MHS cage belles complete undefeated regular season

 The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins ran roughshod over the Kagman High School Ayuyus, 61-26, and capped off a perfect regular season in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Wednesday at the MHS Gymnasium. KHS finished the eliminations at 1-5.

In addition, MHS also defeated KHS, 17-8, in the junior varsity pairing.

The Junior Dolphins finished tied for first place with Saipan Southern High School in the standings. Both squads ended with 3-1 records, while KHS went winless in four games.

The defending champions varsity Dolphins ran the table in six games and are the heavy favorite coming into the double-elimination postseason, which is set from Nov. 18 to 19.

The Nov. 18 matches will take place at the MHS Gym starting at 1pm, while the games will be moved to the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium on Nov. 19 with games starting at 8am.

MHS’ Melody Johnson heated up early with 11 points in the opening 10 minutes as the Dolphins catapulted ahead, 26-1.

KHS’ Anna Ada scrambled for seven markers in the second quarter, but MHS was still up big, 32-12, at halftime.

MHS backed off after the pause, but managed to trade baskets with the Ayuyus in the third quarter as the count shifted to 40-18 in favor of MHS.

MHS’ Jaime Mendoza then found her range in the final quarter and drained three treys for 11 points as MHS trotted to an easy victory.

Mendoza finished with 17 points to lead the field, while KHS’ Ada managed eight in the loss.

In the junior varsity match, Patricia Echavez buried a late 3-pointer in the opening period to put MHS ahead, 9-2.

Both teams struggled to find the mark as the count blipped to 12-4 at halftime. MHS’ Joy Pena led the Dolphins with seven points in the first half.

Baskets remained hard to come by after the break as both squads only managed a free throw apiece in the third quarter, 13-5, in favor of MHS heading into the final canto and MHS would hold on in the final period to secure the win.

MHS’ Pena led all scorers with seven points, while Natasha Quitano led KHS with a couple of baskets

VARSITY

MHS 61 – Mendoza 17, Johnson 13, Gozon 8, Rangamar 7, Abrams 6, Williams 4, Adelbai 2, Alegre 2, Teodoro 2

KHS 26 – Ada 8, Piailug 5, Halstead 4, Kaipat 3, Jetley 2, Lara 2, Torres 2

Scoring by quarters: 26-1, 32-12, 40-18, 61-26.

JUNIOR VARSITY

MHS 17 – Pena 7, Echavez 5, Ocampo 3, Gatchalian 2.

KHS 8 – Quitano 4, Rasa 2, Cabrera 2

Scoring by quarters: 9-2, 12-4, 13-5, 17-8.