Lady Dolphins sweep Rays

 Marianas High School won both its varsity and junior varsity games against Saipan Southern High School in the 2011-2012 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Girls Basketball League last Thursday at the MHS Gymnasium.

The Lady Dolphins held off a fourth quarter surge by the Lady Manta Rays for a 58-48 win in the varsity game, while MHS slipped past Southern in the junior varsity match, 33-28.

The defending varsity champions stretched their unbeaten streak to four, while Southern fell to an even 2-2 card. Southern and MHS’s junior varsity squads hold similar 2-1 cards.

The Lady Dolphins held the Lady Rays to only two points in the first period to take early control of the match. Lia Rangamar led the first-quarter attack with her seven points, giving MHS a 17-2 advantage.

Southern recovered in the second canto, as it drew contributions from six players to move within a basket at halftime, 22-24.

The Lady Dolphins regrouped after the break and reclaimed control of the match, 42-31, heading into the final period. Melody Johnson carried the torch for MHS with her eight points in the third quarter.

Then in the fourth and final canto, Roxanne Duanes racked up 15 points to lead Southern’s late rally in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Rays ran out of time.

Duenas led all scorers with 23 points, while Johnson and Jaime Mendoza combined for 31 points for MHS.

In the junior varsity pairing, Krizandra Gozon tallied eight points in the opening 10 minutes to help MHS build a 12-6 margin. Jeraldine Castillo supported Gozon with five points in the second quarter, as MHS remained in front at the break, 21-11. Gozon and Castillo accounted for all of MHS’ points in the first half.

In the second half, Czarina Lizama came alive for Southern, making seven markers in the third quarter. However, the Lady Rays still trailed, 20-28, heading into the final period.

MHS was contained to just a handful of baskets at crunch time, but its earlier lead was enough to preserve the win.

Gozon finished with a game-high 17 points, while Lizama turned in 13 on the short end.

The regular season of the MISO girls caging continues today with the Lady Dolphins taking on Saipan International School’s Lady Geckos (1-2) at 4:30pm for the varsity match. Then on Thursday, Southern faces Kagman High School (0-2) at 4:30pm for the junior varsity game, while the varsity match is set at 5:30pm.

Junior Varsity Game

MHS 33 – Gozon 17, Castillo 12, Echavez 2.

SSHS 28 – C. Lizama 13, V. Bartolo 6, Francisco 5, Kintaro 2, C. Bartolo 2

Scoring by quarters: 12-6, 21-11, 28-20, 33-28.

Varsity Game

MHS 58 – Johnson 16, Mendoza 15, Williams 8, Rangamar 7, Arboliras 4, Ada 4, Alegre 2, Abrams 2.

SSHS 48 – Duenas 23, Gelacio 6, Maui 6, Joseph 5, R. Lizama 3, Banados 2, Lloren 2, Libunao 1.

Scoring by quarters: 17-2, 24-22, 42-31, 58-48.