Ayuyus edge Rays in MISO

Kagman High School survived Saipan Southern High Schools’ second half rally to eke out a 59-57 victory in the boys varsity division of the 2008-2009 MISO Basketball League Thursday night at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Ayuyus buried four free throws in the last one minute of the game, while Trevor Ogumoro made a big defensive stop in the closing seconds of the match allowing Kagman to win its debut game.

The defending champion Rays absorbed back-to-back losses after bowing to the MHS Dolphins on Jan. 9, 55-63.

Southern played catch-up most of the way, as it struggled at the start of the match making it into the scoreboard only with less than a minute in the first period.

Lloyd Mendoza split his free throws to end the Rays’ long drought and later canned a two-pointer in the closing seconds cutting the Ayuyus’ lead to eight.

Southern began picking up its scoring in the second period with Nathan Flores and Bryan Ajoste finding their marks. But the Ayuyus still outgunned the Rays, 17-14, to keep the lead at halftime, 28-17.

The Rays continued their uphill climb in the second half and with Vince Iglesias and Flores firing seven markers apiece in the third canto, Southern outscored Kagman for the first time, 24-18, and moved within five, 41-46.

Southern could have taken the lead at the end of the third period, if not for its dismal free throw shooting. The Rays went only 3-for-8 from the stripe. Kagman also missed a lot of free throws in the third canto going only 4-for-15.

But the Ayuyus redeemed themselves in the fourth period, drilling four charities in the last one minute of the game.

After Southern tied the game at 55-all, with 1:03 left in the game, Jimmy Brel and Tom Pangelinan made one free throw apiece in the Ayuyus’ last two offensive plays.

Flores answered with an undergoal stab to tie the game anew. But Edwin Camacho, who made only one free throw in his previous six trips from the foul line in the fourth quarter, connected on two charities to bring the lead back to the Ayuyus with, 59-57, less than 20 seconds left on the clock.

Southern’s next offensive play saw Josh Kiyoshi going coast to coast passing his defenders, but at the last minute decided to pass the ball out to a teammate waiting on the left wing. Trevor Ogumoro read the play, jumped, deflected the pass, and completed the steal, and the Ayuyus melted the clock to preserve the win.

Besides making the biggest defensive stop of the game, Ogumoro was also the top-scorer in the match exploding for 21 points. Camacho finished with 16 markers.

Iglecias led Southern with his 14 points.
[B] KHS 59[/B]—Ogumoro 21,Camacho 16, Pangelinan 9, Concepcion 9, Brel 4.
[B] SSHS 57[/B]—Iglecias 14, Flores 13, Kiyoshi 13, Ajoste 9, Echon 4, Mendoza 3.