2016 FBA Season/16.06.07/SEA@HWI/Capsule
Aloha from The Punchbowl! Audrey Baradi with this update on the FBA Playoffs. It’s down to the wire with two standout Western Conference teams as the other game 7 of the second round also got underway. Quvianuq returns to the court after missing the Summit's last game which could have shut the Kahunas down back in Seattle. Barrett and Tate make sure to keep the pressure on the FBA’s tallest front court duo, maximizing the scoring opportunities for the home team to match the visitors' scoring machine in fox form. An ally-oop pass by Sharp to Barrett closed the first quarter with a brisk 31 to 24 Hawaii lead.
With a 7 point lead, Hawaii rotates the bench early on giving Seattle an opportunity to close the gap. Seattle immediately takes advantage of Hawaii’s distraction with Quvianuq and Turner, allowing Naranjo to sink an uncontested 3 and the giant polar bear to deny Norwich a rebuttal. The gap narrows enough to even the score within a possession but a shot from the woods by DeMarcus rattles out and gets picked up by Tate. The gap widens back to 5 and holds steady for the remainder of the quarter, keeping Hawaii’s lead 56 to 51 going into halftime. Seattle will need to find a way to gain momentum if they want to get a lead over Hawaii and keep it.
Seattle comes out the gate with renewed energy, evening the score with a well timed 3 pointer from McNamara. Fighting for that momentum, Turner squares off with Barrett in a fiercely contested shot, out foxing the otter to get his own rebound and the second chance points. Hawaii fires back with a set of their own threes from Cross-Kiraly deep in the woods. Hawaii’s towers start leaning as they start showing signs of strain from holding back Seattle’s front court tidal wave. A single possession separates the teams now going into the final quarter with Hawaii leading over Seattle 86 to 83.
The Punchbowl crowd was deafening at the start of the final quarter. Seattle was already looking to take advantage of Hawaii’s second half wear down, Turner starts the final push with a forceful dunk past Hawaii’s defense. Hawaii answered back with two consecutive assisted buckets from Sharp and Feckle respectively. A veritable volley of steals breaks out as the ball changes possession three times before Quvianuq ties up the game with an assist of DeMarcus. As the halfway mark ticks by Hawaii calls a time out to keep Seattle from gaining the much needed momentum. The score remains tied until a lucky bounce by McNamara rattles in to break the barrier and pulls Seattle ahead. Hawaii fights to catch up but mighty mustelids begin to lose steam giving Turner opportunity to widen the gap. It remains a two possession game, with Turner putting the dagger in Hawaii with a two pawed dunk. The Summit outpace the Kahunas to win 113 to 109.
--Audrey Baradi