Brilliant/Palms sweeps U12 league

Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star won its last two games in the boys division of the Inaugural 2008 NMIFA U12 Interscholastic Football League to sweep the regular season.

Brilliant/Palms, which is composed of players from the two schools, secured the pennant as early as Wednesday after beating the then undefeated Eucon International School, 1-0.

Kennedy Isuka delivered the game-winning goal in the second half to give Brilliant/Palms a 5-0 record in the Northern Group of the U12 league.

The Brenda Schultz-coached squad made it 6-0 when Brilliant/Palms won via a forfeit over Tanapag Elementary School yesterday.

With a no-show for Tanapag, Schultz had her girls and boys strikers playing in a scrimmage, which ended in a tie 3-3.

“All our players showed up for the game and it would be a waste of time if we will not play, so we went on to have a scrimmage. It’s a good practice match for our players as we prepare for the playoffs,” Schultz said.

“I am very happy with the way our players (girls and boys) have been playing. They have shown significant improvement as the league progresses. They have jelled well and are playing better each game,” Schultz added.

Brilliant/Palms’ girls team finished the regular season with a 5-1 record, losing only to Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School during the opening of the league last month.

Brilliant/Palms’ girls team is composed of Lucy Ha, Nishta Thomas, Nava Khorram, Kristina Folta, Gabriele Race, Phalai Frink, Nicole Arenovski, Megan Yost, and Neghar Rastguiy.

The boys’ team members are Isuka, Kenyon Schultz, Colin and Quintin Ramsey, Aaron lee, Billy Hinson, Danny and John Auther, and Harrison Hill.

Brilliant/Palms’ boys team defeated GTC, Garapan Elementary School, Saipan International School and Kagman before sweeping its last two matches.

Koblerville is leading the Southern Group, which also include Dandan A and B, Saipan Community School, William S. Reyes Elementary School, San Vicente, San Antonio, and Oleai.

Several games in the Southern and Northern sides have yet to be completed and organizers of the inaugural league were set to meet last night to determine the schedule of the remaining games before starting the playoffs.

Initially, league ground rules allowed the top two teams from each group to advance to the playoffs.