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Back-to-back for Lady Knights
Mount Carmel School players and their coach Francis San Nicolas flash the No. 1 sign after beating Saipan International School, 57-7, in the finals of the COPSSA girls high school caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)
The finals became predictable right from the very first quarter, as the much experienced and skilled Lady Knights jumped the gun on the Lady Geckos, leading at 23-3. Kaylani Lebria and Jan Travilla teamed up in Mt. Carmel’s early assault, scoring 7 markers apiece. They drilled one triple each in the first period and their treys alone were enough to outscore the entire SIS crew, which got its 3 points from Adele Hudkins off a field goal and a split charity.
The Lady Geckos, who were looking to regain the high school crown they held for three straight season 2010-2012 before the Lady Knights stole it after winning over Grace Christian Academy last season, failed to make any headway in the last three quarters to at least break it into double digits and cut the deficit to a decent number. SIS was held to a free throw in the second period and was scoreless in the third before Hudkins drilled 3 more points in the fourth off another split charity and a short jumper.
While the Lady Geckos bled for points, Mt. Carmel had a steady source of baskets in the last three periods. Karlene Reyes ran away for a couple of fastbreak layups and scored 6 points in the second, while Michelle Kautz also had 6 points, and his twin sister Richelle added a pair of charities for the Lady Knights big 37-4 halftime advantage.
Travilla, who saw limited minutes in the second quarter, started out for the Knights in the second half and added 5 more points in the third period, as Mt. Carmel padded its lead anew against the hapless SIS, 45-4. The Geckos failed to buy a single basket in the third period, as it turned the ball often and pulled up for several airball shots.
SIS continued to look for the elusive basket in the second half and it came midway in the fourth period when Hudkins received an entry pass from Phalai Frink in the paint and hit a short jumper. She also went 1-for-2 from the 15-foot line with the Lady Knights just less than two minutes away from their second straight championship.
Reyes top-scored in Mt. Carmel’s title win with her 15 points, while Michelle Kautz and Travilla finished with 14 and 12, respectively. Other members of the champion team are Savanah Delos Santos, Carey Demapan, Amy Taylor, Rica Hirayama, Ya Han, Andrea Bang, and Masami Sato.
The Lady Knights advanced to the finals after beating Eucon International School in the upper bracket semifinals, while the Geckos prevailed against the GCA Lady Eagles in the other Final Four pairing.
MCS 57 – Reyes 15, M. Kautz 14, Travilla 12, Lebria 7, R. Kautz 4, Sato 2, Taylor 2.
SIS 7 – Hudkins 6, S.H. 1.
Scoring by quarters: 23-3, 37-4, 45-4, 57-7.
