Ayuyus stun Dolphins in MISO caging

  Kagman High School snapped Marianas High School’s winning run in the varsity division of the 2011-2012 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys Basketball League, following the Ayuyus’ 78-72 upset of the Dolphins last Wednesday night at the MHS Gymnasium.

Kagman now has a 3-1 record to tie MHS in second place and move a win behind the league-leading Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays (4-1).

The varsity tiff was a hot ticket as the match remained deadlocked at 21-all after the opening 10 minutes.

Joshua Jones led the Ayuyus’ attack in the first period with his eight points, while John Darag paced the Dolphins with seven. Kagman’s Frank Mettao and MHS’ Ezra Caro each delivered six points in support to their respective top scorers.

The game was still neck and neck at midpoint with KHS managing a slim 39-38 edge. Both teams spread the ball around well in the second quarter, resulting to six different players from each team scoring in that period.

Then at the start of the second half, the Dolphins regrouped and managed a one-point lead, 52-51, heading into crunch time, thanks largely to the six points of Erick Dela Rosa. Jones was still at it for Kagman in the third and his late three-pointer kept the Ayuyus hot on the trail.

Although the game was played at MHS, the Kagman crowd was making more noise than the Dolphins supporters and the Ayuyus responded well with a big burst of energy late in the game.

Jones was still unstoppable in the final canto, tallying 12 down the homestretch, while Jason Lampkins and Mettao did a good job ripping down rebounds in the clutch and were quick to fire the ball down court to their guards for a handful of fastbreak baskets.

The Dolphins, on the other hand, had issues protecting the ball and struggled finding good looks at the basket in its half court offense, appearing to be hesitant late in the game.

Jones led all scorers with 29, while Darag mustered 26 on the short end after a slow start. Darag was held to 11 markers in the first half, but led the Dolphins last-ditch effort in the fourth quarter with 13, seven of which came from the stripe.

Meanwhile the MHS junior squad romped KHS, 76-38, in last Wednesday’s curtain raiser.

The win was the junior Dolphins’ third in as many games and moved them in first place, while fourth ranked KHS absorbed its second loss in three games.

MHS wasted no time doubling up the junior Ayuyus, 18-9, in the opening period. Renen Lansang led the charge with six points.

The junior Dolphins never looked back and trudged ahead at halftime, 38-19, as eight different players contributed on offense. Kagman’s Jesse Santos scrambled for nine markers in the first half, but could not get much support from his teammates.

MHS did not let up after the pause as Lixing Dai buried a pair of treys for eight points in the third quarter. From there, MHS boasted a 54-31advantage heading into the last period and cruised to a win.

Lansang and Dai teamed up for 22 points to top the junior Dolphins, while Santos tallied 22 for Kagman.

The season continues today with Grace Christian Academy’s varsity Eagles (0-3) taking on the Knights of Mount Carmel School (0-4) at 4pm, followed by a junior pairing between the Saipan International School Geckos (0-1) and Manta Rays (2-1).

Junior Varsity Game

MHS 76 – Lansang 12, Dai 10, Capuyon 8, DL Guerrero 8, Kwon 6, Yap 6, Floresca 6, Aguilar 4, Ano 4, Manalili 4, Palacios 4, Camacho 2, Malonzo 2.

KHS 38 – Je. Santos 22, Mafnas 8, Jo Santos 5, Reyes 2, Recaido 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-9, 38-19, 54-31, 76-38.

Varsity Game

KHS 78 – Jones 29, Mettao 15, Lampkins 11, Santiago 8, Del Rosario 5, Taitano 4, Santos 4, Nerro 2.

MHS 72 – Darag 26, Caro 14, Dela Rosa 14, Limes 6, Lacsina 5, Moran 4, Vertudez 2, Francisco 1.

Scoring by quarters: 21-21, 39-38, 51-52, 78-72.