Undefeated GCA caps girls MS hoops with title

The Grace Christian Academy Lady Eagles swept the season and capped it off with the championship title in the IT&E Interscholastic Girls Middle School Basketball League 2023-2024 last Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Lady Eagles overpowered the exhausted Dandan Middle School Tottots, 28-6. The Tottots had a tough morning as they battled their way to the finals and by the time they got there, exhaustion set in.

As a result, the fresh GCA squad came out of the starting whistle with a run and immediately got to work. Aaleyah Fatialofa used her range and height as she traversed easily through the court. Seamlessly, Fatialofa put up back-to-back points before DMS could even catch up.

Fatialofa scored 10 back-to-back points, while only 4 points were scored by DMS’ Shaenna Yamada and Rhodalyn Zandueta. Nevaeh Camacho then scored a 3-pointer in between Fatialofa’s attacks at the basket, and they continued their rampage as they ended the first half, 20-4.

DMS tried their hardest to catch up, but the gap was just too big to bridge. The only other basket made by the Tottots through a tough GCA defense was Sireane Deleon Guerrero. Other than that, they were held in limbo as they were reduced to just 6 points throughout the game.

In the end, all DMS could do was take all the shots they could, but failed to yield results against a formidable GCA team. Fatialofa scored the majority of GCA’s points with 17, while Camacho had 7 markers, and Aiyanah Fatialofa contributed four.

With the Fatialofa sisters and Camacho on GCA’s roster were Jessica Kwak, Wylynn Pua, Anne Gabrielle Arriola, Remelene Diaz, Zoey Kwak, Amy Park, Alice Moon and Joanella Yarofalir.

GCA’s head coach Fred Fatialofa was off-island, so his assistant coaches Azriel Fatialofa and Trevor Repp were interviewed by the media after the game.

Repp said of their performance, “They played really well as a team. Lots of heart and they really persevered and played well the whole season.”

Aaleyah and Aiyanah’s older sister, Azriel said of her sisters’ performance, “I’m honestly really proud of them. Obviously as sisters, they already have that chemistry and they connect already. So with them winning this championship, I’m really proud as a big sister.”

As for their undefeated season, Repp said, “They were undefeated and they really improved throughout the season as well.” The final five of their team are promoting to high school but Repp said of the players left behind, “I believe in them. The younger players are going to do good and we’ll be able to have a good team next year.”

He then thanked everyone at GCA for coming out to support the team during their games.

GCA 28 – Aaleyah Fatailofa 17, Camacho 7, Aiyanah Fatialofa 4.

DMS 6 – Yamada 2, Zandueta 2, Deleon Guerrero 2.

Scoring by halves: 20-4, 28-6.