By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Manta Rays and Lady Ayuyus maintained their perfect records after thwarting their rivals in the MISA High School Basketball League last Friday at the Marianas High School Gym.
The Lady Ayuyus of Kagman High School beat the Lady Rays of Saipan Southern High School, 46-40, to notch their second win in as many games.
For the second time, former CNMI Women’s Team member Chelsea Ruluked paced the Lady Ayuyus scoring 17 points.
In the boys’ division, the SSHS Rays survived the KHS Ayuyus’late rally to pull off a 76-71 win.
The five-point victory improved Southern’s record to 3-0.
The Manta Rays almost blew their chances to keep a clean slate, as Kagman threatened to come back and steal the game in the last three minutes of the final quarter.
Bill Babauta, who did not start for Southern along with Preston Basa, delivered when he was needed most, to preserve the victory. He was held to two points in the first half, but recovered in the second scoring 10, eight in the fourth quarter.
After enjoying a 13-point halftime lead, 40-27, Southern with its key players struggling offensively, saw its lead cut to six at the end of the third period, 56-61.
Basa and Babauta combined for only eight points in the third with the latter nailing only two points. Basa was coming off a 33-point explosion against MHS, while Babauta scored 23.
The duo continued its sluggish game in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter allowing Kagman to tie the game for the first time, 63-all, since the 2-all score in the first quarter.
Seeing his team in danger, Babauta took charge leading a short 9-2 run in a span of about four minutes to give Southern more distance, 72-65, with 3:31 left on the clock. He drilled a triple on the left baseline and a short jumper for five points.
But the Ayuyus were not ready to give up, as Don Teregeyo scored four straight points to move Kagman within three, 69-72, with 1:20 left.
After the teams exchanged misses, Teregeyo drove to the middle and drilled a basket. Southern’s Ernest Duenas muffed a layup giving the possession back to Kagman.
Teregeyo was fouled on his way to the basket and made two free throws.
Basa temporarily stopped the bleeding for the Rays splitting his charities to give his team a 73-69 cushion, with 1:15 remaining on the clock.
With a lot of time left, Kagman could still go for a quick two-point basket and defend well to get the ball back and move closer. But Steve Tellei opted for a 3-pointer and missed.
Southern grabbed the rebound and raced to its frontcourt. Babauta then pulled off a jumper, a few steps away from the 15-foot line and muffed the shot. But he got the offensive rebound, stepped closer to the basket and scored to give the Rays a 75-69 lead with 37.2 seconds left in the game.
Kagman’s chances to steal the win disappeared, as it missed from the free throw line and the 3-point area.
Keoni Chariton muffed both his two free throws. The Ayuyus got the offensive rebound, but wasted their opportunity to cut the lead when Josh Moses missed a triple.
Southern controlled the ball and Babauta was fouled on his way to the basket. Babauta missed the first free throw, but drilled the second to give the Rays the insurance basket and peg the final score.
Duenas topscored for Southern with 20 points.
Despite having Babauta and Basa on the bench in the early minutes of the first quarter and during most of the third period, the Rays still controlled the game with Duenas and Tilipao leading Southern.
Kagman failed to capitalize on Babauta and Basa’s sluggish game in the first three quarters, as the Ayuyus could not find the right combination on the hardcourt.
All 12 players were given playing time, but in doing so, Kagman could not get its rhythm, as when one started to feel the game, in came his replacement.
Manny Matagolai, who scored 20 points in Kagman’s debut, played limited minutes and was held to two points. John Ada, who also played well in their first game, was scoreless.
Scores:
Girls
KHS 46—Ruluked 17, Mobel, Bennett 7, Reyes 5, Repeki 4, Igisaiar 2, Diaz 1.
SSHS 40—Cabrera 14, Echang 10, Ito 7, Villagomez 6, Maratita 3.
Quarterscores: 8-10, 19-16, 33-36, 46-40
Boys
SSHS 76—Duenas 20, Babauta 14, Tilipao 10, Basa 9, Taitano 6, Rogolifoi 6, Beltau 5, Masga 4, Eclecia 4, Diaz 3, Echon 2.
KHS 71—Teregeyo 19, Chariton 16, Moses 14, Tellei 10, Concepcion 6, Deleon Guerrero 4, Matagolai 2.
Quarterscores: 19-16, 40-27, 61-56, 76-71