Knights clobber Dolphins, 94-81

The Mount Carmel High School Knights added another win to their corner, this time victimizing the Marianas High School Dolphins at the MHS Gymnasium Wednesday evening.

All-around cager Dan Barcinas was his usual self against the Dolphins, leading all scorers with 21 points, while Jeff Deleon Guerrero pumped in 16 points as the Knights cruised to a 94-81 victory.

Barcinas, Deleon Guerrero, and the rest of the mighty Knights were hot from the start, catching the Dolphins off guard and lighting up the scoreboard for a whopping 37 points, while limiting MHS to 14 points in the first 10 minutes of action.

At that point, Barcinas had already recorded 12 points, while Deleon Guerrero and Stephen Kim had punched in nine and seven points.

The Dolphins responded with a stronger push in the second period behind the play of Christian Dela Cruz and Jayvon Tarkong to outscore the Knights 22-16 and inched to within 17 points, 36-53, by halftime.

Just when it seemed like the Dolphins were figuring ways to handle the Knights, the Mt. Carmel cagers went on another impressive run, widening the gap and making it difficult for the Dolphins to stage a comeback.

Barcinas would add another nine points and Deleon Guerrero seven as the Knights fired up 31 points to head to the final stanza with a commanding 84-55 lead.

Carlos Feger, Tarkong, and Josh Tumaquip did their best in closing in on the Knights. However, despite putting up just 10 points in the final 10 minutes, Mt. Carmel still managed to leave the Dolphins searching for answers on their home court.

Kim and Robert Naraja also chipped in with 11 points apiece for the Knights.

Tarkong paced the Dolphins with 19 points, while Dela Cruz and Tumaquip supported him with 12 and 11 points. Feger finished with 11 points.

Meanwhile, the Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays and Kagman High School Ayuyus battled at about the same time at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnsium.

Details of the match were not available as of press time, but a meeting between MISA and Division of Sports and Recreation director Tony Rogolifoi will be held today at 5:30pm at MHS to discuss matters coming out from the match.

A glass window was shattered at the Ada Gym shortly after the match, forcing Rogolifoi to suspend all games originally scheduled at the facility until the matter is addressed.

Rogolifoi said he expects to address the conduct of referees, players, and coaches during the meeting in hopes of promoting goodwill and sportsmanship throughout the remainder of the season.

Knights 94—D. Barcinas 21, J. Deleon Guerrero 16, Kim 11, Naraja 11, Ogumoro 9, T. Deleon Guerrero 6, Kintol 6, Tenorio 6, A. Barcinas 4, J. Sablan 2, V. Sablan 2.
Dolphins 81—Tarkong 19, Dela Cruz 16, Tumaquip 12, Feger 11, Paez 8, Aldan 7, Itibus 6, Matteo 2.
Scoring by quarters: 37-14, 53-36, 84-55, 94-81.
Referees: Jess Pacheco and Ricky Itaas.