‘That was the play of the season’: McDowell block, Fowler scoring punch Byrnes ticket to state

Kayzzin McDowell had an uncharacteristic poor shooting day for the Runnin’ Rebels, but he made the play of the game with a chase-down block near the end of the fourth quarter.

On all accounts, Kayzzin McDowell was having a game to forget.

His performance against Mauldin in the Class 5-A upper-state championship was far from his best. Shooting-wise, it was his worst of the season.

McDowell was 0-9 from the field and scored just two points. Whatever he threw toward the net, the Florence Center rims threw it right back out.

“It happens to me sometimes,” said McDowell. “I have games where my shots just aren’t falling. My mindset in those games is to figure out another way I can impact the game.”

That’s just what he did.

With under three minutes to play and Byrnes clinging to a 56-53 lead, Mauldin stole the ball and ran down the court on a fast break. Mauldin’s Alvarez Smith had an open lane to the basket and a lay-in.

McDowell had other plans.

From seemingly out of nowhere, the Runnin’ Rebel senior jolted back down the court just in time to meet Smith at the rim. He leaped high and forward to attempt the block.

McDowell swatted the ball off the backboard so loud that it echoed throughout the Florence Center.

“I saw him going up, and I just thought to myself, ‘This is my chance. I’m going to go up and get it.’”

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the play? McDowell was playing with four fouls.

Had he not timed the block perfectly, he would’ve been kicked out of the game.

“That was the play of the season right there,” said Byrnes head coach Layne Fowler after the game. “I told Kayzzin that, too. That’s just who he is. Even when he’s not having a good shooting night, he’s helping us out in other ways.”

After the shot collided with McDowell’s hand and the backboard, Byrnes senior guard Kanife Hill came down with the rebound. He heaved the ball up the court to a wide-open Will Fowler, who promptly floated the ball in for two.

Will had a game-high 27 points in Byrnes’ 65-53 win. With the victory, the Runnin’ Rebels earned their first state championship berth since 2016.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Will. “It feels really good. Countless late nights and early mornings of putting the work in to get here. I knew one day we’d be in this spot, and here we are.”

“We’ve put the work in as a team, and this is what we’ve gotten back out,” said McDowell. “We’ve earned the opportunity to be here.”

Byrnes will square up with Lexington in the state championship game, an extraordinarily athletic team that boasts a 28-2 record—and one of the best players in the country.

Cam Scott—a Texas commit and one of ESPN’s top 30 players in the 2024 class—should prove to be a tough matchup for the Runnin’ Rebels.

It’ll be McDowell who’s tasked with guarding Scott.

“Cam’s a really good player, but I love to take the challenge head-on,” said McDowell. “I like to be able to prove that I can play against guys like that.”

“Lexington is a talented team led by Cam Scott. They’re long and athletic, but we have an extremely tough and competitive team, too,” said Layne Fowler. “We’re excited for the opportunity.”

Byrnes and Lexington will tip off the Class 5-A State Championship at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 1, at the Florence Center.

THE SCORE BY QUARTERS
Mauldin 19 8 15 13 - 55
Byrnes 13 15 17 20 - 65

BYRNES STAT LEADERS
Will Fowler - 27 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Evan Enos - 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Colt Fowler - 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Kanife Hill - 5 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists