Eagles get Dolphins’ wrath, 79-53

After absorbing a tough loss to a rejuvenated Kagman High School Ayuyu (3-1) varsity squad last week, the Marianas High School Dolphins bounced back with a resounding 79-53 victory over the Grace Christian Academy Eagles as the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization boys basketball season continued last Monday at the MHS Gymnasium.

MHS improved its win-loss card to 4-1, while GCA fell to a 1-4 slate.

Meanwhile, MHS’ Junior Dolphins rolled over GCA’s Junior Eagles, 54-22, in the junior varsity pairing and improved its record to 4-0. The Junior Eagles, meanwhile, fell to an even 2-2 card.

GCA played a home draw against Saipan Southern High School’s Manta Rays (4-1) last night; details of that match and the junior varsity game will be released tomorrow. SSHS’ Junior Manta Rays hold a stout 3-1 record.

Notably, there will be no games tomorrow in light of the Public School System’s Stem Fair.

In the varsity tiff, MHS built an early 22-12 advantage in the opening 10 minutes as John Darag and Daryl Suarez teamed up for 11 points.

GCA fought back and hung around in the second quarter.

Its defense contained the Dolphins to just nine points as they crawled back to within three possessions, 24-31, at halftime. GCA’s Angelo Salas led the charge with six markers in the period.

MHS came out of the locker room with a vengeance, however, and raised the wager, 57-39, in the third quarter.

Suarez added six more points in the push, while Darag and Erick Dela Rosa chipped in with a handful apiece.

GCA’s Kemner Sugue managed six points, but Salas, the Eagles’ captain, was held to just four checks in the pivotal period.

MHS held a comfortable lead in the last quarter and coasted to the easy win.

MHS’ Dela Rosa easily tallied five blocks in the final period alone, while Dolphins captain Ezra Caro played solid defense down in the trenches almost the whole game and finished with a team-high 20 points. The pair did a good job racking up rebounds, limiting Salas and the Eagles’ second chance opportunities.

GCA’s Salas was all over the court, but was held to 15 in the losing effort.

In the junior varsity pairing both teams started cold, but MHS managed a slim 6-4 edge after the first quarter. Junior Dolphins’ Jeron Ano stepped up with a couple of buckets early in the game.

The action picked up a bit in the next frame as MHS built a 17-10 margin at the pause. MHS spread the ball around and five different players scored in the push. On the other end GCA players continued to struggle on offense, save for Dongha Lee, who scrambled for four points.

Much like its older siblings, MHS delivered the knockout blow after the halftime break.

MHS’ Lixing Dai and Dixon Kwon scored six points apiece as the Dolphins surged ahead, 31-14. MHS’ defense stuffed GCA to just two baskets in the third quarter.

From there, the group soared past the Junior Eagles in the final 10 minutes.

MHS shared the ball very well as Kwon finished as the only player in double digits with 10; GCA’s top scorer Jomari Smithee was held to just seven markers in the loss.

VARSITY

MHS 81 – Caro 20, Darag 13, Suarez 12, Dela Rosa 11, Lee 8, Francisco 6, Maranan 5, Limes 2, Sablan 2.

GCA 53 – Salas 15, Kim 7, Sugue 6, Hong 5, Libut 4, Lee 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-12, 31-24, 57-39, 81-53.

JUNIOR VARSITY

MHS 54 – Kwon 10, Dai 9, DL Guerrero 6, Capuyon 5, Ano 4, Ogumoro 4, Sanerez 4, Floresca 3, Manalili 3, Aguilar 2, Lansang 2, Cudia 2.

GCA 22 – Smithee 7, Lee 6, Reyes 4, Del Rosario 3, Sugue 2.

Scoring by quarters: 6-4, 17-10, 31-14, 54-22.