Benson Tech's Jordan Ewell slams home two of his 10 points against Melbourne. Tyler Kanoa | University High

Purchase image 1 of 5

Wilson' Phillip Blatt puts up a jump shot over King Kekaulike's Gabe Gunter. Tyler Kanoa | University High

Purchase image 2 of 5

Punahou's Kupono Fey drives to the basket against Baldwin. Evan Asato | SL

Purchase image 3 of 5

Tyler Kanoa | University High

Purchase image 4 of 5

Tyler Kanoa | University High

Purchase image 5 of 5

Thu, Dec 20, 2012 @ Punahou

---

Baldwin

43

Punahou

64

Final	1	2	3	4
Baldwin	5	11	12	15	43
Punahou (8-4, 22-8)	23	18	15	8	64

N. Velasquez 15 pts  3 3pm  2/2 FTs

P. Thomas 8 pts  2/2 FTs

Nick Velasquez scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Punahou Buffanblu to a 64-43 victory over the Baldwin Bears Thursday in the quarter-finals of the Punahou Boys Basketball Invitational in a rematch of last year's state semi-finals.

Velasquez hit three 3-pointers and both free throws in the win.

"I thought it went well, I thought we executed pretty well, we shared the ball good," said Velasquez on the win. "Our press worked today, we was flying all over the court; I felt we had a successful game today.

Punahou dominated the first quarter scoring 23 points to Baldwin's 5.
 
"Look like they had stage fright in the beginning, it's hard to play a team like this that knows what it's doing," said Baldwin head coach Wayne Gushiken on the early struggles. "We're a young team, we make young mistakes and we compound our mistakes and then we get even more get scared."

Velasquez set the tone early on in the game scoring Punahou's first four points. The Punahou defense followed suit as they allowed the first bucket after the midway point of the first quarter. That defense was led by senior big man Kupono Fey who broke up several Baldwin attempts to get the ball low in the post. Fey would finish the game with 11 points.

The Buffanblu closed out the first quarter on a good note as Justin Kam would get his bucket to go after grabbing two of his misses and Randon Oda hit a 3 pointer as time expired to give Punahou a 23-5 advantage heading into the second quarter.

It was the Nick Velasquez show to start the 2nd quarter as he would get back to back steals, converting one for an easy lay-up as well as hitting a corner trey. Baldwin's Kody Takushi hit a three pointer but Velasquez responded with another three as well, making the score 34-10 in favor of Punahou.

Things got a bit scary near the 2:32 mark as Punahou's Semisi Ulavale went down hard on a shot attempt. He would be able to walk off the court on his own will but would not return to the game.

"He's doing good, he has a minor tweak in his ankle, he should be fine," said Punahou head coach Darren Matsuda.

Kody Takushi helped things look respectable for the Bears as he was able to find teammate Liam Wake near the baseline for an easy bucket. Takushi also single-handedly broke through Punahou's full court press defense as he was able to dribble out of a double team after getting the defensive rebound and go coast to coast to convert a lay-up high off the glass to cut the deficit to 22.

Justin Kam hit a trey to end the first half to give Punahou a 41-16 lead heading into halftime.

Teva Eldredge helped jump start the Baldwin offense in the 3rd quarter. Eldredge scored the first bucket of the period coming off a nice post move from the low block despite getting fouled.
 
"I was just trying to be aggressive, trying to pick our team spirit up," said Eldredge. "I think the second half was a lot better, everybody came out on fire."

Baldwin would keep pace with Punahou matching scoring six to Punahou's five. Jeremiah Badillo hit a jumper for the Bears before Punahou head coach Darren Matsuda called timeout.

Punahou went on a 5-0 run out of the timeout before Baldwin responded with a 4-0 run of their own. The Buffanblu then closed out the quarter with a 5-0 run to head into the 4th quarter with a commanding 56-28 lead.

Micah Ma'a got the 4th quarter going offensively with a bucket off of an offensive rebound. Baldwin would then go on a 9-0 run before Punahou's Kupono Fey converted on a lay-up attempt. The Bears responded with a 6-0 run sparked by Semisi Malafu who had back to back buckets.

Buffanblu scored the last points of the game coming off a Daniel Andrews reverse lay-up and a steal and finish by Kanawai Noa in the closing seconds to give Punahou the 64-43 victory.

Philip Thomas led the Bears with 8 points and Eldredge and Malafu each had 7 points a piece.

"Punahou is a very, very good team, outstanding talent and they have a lot of it. Hard to play against a team like that," said Gushiken on the loss. "We got a lot of work to do, hopefully these games will help, and I'm sure they will playing against better competition; I think we'll be ok.

Despite the convincing win, Matsuda has his team looking forward.

"We know the season is a marathon not a sprint, our goal is to every day get better," Matsuda said. "We're not worrying about the score or about other teams; we're just worried about us and improving every day."

BENSON TECH 52, MELBOURNE 47

The Techmen had three players in double figures in a 52-47 victory over Melbourne.

Benson Tech's trio of Vonte Carter (13 points), Frank Norman (11) and Jordan Ewell (10) accounted for 34 of the 52 points scored by the Techmen.

Melbourne's Dane Pineau led all scorers with 18 points, and Anthony Vlitas added 11 points and 3 three-pointers in the loss.

G.W. CARVER 62, MARYKNOLL 32

Demetrius Houston poured in 23 points and Jeremy Johnson added 16 more as Carver doubled up on Maryknoll, 62-32.

The Rams used a 23-10 scoring run in the third quarter to put the game all but out of reach for the Spartans, who got 10 points by center Tobias Schramm in the loss.

Carver wlll take on Wilson in the first semifinal set for 6:00 p.m.

WILSON 41 KING KEKAULIKE 39

The Trojans got all they could handle from the Na Alii, but rallied in the third quarter with a 17-5 spurt to take the lead, then held off a late charge to win, 41-39.

Phillip Blatt and Ben Lensch combined for 27 points and 5 threes to lead Wilson, who trailed 18-13 at the half.

Chase Iwata Bartelme poured in 17 points for King Kekaulike in the loss.