Rays slip past Ayuyus in MISO caging

The early rematch between Saipan Southern High School and Kagman High School had the Rays reasserting their might over the Ayuyus as they pulled off a 62-59 victory in the junior varsity division of the 2008 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization High School Basketball League Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Rays and the Ayuyus squared off for the championship last season with Southern taking the title via a 115-102 win over Kagman.

In their first meeting since last year’s finals, Kagman and Southern engaged in the closely fought battle with neither team able to break the game wide open.

Both teams had a sluggish start with Southern scoring only eight in the first period and Kagman drilling nine. Both teams had only players making it into the scoreboard.

In the second quarter, two more Rays players contributed on the team’s offense.

Melvian Cadiang, Joseph Sablan, and Nicko Salem added two points apiece to support Tristan Ecalnea, who fired six to put Southern in the lead at halftime, 22-20.

The Ayuyus lost the lead despite getting 10 first-half points from Jester Kaipat, as they had only Francisco Mettao and Juan Maratita helping Kaipat ran Kagman’s offense.

Southern kept to the driver’s seat at the end of the third period, 40-39, despite scoring 18 markers against Kagman’s 19.

In the third period, the Rays and the Ayuyus began finding their mark with Adrian Palacios nailing seven markers and Cadiang and Ecalnea chipping in four apiece for Southern.

Kagman had four players making four points apiece to keep the Ayuyus in contention, entering the final canto.

The crucial fourth period was a seesaw battle, but Palacios and Ecalnea connected on important baskets to preserve the win for the Rays. Ecalnea scored eight points in the fourth quarter, while Palacios added six.

Maratita and Dominic Reyes fired six markers apiece for the Ayuyus, who missed all their free throws in the fourth period. Had Kagman made four of their five charities, the Ayuyus could have won the game.

The Rays had seven trips from the 15-foot line in the fourth quarter and made four charities. Overall, Southern did a decent job from the free throw area going 14-for-22. Kagman was awarded 17 free throws and hit only three.

Ecalnea paced Southern with 18 points and was impressive from the free throw area with his 9-for-10 shooting. Palacios and Cadiang had 17 and 14 markers, apiece.

Wednesday’s game was Southern’s first this season, while Kagman played in its second match and dropped to a 0-2 record.

The Ayuyus debuted against the MHS Dolphins last week with the latter escaping with a similar 62-59 victory at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

SSHS 62 – Ecalnea 18, A. Palacios 17, Cadiang 14, Villanueva 7, Salem 4, Sablan 2, Wesley 1.

KHS 59 – Kaipat 14, Reyes 13, Maratita 12, Mettao 8, Ogo 6, Babauta 4, Chargualaf 2.

Scoring by quarters: 8-9, 22-20, 40-39, 62-59.