Lady Dolphins defend basketball title

 The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins wrapped up a perfect season and clinched back-to-back championships after pounding Saipan Southern High School, 70-18, in the finals of the 2011-2012 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Basketball League last Saturday at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium.

The 52-point win put an exclamation point in the Lady Dolphins’ flawless season and gave seniors Lia Rangamar, Jaime Mendoza, Madeleine Alegre and Reylynn Sapong a perfect gift on their last year with MHS. Completing the champion squad are juniors Rachel Abrams, Lily Williams, Jeralyn Castillo, Melody Johnson, Charlene Lizardo, and Nicole Arboliras and sophomores Jeraldine Castillo and Krizandra Gozon. Jonni Bohman and assistant Max Garcia coach MHS.

With eight returning players on their roster, the Lady Dolphins are expected to be a strong contender when they vie for a third straight title next season.

MHS heated up early in the finals and broke out to a daunting 26-1 lead after the first period. Jeraldine Castillo caught fire early with a string of 10 points and finished the first quarter with 14 markers, while Abrams chipped in eight.

Roxanne Duenas managed a pair of treys for eight points in the second quarter for Southern, but MHS still trotted ahead at halftime, 40-9. Melody Johnson accounted for a handful of checks for MHS in the second canto

The Lady Dolphins moved the ball around after the break and continued to dominate possession, limiting SSHS to three points in the third quarter. Six Lady Dolphins contributed on offense to extended their lead to 46, 58-12, going into the final period.

Jeraldine Castillo finished with a game-high 27 points, while Duenas was held to 11 on the short end.

MHS finished the regular season undefeated in six games and earned a first round bye in the double-elimination tournament. They downed Saipan International School, 79-17, in the second round to advance to the finals with a twice-to-beat advantage.

Runner-up Southern went through Kagman High School, 72-53, in the opening round, but fell to the champs in another lopsided defeat. The Lady Rays regrouped however and made it past SIS, 61-48, in the semifinals, to set up another game against MHS.

Five teams participated in the weekend tournament, including the Tinian High School. THS is made up of Hilary San Nicolas, Jaime Omengkar, Rudynna Lazaro, Regene Palacios, Marynita Cepeda, Chloe Hofschneider, Jessabel Nepedog, Mary Grace Atalig, Tiana Emul, Noelanie Santos, and Shanady Adriano with head coach Craig Meaghan and assistant Rian Piccin.

THS fell to SIS, 37-41, in its opener, but outlasted KHS, 50-36, in its first lower bracket match. SIS managed to oust THS, 53-51, in a nail-biter before being eliminated by the Lady Rays.

MHS 70 – Jeraldine Castillo 27, Abrams 14, Mendoza 6, Johnson 5, Alegre 4, Gozon 4, Arboliras 2, Jeralyn Castillo 2, Lizardo 2, Rangamar 2, Sapong 2.

SSHS 18 – Duenas 11, Bartolo 2, Francisco 2, Gelacio 2, Lizama 2

Scoring by quarters: 26-1, 40-9, 58-13, 70-18.