Fowler's key defensive play helps Punahou hold off Waiakea, 68-64

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Waiakea's Cheynne Hirota, right, blocks a shot attempt by Punahou's Morgan Ellsworth as Sean Soriano watches. The Buffanblu squandered a 13-point lead before bouncing back against the Warriors. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Led by Fowler's big play, Punahou escaped with a 68-64 victory in the first round of the HHSAA/Hawaiian Airlines Boys State Basketball Championship Tournament at Blaisdell Arena.

Punahou (13-2) will face Maui (12-0) in a second-round game today at 4 p.m.

Fowler's steal and go-ahead layup helped Punahou, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up, regain a 64-62 lead with 1:35 left in the game.

"I just anticipated the pass and played the passing lanes," said Fowler, a senior forward. "It's what our coach teaches us in practice. Lucky, I got my hand on it and I made the shot."

After squandering a 13-point third-quarter lead, Punahou allowed just one field goal in the final two minutes to the Big Island Interscholastic Federation runner-up.

With 20.3 seconds to play, the Warriors (12-4) closed to 65-64 on Michael Belmes' basket.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Waiakea fouled freshman Spencer McLachlin, who sank both free throws to make it 67-64 lead with 16.3 seconds left.

With less than 10 seconds remaining, a Waiakea player missed a driving shot inside the key.

"We really needed a 3, but we ended up taking a floater in the lane," Waiakea coach Jay Bartholomew said. "Sometimes the players get caught up in the action, and it's hard to know what to do."

Fowler and freshman Jeremiah Ostrowski each scored a team-high 15 points for Punahou. Brenton Lee added 13 and McLachlin 10.

Belmes scored 15 points and Abe McGrew added 11 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Warriors.

Punahou took its largest lead, 57-44, in the third quarter, but could not hold it. Waiakea mounted a fourth-quarter rally and took a 61-58 lead on McGrew's 3-point play with a little more than four minutes left.

"I was looking to crawl under a chair," Punahou coach Greg Tacon said of Waiakea's rally. "We knew they had the firepower, but I didn't expect them to keep coming back. We just knew we needed some composure at that point."

Added Bartholomew: "We got down by 13, but we never quit. The kids came back strong and I was really proud of them."

Waiakea shot 5 of 20 from 3-point territory, while Punahou made 8 of 18 3-pointers.

The Buffanblu ended the first half with consecutive 3-pointers by Ostrowski, Fowler and Scott Otake, and took a 36-29 lead at intermission.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.