Dolphins sweep MISO varsity caging

Marianas High School was unbeaten in the regular season of the varsity division of the 2013-2014 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys Basketball League, capping its perfect run in eight games with a 91-83 trouncing of Kagman High School last Wednesday night at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

With their flawless record in the double-round robin league, the Dolphins earned the top seeding in the double-elimination tournament that will be played this weekend at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. The pennant champions are aiming to dethrone Tinian High School, which defeated MHS in last year’s finals, 84-78, to clinch back-to-back titles.

The Stallions, who were not able to play in the regular season, are given the automatic third seeding and will be joined in the tournament by the second-ranked Saipan Southern High School (5-3), Kagman (4-4), Eucon International School (3-5), Mount Carmel School (0-8), and Agape Christian School. The ACS Torchbearers are seeded seventh in the field and gained entry to the tournament despite missing the varsity action, as they played in the junior varsity division.

The Dolphins ruled the varsity division after another double-digit winning margin against the Ayuyus. MHS defeated Kagman by a baker’s dozen, 64-51, in their first meeting on Jan. 31, rallying past the Ayuyus in the second half. In their second outing, the Dolphins led from start to finish, pulling away from Kagman in the second quarter.

The division top finisher went up by 6 at the end of the first canto, 17-11, and padded its lead in the second period, 39-24, with Kobe Mendoza, Mike Arciaga, and Prince Factor teaming up in the breakaway. Mendoza, Arciaga, and Factor scored 6 points apiece in the second frame to lift the Dolphins to a 15-point halftime edge.

The trio continued to pull the trigger in the third quarter, while Justin Cayading also found his target later in that canto, making 6 of the Dolphins’ last 8 points. By the end of that period, the Dolphins were already ahead by 29, 71-42, and it was just time before they earned the perfect record in the regular season.

Mendoza top-scored for the Dolphins with his 19 points, while Factor and Arciaga chipped in 16 each. Jess Santos led Kagman with his game-high 22 markers.

Meanwhile, Kagman prevailed in the junior varsity game against MHS, 55-38, to finish the division with a 6-2 record and beat the Dolphins in the tiebreak. MHS topped Kagman in their first duel, but only won by 6 points, 37-31.

JV Game

KHS 55 – Muna 15, Tenorio 14, Lampkin 8, Retan 7, Jones 7, Maratita 4.

MHS 38 – Borja 12, Manalili 11, Vivero 6, Pamintuan 4, Deocares 2, Peter 2, Cristobal 1.

Scoring by quarters: 16-7, 26-18, 40-26, 55-38.

Varsity Game

MHS 91 – Mendoza 19, Factor 16, Arciaga 16, Malonzo 10, Ano 8, Cayading 6, Capuyon 5, Espinosa 4, Yap 3, Iglecias 2, Gabaldon 2.

KHS 63 – Je. Santos 22, Lampkin 15, Jo. Santos 10, Sakisat 6, Palino 4, Faisao 4, Palacios 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-11, 39-24, 71-42, 91-63.