MHS, KHS still undefeated in boys hoops

Last season’s Top 2 teams are also this season’s Top 2 teams so far as Marianas High School Dolphins and Kagman High School Ayuyus varsity teams are undefeated in the 2023-2024 IT&E Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League.

They have three wins each after they defeated their foes last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Dolphins first came out high and mighty against the Mount Carmel School Knights, 48-32.

It was a rough-and-tumble game with fouls made left and right, but the Dolphins’ strong suit is their strong fastbreak and inside plays. Charlz Sanchez and Khristian David led MHS into a 10-point 28-18 lead at the end of the first half from the pair’s accurate field goals and commanding inside presence.

The Knights went on to play a cat-and-mouse game for the lead, but the Dolphins always seemed to be one step ahead. Jay Francis Pineda and Lance Lerio were the Knights’ go-to duo as they tried to steer the team past the Dolphins throughout the game.

However, the Dolphins just had the upper hand offensively as Sanchez and David drove them home with 15 points and 8 points respectively. Pineda put up 11, while Lerio scored 8.

The Ayuyus then took down the Grace Christian Academy Eagles, 52-39.

Almost all Ayuyus on the team had a piece of the basket as their passing game was on point, burying the Eagles early on.

Reed Camacho had control of the ball the most for the Ayuyus and capitalized on the Eagles’ shaky defense and scored 10 points. Frankie Satur used his height to tower over the Eagles and complemented Camacho with 9 markers of his own.

Meanwhile, the Eagles’ Jiahao Yang and Eric Lai tried to bring their team back from a double-digit deficit. Even with 12 and 11 points each, they could not catch up to the speedy and hard-shelled Ayuyus.

In the other game that night, Saipan Southern High School beat Saipan International School, 59-37.

MHS 48 – Sanchez 15, David 8, Laquian 7, Licayan 5, Jiang, Suba 4, Ye 3, Tengco 2.

MCS 32 – Pineda 11, Lerio 8, San Nicolas 4, Perez 3, Deleon Guerrero 2, Cepeda 2, Terlaje 2.

Scoring by halves: 28-18, 48-32.

KHS 52 – R. Camacho 10, Satur 9, Santos 7, J. Camacho 6, J. Diaz 6, Gonzales 4, Techur 4, A. Diaz 2, Altamirano 2, #25 2.

GCA 39 – Yang 12, Lai 11, J. Taitano 6, Yumul 9, Jones 1.

Scoring by halves: 22-12, 52-39.