Kagman sweeps Eucon in MISO caging

Kagman High School?s Michael Muna, seen here going for an uncontested layup against SIS, top-scored in the Ayuyus 60-32 rout of Eucon International School in the junior varsity division game in the MISO caging last Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kagman High School turned the tables on Eucon International School, winning their second meeting, 60-32, in the junior varsity division of the 2013-2014 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys Basketball League last Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Ayuyus, who squandered a 9-point lead in the third quarter in their 32-35 sorry loss to the Blazers in the first round, this time made sure they went all the way en route to the 28-point victory. Kagman now has a 4-2 record for second place in the team standings, just one win behind division leader MHS, while Eucon fell to a 2-4 slate and shares the third spot with Saipan Southern High School, pending results of last Monday’s games.

Kagman was in command of its second outing with Eucon right at the get-go and though the Ayuyus slowed down on offense in the third quarter, coach Chris Tenorio’s wards built enough cushion in the first half and got back into their rhythm in the fourth to secure the double-digit victory.

The burly Darion Jones started out the Ayuyus’ attack with back-to-back baskets in the opening quarter, while the speedy Mike Muna drilled six of the team’s last eight markers to lift Kagman to a 15-9 advantage. Eucon was held to three field goals and had only Glenn Vidal scoring more than one basket in the first period.

The Blazers continued to bleed for points in the second quarter, while the Ayuyus had a breakout game, firing 23 points. Isaiah Retan dropped 6 points to lead four other Ayuyus, who made at least two baskets apiece in the second quarter, as Kagman erected a 38-17 halftime lead.

At the resumption of the game, the Ayuyus were limited to 6 points off Muna’s pair of baskets and Jeff Castro’s lone fielgoal. However, the Blazers did not perform well either, as they just duplicated their second-quarter output (8 points), leaving Kagman with a 44-25 margin. The Ayuyus went on to pick up their scoring anew in the fourth frame, as each player Tenorio fielded in the game found ways to contribute to the team’s cause.

Muna paced Kagman with his 17 markers, while Jones added 11. Four Ayuyus combined for 25 markers, while no Eucon play reached double figures in scoring as Zion Alamer and Bob Ji had only 9 apiece.

Meanwhile, Kagman also avenged its first-round loss to Eucon (57-71) with a 65-55 victory in last Friday’s varsity match.

Kagman (4-3) now has won its last two matches after dropping three straight games and is in a tie for second place with Southern (pending results of last Monday’s games). The MHS Dolphins lead the varsity division with their unblemished 7-0 card, while Eucon and Mount Carmel School own 4-5 and 0-7 slates, respectively.

KHS 60 – Muna 17, Jones 11, Retan 9, Tenorio 8, Castro 5, Aaron 3, Lampkin 2, Torres 2, Maratita 1.

Eucon 32 – Alamer 9, Ji 9, Jac. Wang 7, Vidal 6, Je. Wang 3, Jam. Wang 2, P. Wang 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-9, 38-17, 44-25, 60-32.