Ayuyus race past Dolphins

Kagman High School held off Marianas High School’s rally to eke out a thrilling 75-73 win in the 2008-2009 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Basketball League Tuesday night at the MHS Gymnasium.

The last game in the double-round robin regular season was undecided until the final shot, which the Dolphins missed ending their chances to force an overtime.

The Ayuyus were holding to a precarious one-point lead, 73-72, after Nino Feria canned a banked shot from the middle.

KHS coach Francis San Nicolas called timeout in the last 15.9 seconds of the game and his Ayuyus executed the designed play from the Dolphins’ backcourt.

Dominic Reyes inbounded the ball, passed it to Jester Kaipat, who was at the right sideline and drew the Dolphins defense on him.

Two Dolphins defenders clamped down on Kaipat, who had a presence of mind to pitch the ball to a streaking Kroy Ogo. Ogo was a few steps away from his closest pursuer and made a fastbreak layup to increase the Ayuyus’ lead to three 75-72, with 8.6 left in the game.

MHS was out of timeouts and was force to go on its own. Tim Sula inbounded the ball and threw it to Romulo Sarmiento, who was trapped at the corner and lost the ball. But a Kagman defender touched the possession last allowing the Dolphins to keep the ball with two seconds left in the game.

Sula was the designated inbounder anew, but before he could pass the ball, referee Arnold Mesa called a unsportsmanlike foul on Juan Maratita, who held on to Norman Chan’s jersey while trying to prevent the Dolphins guard from getting the ball.

Chan was given two free throws plus ball possession. He calmly sank the first charity with the ball hitting nothing but the bottom of the net moving MHS within two, 73-75.

But Chan’s second shot was way off to the right side of the rim missing the basket.

Despite Chan’s split, MHS was still in the game, as the Dolphins needed only a two-point basket to extend the match. But Sarmiento, who received the inbound pass from Sula, missed a reverse layup from the baseline against the outstretched arms of Reyes.

MHS and KHS finished the regular season with identical 3-3 records, but the Dolphins won in the tiebreak for second place in the team standings having beaten the Ayuyus by three points in their first meeting, 62-59.

Southern High School took the No. 1 spot with its 5-1 record, while Mt. Carmel School finished last with a 1-5 slate.

Today, the Dolphins and Ayuyus squared off anew for the first finals ticket. The Rays and the Knights will duel for the second finals seat tomorrow. The title game for the junior varsity division will be played on Dec. 12.

Meanwhile, the Lady Ayuyus completed their sweep of the Lady Rays following the former’s 47-39 win in their third meeting of the season.

Kagman and Southern will battle for the girls’ tiara on Dec. 10.

Girls

KHS 49 – Jerby 16, Hofschneider 14, Mizutani 6, Emul 4, Matagolai 3, Mettao 2.

SSHS 39 – Joseph 33, Masga 3, Duenas 2, Jeon 1.

Scoring by quarters: 15-7, 20-25, 35-32, 49-37.

Boys

KHS 75 – Reyes 16, Maratita 16, Ogo 15, Talalemotu 13, Kaipat 9, Mettao 6, Muna 3.

MHS 73 – Chan 17, Sarmiento 14, Feria 12, Crisostomo 8, Hidalgo 8, Manalili 8, Duatin 5, Garrido 3, Sula 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-13, 26-25, 54-48, 75-73.