Lady Dolphins secure top playoff spot in HS hoops

Marianas High School’s Destiny Pangelinan goes for a shot against Mount Carmel School during one of their games in the 2022 IT&E Interscholastic Girls High School Basketball League at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins secured the top seed in the playoffs after defeating Agape Christian School Torchbearers in the last regular season game of the 2022 IT&E Interscholastic Girls High School Basketball League last Dec. 7 at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Lady Dolphins, led by Destiny Pangelinan, outscored the Torchbearers, 47-19, and allowed the Torchbearers only 6 points in the first half.

Pangelinan swished 18 points through the net—outdoing herself in every game this season. She was supported by teammates Kalista Klaver’s 8 points and Angellyn Roligat’s 7 buckets.

On the defense, the Lady Dolphins’ speedy footwork and tight screens didn’t allow the Torchbearers much bearing with the ball, as no player reached double digits. Eunice Xu was the lone player who was able to penetrate their defenses with 8 points. 

The rest of the Torchbearers had a tough time navigating through Dolphin-infested waters as Ruth Zhang managed to score 6 points, with a field goal each from Lynn Zhao and Pheobe Chen, and a free throw from Susie Cheng.

The Lady Dolphins ended the regular season on top of the leaderboard with 5-1 win-loss card, while ACS has a 3-4 record.

Burning rubber through the night, Saipan Southern High School handed Grace Christian Academy their second loss of the season after defeating them, 37-22.

In a close first half with just a 1-point deficit of 13-12 in favor of the Lady Eagles, Lady Manta Tasilyn Ramon went into overdrive with her 16 points and steered them to W city in the second half with not a single glance in the rearview mirror.

Following the lead of Ramon, the Lady Mantas’ Yasmeen Younis and Andrea Ramos took turns with nine and six points respectively from the perimeter, assisting their team to a huge lead in the final minutes of the game. 

Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles had their foot on the brake as they couldn’t get a proper handle on the ball, with top scorer Azriel Fatialofa reduced to just 7 points. Teammates Soleil Lamar contributed 7 points as well along with Katriel Saures’ 6 points, and Alayna Howards’ 2 points—but there just wasn’t enough gas in their tank to drive past the Lady Mantas for the win.

The Lady Mantas and Lady Eagles are tied for the second seed at 4-2 in the standings.

The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17.

In the first game, Kagman High School defeated Mount Carmel School, 35-22, with Kiana Camacho leading the Lady Ayuyus with her 14 points.
KHS’ Elicia Cabrera back-stopped Camacho with 11 points, while Sheira Dela Rosa scored 5, Priscilla Tomokane made 4, and one free throw was made by Kaitani Tudela. 
Valerie Estella scored the most for the Lady Knights with 10 points followed by Kayannie Peter’s 5 points. Gwen Gamab sank 3 points, while Chealza Navarro and Erin Frink scored 2 points each.
The Lady Ayuyus wound up at 2-4, while the Lady Knights are at 3-3.
The double-elimination tournament will start tonight with Tinian High School facing off with MCS, GCA challenging ACS, and SSHS going up against KagHS. 
The IT&E Interscholastic Girls High School Basketball League is being run by the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation.

MHS 47 – Pangelinan 18, Klaver 8, Roligat 7, Lopez 6, Hofschneider 4, Ogumoro and Mendoza 2.
ACS 19 – Xu 8, Zhang 6, Zhao and Chen 2, Cheng 1.
Scoring by halves: 39-6; 47-19.

SSHS 37 – Ramon 16, Younis 9, Ramos 6, Sablan 4, Sagarino 2.
GCA 22 – Fatialofa 7, Lamar 7, Soleil 6, Howards 2.
Scoring by halves: 12-13; 37-22.

KHS 35 – Camacho 14, Cabrera 11, Dela Rosa 5, Tomokane 4, Tudela 1.
MCS 22 – Estella 10, Peter 5, Gamab 3, Navarro and Frink 2.
Scoring by halves: 16-9; 35-22.