Mt. Carmel trounces Kagman

Mt. Carmel School clicked from both ends of the floor in the fourth period to trounce Kagman High School, 54-33, in Wednesday night’s game in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys Basketball League at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Mt. Carmel School’s Alfonso Evangelista, center, tries to get out of the double team defense of Kagman High School’s Andrew Palino, left, and James Phillips during their game in the MISO High School Boys Basketball League last Wednesday at the MHS Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

It was Mt. Carmel’s third straight win to improve to 5-2 for second place behind MHS’ clean 6-0 slate. Kagman dropped to an even 3-3 card.

Kagman was very much in the game after the two free throws of Andrew Palino moved them within five, 34-29, with barely two minutes gone in the final period.

The Knights, off a time out by coach Francis San Nicolas, tightened up their defense and went on an 11-2 run to keep a safe 45-31 distance midway in the last canto. Alfonso Evangelista’s 5 straight points, including a wide-open 3-pointer at the right corner, kicked off Mt. Carmel’s scoring run.

The Knights challenged Kagman’s every attempt, whether a jumper or a driving layup, making the Ayuyus take forced or hurried shots. Kagman even missed six straight attempts, wasting the effort of John Dee Paran, who was busy collecting offensive rebounds for the Ayuyus.

Mt. Carmel’s Jonah Hahn’s presence in the middle intimidated Kagman’s shooters, as the lanky big man had already blocked a number of shots. Hahn, who finished with 6 points, at one point chased a driving Palino and blocked the shot to show his relentless defensive job.

William Camacho scattered 21 points to lead MCS’ scoring, while Zander Tkel and Evangelista added 8 and 7 markers each.

Palino paced Kagman with 12 points, with Doming Faisao and Kenneth Lizama chipping in 9 and 6 markers, respectively.

Earlier, June Alipio scored 17 to power Saipan Southern High School to a 54-40 win over MHS 9 for the Manta Rays’ first win in four matches.

N-Nes Siech and Timothy Villanueva combined for 18 points, while Emmanuel Cobacha and Franko Bondoc had 8 and 7 markers also for the Manta Rays.

Adrian De Luna led MHS 9’s losing cause with 14, while Patrick Manglona and John Carlo Prado contributed 11 and 9 points, respectively.

MHS 9 dropped to 1-4 after it also absorbed a 51-41 beating from KHS 9 in the second game.

Aaron Ogumoro scored the bulk of Kagman’s points with his 25, while Christan Arceo backed him up with 17.

De Luna was again at the forefront of MHS 9’s offense with 20, while Prado chipped in 10.

First Game
SSHS 9 54–Alipio 17, Siech 9, Villanueva 9, Cobacha 8, Bondoc 7, Kapileo 4.

MHS 9 40–De Luna 14, Manglona 11, Prado 9, Pangelinan 3, Mamaril 2, Mendoza 1.

Scoring by quarters: 10-9, 19-17, 36-28, 54-40.

Second Game
KHS 9 51–Ogumoro 25, Arceo 17, Mendiola 5, Fabia 4.

MHS 9 41–De Luna 20, Prado 10, Mamaril 4, Manglona 3, Huliganga 2, Mendoza 2.

Scoring by quarters: 11-9, 33-24, 39-39, 51-41.

Third Game
MCS 54–Camacho 21, Tkel 8, Evangelista 7, Hahn 6, Son 5, Deleon Guerrero 4, Toves 3.

KHS 33–Palino 12, Faisao 9, Lizama 6, Arceo 2, Evangelista 2, Torres 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-6, 22-18, 34-27, 54-33.