Southern trips MHS in all-JV game

Marianas High School’s Earl Ermitanio, 24, is fouled by a Saipan Southern High School player, while Ronel Aque, 8, looks on during their junior varsity game in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys Basketball League yesterday at the MHS Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

Saipan Southern High School had some anxious moments before completing a 47-36 drubbing of Marianas High School in their junior varsity match in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization High School Boys Basketball League yesterday at the MHS Gymnasium.

MHS JV, which was down by 15 points at the halftime break, went on an 8-5 exchange to move within six, 42-36, with still 1:40 left in the game.

Luck, however, sided with the Southern JV side as MHS, playing its second straight game on the same day, failed to score after that and the junior Manta Rays sealed the win on a split free throw by Jethro Cruz and Art Borromeo’s two charities.

Saipan Southern opened with a 10-point lead after one quarter, 14-4, which later ballooned to 15 at the turn, 27-12.

MHS’ scoring picked up in the third to trim the lead to 9, 37-28, before setting up the thrilling finale.

Cruz paced Southern with 12 points, while Isaac Anderson scored 10. June Alipio, Frances Muna, and N-Nes Siech combined for 14 markers.

Dalton Dancoe led MHS’ losing cause with 11 points, while Warren Ellama, Jerald Castillo, and Evan Miller tallied 8, 6, and 5, respectively.

Fatigue could have been a factor in MHS’ loss as the Junior Dolphins were coming off a 49-23 thrashing of Kagman High School 9 in the first game.

MHS overcame a slow start and pulled away in the second quarter for the easy win.

Michael Cenir topscored for MHS with 14 points, while Leowell Cristobal and Castillo added 7 and 5 markers, respectively.

Only four players scored for KHS 9 with Christian Arceo ending up with 15 and Enrique Rabauliman adding 4. Don Babauta and Patrick Santos had one field goal each.

With Saipan Southern winning over MHS, the Rays remained undefeated after four games. MHS dropped to 3-1 with the loss, while KHS 9 completes the standing and holds a 1-3 slate.

Meanwhile, the third match of the night between Grace Christian Academy (1-4) and Marianas Baptist Academy (0-5) was still being played at press time and results will be reported later.

First Game

MHS JV 49–Cenir 14, Cristobal 7, Castillo 5, Diaz 4, Ermitanio 4, Bucayo 3, Cudia 3, Deocares 3, Dancoe 2, Ellama 2, Floresca 2.

KHS 9 23–Arceo 15, Rabauliman 4, Babauta 2, Santos 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-8, 30-12, 36-17, 49-23.

Second Game

SSHS JV 47–Cruz 12, Anderson 10, Alipio 6, Muna 4, Siech 4, Aque 3, Borromeo 3, Cobacha 3, Taitano 2.

MHS JV 36-–Dancoe 11, Ellama 8, Castillo 6, Miller 5, Bucayo 2, Cenir 2, Deocares 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-4, 27-12, 37-28, 47-36.