Dolphins throttle Knights in boys caging

  The Marianas High School Dolphins barreled past the Mount Carmel School Knights, 117-61, in Wednesday’s Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization varsity boys basketball matchup at the MHS Gymnasium.

MHS improved its win-loss record to 5-1, while winless MCS was left scratching their heads for an eighth time.

It was all MHS on Wednesday as its Junior Dolphins also swam circles around the Saipan International School Geckos with a big second half push in the junior varsity pairing.

In the varsity game, defensive woes continued to haunt the Knights as the Dolphins jumped out to a 31-17 lead in the opening 10 minutes.

MHS connected with a pair of 3-pointers to go with 10 points from Ezra Caro.

Then it went from bad to worse for MCS in the second quarter as its offense was stuffed to just seven points, while MHS exploded to a disheartening 64-24 halftime lead.

MHS’ Erick Dela Rosa led the eruption with eight points and teammates Herbert Maranan, Tim Lacsina, and Caro all chipped in six apiece.

MCS’ Reynald Cabaltica was held to a couple of baskets in each of the first two periods, however it was clear and evident that MCS’ real problems reside on the defensive end of the court.

It was pretty well over by halftime as MHS glided to an 86-36 gap heading into the final period. Dela Rosa and John Darag tallied six points apiece in the third quarter. Cabaltica also scrambled for six points for the overly outmatched Knights.

Both teams essentially traded baskets in the fourth quarter as the Dolphins cruised to the easy win.

In the game, MCS’ defense allowed over 30 points in three of the four quarters.

MHS’ Caro led four teammates in double digits with 26, while the Knights’ Cabaltica managed 25 in defeat.

Meanwhile, SIS’ engine stalled in the junior tiff, allowing MHS to trot out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter off eight points by Edilberto Javier.

The Junior Dolphins starters took a seat in the second quarter, which allowed SIS to slither back into the game.

The Geckos trailed only 7-12 at the half, however MHS’ Javier returned to action after the break and tallied eight more markers to help incapacitate SIS, 26-8, heading into the final stanza.

SIS’ Chris Cepeda was held to just a handful of checks after three quarters and just did not have the magic to flirt with another comeback attempt.

He was held to four points in the fourth quarter to settle with nine on the day, while MHS’ Javier stole the show on the other end with 20.

VARSITY

MHS 117 – Caro 26, Dela Rosa 21, Darag 17, Lacsina 16, Maranan 15, Suarez 6, Gu 6, Francisco 5, Moran 4, Lee 1.

MCS 61 – Cabaltica 25, Montes 12, Saludez 5, Gagaring 5, Kautz 4, Taguchi 4, Salas 3, Pamintuan 2, Igitol 1.

Scoring by quarters: 31-17, 64-24, 86-36, 117-61.

JUNIOR VARSITY

MHS 38 – Javier 20, Feria 6, Kintaro 4, Acopiado 2, Camacho 2, Palacios 2, Park 2.

SIS 15 – Cepeda 9, Liu 3, J Kim 2, Yoon 1.

Scoring by quarters: 10-0, 12-7, 26-8, 38-15.