Fourth-quarter surge powers SIS past Agape 2

Saipan International School saved the best for last to top Agape Christian School 2, 58-39, in the boys division game in the 2018-2019 Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Varsity Basketball League yesterday at the latter’s court in Gualo Rai.

The Geckos clung to a single digit lead after three cantos, 41-32, before finding their groove in the closing period, scoring 17 points—their biggest in a quarter—to beat the Torchbearers by 19.

SIS’ airtight defense in the fourth period forced Agape to cough up the ball multiple times. The Geckos then capitalized on Agape’s turnovers in the final frame, converting the errors into fastbreak buckets and making multiple trips at the stripe.

Co-captains A.J. Hudkins and Kuu Nishimura led the way for the Geckos, with the former scoring 24 points and the latter adding 9 markers. Ron Muna chipped in 8 points to provide the spark off the bench, while brothers J.P. and Jason Sablan contributed 6 and 3, respectively.

Isaiah He and Ray Qi had 10 apiece for Agape 2, while Hansen Li and Kobe Fu mustered 9 and 6 markers, respectively, and Daniel Dai and David Ji finished with 4 each.

The Torchbearers missed in their bid to enter the win column, but did not go without a fight, as they kept SIS at bay before the Geckos pulled away in the closing quarter. Agape 2 was down by only one after the first canto, 11-12 and behind by four at halftime, 23-27.

With the win, the Geckos improved to a 3-2 record and tied Agape 1 for fourth place, while Agape 2 dropped to a 0-7 mark.

Meanwhile, Mount Carmel School 1 doubled up MCS 2, 66-33, in their game at the Koblerville Gymnasium.

Mt. Carmel 1 now boasts a 5-2 record to remain in third place behind the undefeated Saipan Southern High School (5-0) and second-running Kagman High School (5-1). MCS 2 absorbed its fourth loss in five games to stay at the bottom half of the rankings.

In other results, Kagman glided past Grace Christian Academy, 73-30, last Friday. The Ayuyus handed the Eagles their fifth defeat in seven matches.

Saipan Southern and MCS 2 also played last Friday with the Manta Rays easing past the Knights at the Koblerville Gymnasium, 61-43.

The third game set for last Friday and featured the Geckos and Agape 1 never got to the opening tip because of lack of referees thus it will be rescheduled.

For today’s double-header at the Koblerville Gymnasium, MCS 2 and Kagman will collide at 3:30pm, while Saipan Southern will take on Agape 1 at 4:30pm.