Lady Rays wear out KHS in girls caging

 The Saipan Southern High School Lady Manta Rays outlasted the Lady Ayuyus of Kagman High, 66-45, in Thursday’s Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization varsity girls basketball game at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Lady Rays evened their win-loss card to 1-1.

SSHS (2-0) also shone in the junior varsity tiff, trampling KHS (0-1), 41-14.

The season continues Tuesday at 4:30pm as SSHS takes on Saipan International School (1-0) in a varsity draw. Details about yesterday’s varsity game between SIS and MHS will be released on Monday.

In contrast to what the final score implies, the Lady Rays-Lady Ayuyus game was very close during the first three quarters until SSHS pressed hard throughout the second half with a load of solid bench support. SSHS as a unit saved its best for a fourth-quarter sprint to the finish.

It was deadlocked at 12-all after the opening 10 minutes as KHS drew a handful of markers from Lady Rays’ Czarina and Rese Lizama.

SSHS managed a slim 26-24 edge at halftime. Czarina Lizama stayed at the forefront from the guard position and added six points in the second quarter.

SSHS guard Roxanne Duenas heated up after the break and tallied nine points in the third quarter to help maintain a two-point lead, 39-37, heading into crunch time.

Notably, KHS’ Elilai Pialug, who was held to only a handful in the first half, banged out eight points in the third quarter to keep KHS within reach.

SSHS’ pressure defense did a great job scrapping for the ball in the fourth quarter, which complimented Daylinne Joseph, who was a force down low. Joseph powered in 11 points in the period, while Duenas racked up 12 points in transition.

Duenas led all scorers with 23 points, while KHS’ Pialug managed 17 in the loss.

The junior varsity Lady Rays, meanwhile, rumbled to an early 8-0 lead in the first quarter and stretched it to a 12-6 advantage at the pause.

Vanessa Bartolo carried the torch with six points in the first half.

SSHS then shot out of a gun in the third quarter and spurted ahead, 29-12. Czarina Lizama nailed a late three-pointer for seven points in the period and the game was pretty well out of reach in the final 10 minutes.

Bartolo turned in a game-high 16 points, while Angela Iriarte led KHS with 10.

First Game

SSHS 66 – Duenas 23, Joseph 13, C. Lizama 13, Bartolo Vanessa 8, R Lizama 7, Cloren 7, Maui 2.

KHS 45 – Pialug 17, Dela Cruz 11, Ada 6, Jetly 4, Kaipat 3, Lara 2, Rosa 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-12, 25-24, 39-37, 66-45.

Second Game

SSHS 41 – V. Bartolo 16, C. Lizama 11, Francisco 8, C. Bartolo 2, Santos 2, Kintaro 2.

KHS 14 – Iriarte 10, Cabrera 2, Jin 2.

Scoring by quarters: 8-0, 12-6, 29-12, 41-14.