Kagman snaps SIS streak in JV caging

Kagman High School halted Saipan International School’s two-game winning run after coasting to a 52-33 victory in their junior varsity game in the 2013-2014 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys Basketball League yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Ayuyus now have a 3-2 record for second spot in the five-team field behind division leader MHS (4-1). The SIS Geckos fell from third to fourth place with their 2-3 slate, while Eucon International School (2-2) and Saipan Southern High School (1-4) complete the field.

Kagman wrapped up the match with a 19-point lead, as it consistently scored in double figures in the last three quarters after a so-so start The Ayuyus led by only a hair at the end of the first period, 8-7, before working harder on offense in the ensuing quarters to widen the gap and deny the Geckos their third straight victory.

Roke Tenorio, who had only one basket in the opening canto, nailed 8 points in the second frame, while five of his teammates contributed at least one field goal apiece, giving Kagman a 26-17 halftime lead.

SIS avoided falling behind by twin digits in the first half with Cristopher Cepeda and Andrew Johnson teaming up for 10 points in the second quarter. However, the gap widened in the third as both Johnson and Cepeda were held to one field goal apiece, while the Ayuyus drew at least 4 points apiece from three players for their 12-point advantage, 40-28.

The lead then ballooned to as high as 20 points midway in the fourth, as the Geckos took a while before getting their first basket in the final canto. SIS went on to hit only two field goals in the remaining 10 minutes of play with Cepeda drilling a triple and Johnson connecting on a running jumper.

Past the halfway mark of the fourth canto, both teams pulled out most of their starters and it was just time before Kagman secured its third victory in five games.

Michael Muna paced the Ayuyus with his 12 points, while Roke Tenorio and Isaiah Retan contributed 10 and 8, respectively. Cepeda had a game-high 15 points for SIS, which got 10 from Johnson. Only four players scored for SIS with Allen Cepeda adding 6 and Yong Kwang Kim logging 2, while besides their Top 3 scorers, the Ayuyus also drew points from five others.

Meanwhile, official scores of last Monday’s triple-header were unavailable, but MHS won two matches, prevailing in the freshmen division and varsity. Southern stunned MHS in the junior varsity division to break into the win column after a 0-4 start. In varsity division, the Dolphins are still unbeaten in six games, while the Rays dropped to an even 3-3 mark. The Dolphins are also flawless in four games in the freshmen division, while Southern has a 0-3 slate.

KHS 52 – Muna 14, Tenorio 10, Retan 8, Lampkin 4, Aaron 4, Jones 4, Torres 2, Castro 2.
SIS 33 – C. Cepeda 15, Johnson 10, A. Cepeda 6, Y. Kim 2.
Scoring by quarters: 8-7, 26-17, 40-28, 52-33.