West tournament’s top seed. "Saturday was emotional but the girls showed the crowd what we’re capable of doing when we play ‘Hawaii basketball.’ That means playing with pride, playing for each other, giving it your all.

"It’s a humble pride. We know when we execute well, offensively and defensively, it’s hard for anyone to beat us."

It hasn’t happened for the past 14 games, including the past four with Mason and her 8.6-point average and senior leadership on the bench.

"We’ve had to work through her absence," Beeman said as the team prepared for its tournament semifinal. "We miss the composure, the leadership and the continuity she has brought. She’s such an intelligent player and someone who, when things aren’t going well, I can ask to talk to the players because they’ll listen to her.

"I watched her at Mt. SAC, knew her through travel club (playing for UH assistant Dekita Williams) and knew she’d fit in here. You want winners on your roster and she and Shaw (senior forward Shawlina Segovia, Mason’s teammate at Mt. San Antonio College) won there (64-3, two state championships)."

The ankle sprain "is the worst I’ve ever had," Mason said, "and I’ve been through a lot."

Two ACL injuries, meniscus tears, surgery to remove an extra bone in her foot added up to sidelining Mason for most of her last two years at Beverly Hills (Calif.) High. They derailed a four-year varsity career where she had been a first-team all-state selection as a sophomore for the Normans, and also halted the interest from major programs on the West Coast as well as the likes of Duke and South Carolina.

Instead, Mason followed her stepsister’s path to Mt. SAC some 40 miles down the I-10 from her Santa Monica home. Krystal Fontenot had played on two state championships for Mt. SAC and then-coach Beeman, part of a serendipitous connection that helped bring Mason to Manoa after Beeman took the Rainbow Wahine job in 2012.

"I’m here mostly because of the coaching staff," said Mason, who participated in Wednesday’s non-contract drills during Hawaii’s practice at Fullerton College. "When I came out for my visit, I saw how the team played together, I saw myself being able to contribute.

"I really liked the environment. It was a no-brainer."

"I believe things work out how they should," Mason’s mother, Belinda Fontenot, said. "I saw how (Beeman) coached Krystal and when Morgan decided on Hawaii, we were very comfortable. Coach Beeman was already part of our basketball family.

"I’m truly amazed by Morgan, how she’s overcome all the injuries to be where she’s at. She has that drive within her. Morgan is special. Every team she’s ever played on has set some sort of record, done something that the teams before them hadn’t done or hadn’t done in a long time."

It was true from the YMCA to AAU to high school but especially true at Mt. SAC where the Mounties went 34-0 Mason’s sophomore year en route to consecutive state championships.

"The word I would use to describe Morgan is ‘winner,’" said Ron Mason, who began coaching his daughter at age 7, developing her and others through his Mason’s Basketball School. "She’s been a winner in all aspects of her life.

"She never played point guard before Hawaii but she’s always had the ability to step up. She’s not a traditional basketball player to me, she’s a girl who happens to be a good basketball player. And one who has the desire to never quit."

Technically Mason and her well-taped ankle started Saturday’s game against Cal State Fullerton along with Hawaii’s three other seniors. Kuehu easily won the jump ball and Beeman immediately called timeout to sub junior guard Marissa Wimbley for Mason.

What would have happened had the Titans won the tip?

"We had a backup plan," Beeman said. "We would have gone to a 2-3 zone and if they scored, I would have called a timeout then. But when I told Shawna we needed to get the tip, she said, "Don’t worry, I got this, Coach.’

"That’s how this team has been. They play for each other. They are playing for Morgan until we get her back."

Fun fact

Mason’s older brother Miles was recruited by Hawaii football coach Norm Chow to play at Utah when Chow was an assistant for the Utes. Mason is currently on the roster of the AFL Las Vegas Outlaws.