Ayuyus escape Knights in boys caging

The Kagman High School Ayuyus narrowly survived a third quarter uprising by the Mount Carmel School Knights, 64-61, in Wednesday’s Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization boys basketball varsity match held at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The win improved KHS’ win-loss record to 4-1, while MCS came ever so close to its first win in its seventh attempt.

Meanwhile, the MHS Junior Dolphins crushed the Saipan International School Geckos, 61-13, in the junior varsity pairing.

As a result, top ranked MHS improved its unbeaten streak to five in a row; SIS remains winless after five games.

In the varsity match, a 3-pointer by KHS’ Mike Taitano helped cap a 13-5 lead for the Ayuyus in the opening 10 minutes.

KHS then went a little flat in the second quarter and were contained to just eight points in the period, while MCS shaved a basket off its deficit. KHS still led it, 21-15, at intermission.

To much surprise, the Knights came out with reckless abandon in the third quarter and turned the tables on the Ayuyus, 40-34, heading into crunch time.

MCS’ Angelo Montes caught fire with nine markers in the comeback and received mixed support from his fellow Knights.

MCS held its lead through most of the fourth quarter until KHS bruiser Frank Mettao knotted up the score at 59-all with just 50 seconds left in regulation.

Just seconds later, it was KHS’ Jason Lampkin turn to come up big in the clutch. Lampkin made his way to the free throw line and canned one of two shots to put the Ayuyus ahead, 60-59, with just over 30 seconds left on the clock.

Lampkin and Mettao both played like beasts down low in the trenches and muscled their way to the victory in the final minute.

The duo was relentless in their attacks under their own basket and wrestled down a number of crucial rebounds, which enabled a pair of deciding putback baskets in the final seconds.

Mettao finished the game with 20 points, while MCS’ Reynald Cabaltica led the field with 22.

In the junior varsity game, MHS swiftly jumped out to an early 16-0 lead in the opening period. Five points by MHS’ John Capuyon was complimented by a three-ball from teammate Michael Yap in the first quarter.

MHS was just getting started and shot further ahead, 24-4, at halftime.

Then after the break it went from bad to worse for the Geckos as MHS did not let up in the third quarter, but instead gashed SIS again and ran up a daunting 41-6 lead heading into the last period.

SIS’ Chris Cepeda was held scoreless for the first three quarters of the game and only managed a handful of points in garbage time, however he still managed to lead his team in points.

MHS’ Yap topped the box score with 11 markers as every player on the Junior Dolphins roster came away from the game with at least one basket.

The season continues today at the MHS Gym with a 4pm junior varsity match between SIS and Grace Christian Academy Junior Eagles (3-2); there will be no varsity game.

[B]VARSITY

KHS 64[/B] – Mettao 20, Lampkins 17, Jones 10, Taitano 10, Santiago 4, Santos 2.

[B]MCS 61[/B] – Cabaltica 22, Kautz 13, Montes 11, S. Kim 6, Igitol 5, Taguchi 2, K. Kim 2, Pamintuan 1.

[B]Scoring by quarters: [/B]13-5, 21-15, 34-40, 64-61.

[B]JUNIOR VARSITY

MHS 61[/B] – Yap 11, Dai 8, Capuyon 7, Camacho 7, Palacios 7, Ogumoro 6, Floresca 5, Sanarez 4, Manalili 4, Aguilar 2.

[B]SIS 13[/B] – Cepeda 5, Yoon 4, B Kim 2, Liu 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 16-0, 24-4, 41-6, 61-13.