KHS JV, MCS still unbeaten

A Kagman High School 3 player drives against two Da’Ok Academy defenders during the second half of their game in the 2019-2020 Public School System Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League last Tuesday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kagman High School Junior Varsity and Mt. Carmel School Varsity are still on a roll in the 2019-2020 Public School System Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League after posting contrasting victories last Tuesday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Knights worked their way through a 26-19 win over Marianas High School Varsity on the north court, while the Ayuyus coasted past Mt. Carmel 2 in their game on the south end, 40-20. KHS JV and MCS Varsity now hold similar 8-0 records to remain tied for the lead in the elimination round of the 12-team league.

Steve King, Merrick Toves, and Matthew Richardson combined for 20 points for MCS Varsity to keep their team’s undefeated record. Four other Knights standouts contributed to the team’s cause to foil MHS Varsity’s upset bid.

Oldie Roligat paced MHS Varsity with his 10 points.

In the KHS JV-MCS 2 tiff, the Ayuyus notched a double-digit winning margin after going all out in the second half.

The final 12 minutes of play started with Kagman holding just a 7-point lead, 23-16. The Ayuyus then pulled away with Calvin Babauta heating up, scoring 8 of his 10 points in the last half, including two triples. Deeus Salas added one triple, while Jay Art Palmes, Dillan Cruz, and Christian Santos contributed one field goal apiece.

Mt. Carmel 2, after staying afloat in the first half, folded up in the second, as only Walter Sablan and Ohane Borja scored for the winless squad.

Meanwhile, KHS 3 notched twin victories to boost its playoff chances in the competition.

After dropping its first seven matches, KHS 3 got into the win column following a 29-23 triumph over MCS 2 in the curtain-raiser on the north court. The Ayuyus then made it back-to-back after nosing out Da’Ok Academy in the last game, 20-19. KHS moved up to ninth place in the team standings to remain in contention for a spot in the playoffs, where only the Top 10 teams after the eliminations will advance.

In other results, MHS 3 and MHS JV prevailed over their respective opponents on the south court.

MHS JV snapped its seven-game losing skid after nipping KHS Varsity, 22-21, while MHS 3 booked win No. 3 in eight games following a 29-21 victory against Da’Ok.

Da’Ok fell to a 0-6 slate to join MCS 2 at the bottom 2 of the team standings and must start collecting wins to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The league is in the final stretch of the regular season with three playing days left in the elimination, including today’s games. The playoffs will take pace on March 13 and 14 with Rota and Tinian teams joining the Top 10 finishers in the regular season.

Kagman High School Varsity’s Miguel Fitipol, left, pulls up for a long jumper against Marianas High School Junior Varsity’s John Rizo during their game in the 2019-2020 Public School System Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League last Tuesday at the MHS Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)