KHS, MHS girls win in MISA basketball

The Kagman High School Ayuyus and Marianas High School Dolphins were both successful in yesterday’s 2005 MISA Interscholastic High School Basketball League, with the Ayuyus edging the Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays and the Dolphins drubbing the Grace Christian Academy Eagles.

The Dolphins were flat out aggressive and dominated the Eagles en route to a lopsided 66-37 victory at the MHS Gymnasium.

It was a running start for the MHS girls as they lit up the scoreboard for 24 points in the opening period, while limiting the Eagles to eight points for the early lead.

The Eagles remained determined and after shaking off all the butterflies, matched the Dolphins’ effort in the second period—16-16. With that, the Dolphins rested with a 40-24 cushion.

The halftime break seemed to cool down the Eagles, who struggled in the third period and hit only a field goal. The Dolphins also got into a bit of a funk but still poured in more points and headed into the final quarter with a commanding 50-26 lead.

The Dolphins would close strong and left with the 29-point victory margin.

Mary Ermitano and Werlly Quitugua led the Dolphins with 14 and 12 points. Christina Ta led the Eagles with 10 points.

At about the same time, the Ayuyus walked off the court of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with a 29-26 victory.

Entering the second half down by three, Manta Rays center Elsie Accad tried to bring her team closer with a six-point effort, however, Kagman responded behind veteran Mallory Conner and Savannah Stein and increased their lead to four points, 24-20, with only one period remaining in regulation.

The Manta Rays managed to knot the score at 26-26 with 3:23 remaining, but a free throw by Conner with 1:56 left put the Ayuyus ahead again, 27-26.

Conner missed her second free throw attempt, but fortunately, Stein grabbed the rebound, got fouled, and hit a free throw for a two-point lead.

The Manta Rays had a chance to get back into it, but a costly turnover enabled the Ayuyus to emerge victorious.

Stein and Conner led the Ayuyus with 15 and 10 points, while Accad led the Manta Rays with 10 points.

MHS 66—Ermitano 14, Quitugua 12, Agbanlog 10, S. Yang 10, J. Jang 8, Palero 4, Iakopo 4, Bermudes 2, E. Jang 2.
GCA 37—Ta 10, Arnold 9, Camacho 8, Anastacio 4, Phan 4, Matsumoto 2.
Scoring by quarters: 24-8, 40-24, 50-26, 66-37.
Referee: Gabriel White.

KHS 29—Stein 15, Conner 10, Falig 4, Diaz 2, Takai 1.
SSHS 26—Accad 10, Henny 6, Edith 2, Joanna 2, Crystal 2, Vicenta 2.
Scoring by quarters: 7-10, 15-12, 24-20, 29-26.
Referees: John Reyes and Jonathan Tenorio.