FMS on a roll; SIS tops Hopwood-2

Hopwood Middle School-2’s Divine Baxter, left, is defended by Saipan International School’s Phoenix Gross during their girls middle school division game in the IT&E Interscholastic Basketball League last Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

Francisco M. Sablan Middle School won the battle of unbeaten teams after outclassing Tanapag Middle School, 24-18, during their girls middle school division game in the IT&E Interscholastic Basketball League last Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

As expected, Rosie Saralu led FMS’ victory, as she scored all but 3 of the Napu Riders’ points to hand FMS its sixth win in as many games and the solo lead in the nine-team field. Tanapag had its four-game winning streak snapped and then absorbed back-to-back losses in the same day after Grace Christian Academy nosed out the Tataga, 18-16, in the evening match.

Tanapag dropped to second place, sharing the sport with Dandan Middle School and Agape Christian School, while GCA is ranked fourth with its 3-3 record behind the 3-2 mark of Hopwood Middle School 1.

FMS notched the solo lead after drawing 21 points from Saralu, whose skills cut above the rest that he delivered all five field goals for the Napu Riders in the second half. She and Tanapag’s Erica Zandueta traded baskets with the latter finishing with a team-high 14 points, but the FMS gunner had the upper hand, as she managed to give the Napu Riders the victory.

Agape 11, GCA 5
Agape 24, Chacha 6
In other results last Friday, Agape bagged win No. 3 after downing GCA.

Barbara Wang fired 9 points in Agape’s triumph over the defending champions.

Wang and company then swept their pair of assignments last weekend after routing the winless Chacha Oceanview Middle School.

Against Chacha, Wang hit double figures after recording  11 points and she also drew some support from his teammates, as four other Agape players made it to the scoreboard.

SIS 16, Hopwood-2 6
Saipan International School took win No. 2 after topping Hopwood 2.

Aubrey White and Phoenix Gross teamed up in Geckos’ triumph over the Hilitai after combining for 13 markers. Hopwood-2 remains winless in six games.

Dandan 22, Hopwood-1 16
Dandan joined Tanapag and Agape at the second spot in the team standings after beating Hopwood 1.

Shaenna Yamada tallied 12 markers for Dandan, while Jashmin Ramon chipped in 8. Chinesesarin Jones had 6 points for Hopwood 1.

Before losing to Dandan, Hopwood-1 came from a 20-2 lopsided win over Chacha early last week. Hope Hocog and Princess Calimag registered 8 points apiece in Hopwood-1’s third victory of the season.

The IT&E Interscholastic Basketball League is organized by the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation and the Public School System’s Athletic Program.