Four teams kick off GCDC U17 girls caging

  The Garapan Community Development Center’s 2012 U17 Girls Basketball League kicked off its U17 Girls Basketball League with four teams last Friday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

The league aims to improve the overall development of female youth players, thus participants split up into different teams every Friday night for a round of exhibition matches starting at 5:30pm; weather permitting.

Last week, the Lady Manta Rays and Lady Dolphins triumphed over separate opponents.

The Lady Rays stunned the Lady Barracudas, 24-18, in the curtain raiser, after which the Lady Dolphins escaped the Lady Sharks, 25-24, in the late tiff.

The Lady Barracudas bit first in the opening 16 minutes of Game 1 and assumed an 8-6 edge at the half.

Lady Barracudas’ Chevy Alipio and Lady Rays’ Denise Samson led their teams with four points apiece in the frame.

Samson carried her sterling play into second half and lit up the scoreboard with nine more points that helped lift the Lady Rays past to victory. Eight clutch points were also provided by her teammate Marlene Lumabi.

Samson’s 13 points led the field, as Lady Barracudas’ Alipio was held to four points in the final period.

In Game 2, the Lady Dolphins panned out an early 13-11 advantage at halftime off of seven points from Glorily Williams.

Then in the payoff period the Lady Sharks’ Melody Johnson caught a whim and led a late rally with nine points, but the Lady Dolphins spread the ball around well enough to fend off the comeback.

Williams and Johnson led their respective squads with nine points apiece in the game.

The league will run through early April, after which the CNMI Women’s Association will co-sponsor a finale tournament in May to help celebrate the GCDC’s first anniversary; trophies and prizes will be awarded, accordingly.

Starting this Friday organizers will divide the players into two fields-advanced and developmental.

The teams will compete against one another and assemble different teams every week within their respective pools. Then after completion of the regular season the fields will rejoin for the post-season tournament.

Team captains will be designated to pick the playoff teams, which will stay together for the remainder of the tournament.

Players of all skill levels are still welcome to come out and participate; the number of teams may be expanded depending on the turnout.

First Game

Lady Rays 24 – Samson 13, Lumabi 8, Francisco 2, Flores 1.

Lady Barracudas 18 – Alipio 8, Echavez 6, Gatchalian 2, Reyes 2/

Scoring by halves: 6-8, 24-18.

Second Game

Lady Dolphins 25 – Williams 9, Abrams 4, Jeraly Castillo 4, Rios 4, Lebria 2.

Sharks 24 – Johnson 9, Mendoza 5, Gozon 3, Iwasaki 3, Alegre 2, Jerald Castillo 2.

Scoring by halves: 13-11, 25-24.