The fourth game of the opening day of the Punahou Invitational is at the half. It’s been a back-and-forth battle between the tall team from Jiang’an, Whuan, Hubei, China, and the maroon-and-white squad from Kalihi.
Farrington hit five 3-pointers against Wu Han’s three-quarter court pressure and that’s kept the Governors in the game. They have just seven players suited up for this game, but it hasn’t hurt them so far.
The Governors go ahead 40-39 when Miah Fepuleai hustles after his miss for a putback layup and just 5 seconds left in the third quarter. Wu Han has abandoned its press for now, but they’re getting a lot of layups against an undersized Farrington zone.
L.J. Gonzales is hot from deep. He hits his fourth trey of the game to tie it at 43, but Wu Han answers with a 3 of its own.
Ehzikiel Santiago hits a corner 3 off a drive and kick by Mosi Afe. Wu Han scores for a 52-47 lead, but Fepuleai scores inside to cut it to 52-51. Wu Han going to the FT line for 1-and-1, 2:02. Govs not boxing out, and they are facing Wu Han posts who are 6-6 and 6-9. Offensive board, Wu Han. Sorry there is no Wu Han roster in the program.
Free throw by Wu Han makes it 53-51. Farrington facing man defense with 1:45 left. Govs miss a long 3, but Jerry Killion gets the offensive board and feeds Gonzales, who drills his sixth 3-pointer. That gives the Govs a 54-53 lead. WOW.
Time out, 1:23.
Big man drives from the wing to the basket untouched, avoids a charge, and Wu Han leads 55-54.
Farrington turns the ball over in halfcourt. Wu Han time out, :47.
Wu Han at the line for a 1-and-1. Shot good, but Wu Han is called for a violation. Govs ball. Shot by Killion at the rim is blocked. Farrington out of a time out sets up a corner 3, but Wu Han blocks that and grabs the rebound. Time out with 16.2 ticks left.
Wu Han inbounding, offensive foul called. Push off. Time out Wu Han. Their coach asks a referee what happened. He indicates that his guy’s jersey was being pulled.
Santiago takes a 15-foot jumper near the right elbow and misses. Foul by Farrington, :07.4. Coach Steven Leopoldo was looking for something different. Wu Han two shots. First shot bricks the board, second shot all net. It’s 56-54. FAR gets the ball in, no time outs and Afe is fouled at midcourt, Wu Han’s sixth team foul, :05.9.
Inbounds to Fepuleai, who drives baseline, loses the ball but it’s out on Wu Han with :01 left. Inbbounds pass is deflected and time expires. Wu Han advances to the quarterfinals.
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