Knights bounce back with down-the-wire victory

Defending champion Mt. Carmel School Knights bounced back with a fury Friday night, beating the Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays in the 2006 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Association High School Basketball League.

The Knights played with more intensity compared to when they took the court in their opening day loss to the Marianas High School Dolphins on Wednesday. This time around, Mt. Carmel played tough and was successful in a down-the-wire 76-73 victory at the MHS Gymnasium.

All-around standout Dan Barcinas had a lot to do with the Knights’ success as he tormented the Saipan Southern High defense and lit up the scoreboards for 33 points, with the bulk coming in the final period.

Barcinas and company were in for a good fight as the Manta Rays, who faced the Knights in last year’s finals, were seeking revenge.

As expected, the two teams were neck and neck in the opening quarter, with the Knights going up 22-18 as Barcinas pumped in nine points.

The Mantas were able to inch a bit closer in the second period as young gun Bill Babauta carried his team offensively and knocked in seven markers, helping Saipan Southern pull to within a field goal, 35-37, at halftime.

With fans screaming their hearts out in support of their teams, both squads exchanged baskets in the third and the tight game continued. Rayner Ferrer and Mike Eclevia combined for eight points to lead the Mantas, while Barcinas and Jeff Deleon Guerrero combined for 10 points for Mt. Carmel, which padded its lead to four points, 53-49, with one stanza remaining.

Saipan Southern came out strong and managed to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter, but Barcinas was far from done as he scored six unanswered points to swing the favor back to Mt. Carmel’s corner, 63-61.

A fastbreak layup by Preston Basa leveled the score and the two teams were tied four times from there before the Knights went on a 4-0 run for a 75-71 lead with 1:24 left.

Saipan Southern was able to close in when Ferrer knocked in a free throw with 1:12 left. The team had another chance to move in and even tie the game, but they converted only one of four free throws and trailed, 73-75, with 40.9 seconds on the clock.

The Mantas caught another break after Mt. Carmel was whistled for a three-second violation, but the boys from the south weren’t able to capitalize as they turned the ball over with a half court violation and just 24.1 seconds remaining.

Kovin Ogumoro was then fouled with 1.3 seconds left and hit one of two free throws for the final score.

Barcinas was a key factor in the payoff period as he connected for 16 points on six baskets and four three throws.

Deleon Guerrero and Steven Kim finished with 19 and 10 points in solid support for the Knights.

Babauta led the Manta Rays with 18 points, while Basa and Jack Lizama contributed 13 and 11 points.

Earlier, the MHS Lady Dolphins survived their first test in defense of their title and defeated Saipan Southern girls, 40-34, in a come-from-behind fashion.

The Mantas were able to take the early lead, 10-8, with Nicole Rios spearheading the attack with four points in the first quarter, and were able to increase their lead after outscoring their opponents, 9-6, in the second period for a 19-14 halftime advantage.

The Lady Dolphins were able to strike back at the start of the second half as veterans Emy Oiterong and Werlly Quitugua help push their team to within a field goal, 23-25.

With the game on the line, the Lady Dolphins kicked into turbo mode and successfully pulled off the comeback charge with a 17-9 run. Oiterong and Quitugua each had four points in the run, but it was Marlene “Shorty” Agbanlog who led the way as she knocked in a couple of field goals plus a triple.

Quitugua and Agbanlog finished with 11 points apiece to lead the Lady Dolphins in their 2006 debut, while Rios and Jhoanna Omar paced Saipan Southern with eight points apiece.

MISA action returns on Wednesday as the Dolphins battle the Kagman High School Ayuyus at 4pm.

Girls

MHS 40 – Quitugua 11, Agbanlog 11, Oiterong 8, Padilla 6, Ermitanio 2, Tacliad 2.

SSHS 34 – Omar 8, Rios 8, Elayda 6, Coleman 6, Ito 4, Muna 2.

Scoring by quarters: 8-10, 14-19, 23-25, 40-34.

Referees: Joe Mettao and Jonathan Tenorio.

Boys

MCS 76 – D. Barcinas 33, Deleon Guerrero 19, Kim 10, Ogumoro 7, Sablan 4 Naraja 2, Kintol 1.

SSHS 73 – Babauta 18, Basa 13, Lizama 11, Ja. Bahillo 6, Eclevia 6, Duenas 5, Ferrer 5, Je. Bahillo 4, Dela Cruz 2, Palacios 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-18, 37-35, 53-49, 76-73.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.