Punahou's Nick Velasquez puts up an easy layup in the second half. Sylvia Lee | SL

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022013_bbkb_sl-9945.jpg - Sylvia Lee | SL

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Punahou posted a 25-point fourth quarter to motor past Farrington. 63-50. in an opening round game of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Division I Boys Basketball Championships at Moanalua Gymnasium.

The Govs jumped out to a 20-11 lead before the Buffanblu eventually found their way back into the contest late in the second quarter, fueled by a pair of triples by Justin Kam that helped trimmed the lead down to just a basket.

"The first half really showed just how young of a team this is." said Punahou head coach Darren Matsuda. "They were just nervous. I think we missed a lot of easy shots we normally hit, we didn't really execute our gameplan too well. We were really pretty lucky that we put together a little run at the end of the second quarter to bring us close at the half."

Farrington led 31-29 at halftime.

The score remained tight heading into the final frame, as both teams played to a 9-all deadlock in the third, but Punahou broke things open right of the gate in the fourth.

"We just came out agressive," said guard Nick Velasquez, who led all scorers with 23 points. "It's do or die right now, and we didn't want to go home."

The Buffanblu rattled off 10 unanswered points to open up the fourth to establish a 48-40 lead, one that the Buffanblu would not relinquish down the stretch.

Guard Jordan Tanuvasa gave credit to the Buffanblu's change in defense scheme in spurring the fourth quarter scoring burst.

"It was our zone defense that really helped us." said Tanuvasa. "First half they kept going inside, they kept scoring inside the paint, so that zone really helped us."

Also key to the fourth quarter explosion were contributions by the Buffanblu bench, notably Dayson Watanabe (9 pts) and Micah Ma'a (6 pts).

"Dayson, Micah they really contributed a lot to that run (in the fourth quarter). " said Tanuvasa. "They brought some intensity and good energy to help us get that boost and get ahead."

The Governors had three players score in double figures, with Isaiah Smith and Jacob McEnroe leading the way with 12 points each. Post Tyler Liana added 10 in a losing effort.

"Farrington is a great team. They had an excellent gameplan and they executed it very well." said Matsuda.

Up next for the Buffanblu is the third-seed King Kekaulike in a quarterfinal matchup set for 5 p.m. back at Moanalua.

"They (King Kekaulike) have a really strong point guard and a really good small forward and their bigs are really good," remarked Matsuda of the Na Ali'i. "They went 14-0 in the BIIF, so its going to be tough one."