By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE KHS Lady Ayuyus extended their winning streak to three, while the MHS Dolphins notched back-to-back victories after prevailing in separate games last Wednesday at the Marianas High School Gym.
Kagman High School’s girls’ team whipped the defending champion Lady Dolphins, 61-45, in the first game, while the Dolphins prevented an MHS shutout with an 80-71 win over the Ayuyus.
The Lady Ayuyus held the Lady Dolphins to eight points apiece in the second and third quarters to hand the defending champions their second straight loss in three matches.
For the third consecutive game, former NMI Women’s National Team member Chelsea Ruluked led the Kagman in scoring drilling 17 points.
She and Tricia Falig helped the Lady Ayuyus grab the lead and pull away in the third quarter.
Kagman was trailing by two at the end of the first quarter, 13-15, when Ruluked fired nine of the Lady Ayuyus’ 16 markers to take the driver’s seat at halftime, 29-23.
Only Rochelle Ermitanio and Emily Jang scored for MHS in the second quarter, as they nailed four points apiece.
The Lady Dolphins continued having trouble with their offense in the third quarter, as only Emarigold Pinkenrton drilled more than one fieldgoal for the hosts scoring five points.
MHS had another eight-point performance in the third period, while the Lady Ayuyus had a field day hitting 24 points.
The trio of Falig, Ruluked and Purita Pagou combined for 22 of Kagman’s total output in the third quarter, which ended with the Lady Ayuyus ahead by 22, 53-21.
The Lady Dolphins never recovered from thereon and absorbed their worst defeat in two years of dominating the girls’ division.
In the boys’ division, Jericho Cruz played his best game so far in the tournament hitting 34 points to lead the Dolphins to a nine-point win.
Cruz, who in MHS’s first two games had limited touches on the ball, took matters into his own hands early in the match.
He had 11 points in the first quarter to give MHS an 18-13 lead.
The lead increased to nine at halftime, 35-26, as Cruz got help from Jayvan Tarkong and Kevin Aldan in the second period.
The Ayuyus outscored the Dolphins for the first time in the third quarter, as John Ada, Josh Moses, Steve Tellei and Manny Matagolai found their marks. Ada had 12 points in the third period moving Kagman within six, 51-57, entering the payoff quarter.
But Cruz was determined to finish what he started, as he nailed 10 more points in the fourth quarter to secure the Dolphins’ second win in three games. MHS lost to Southern in its debut on Jan. 26, but recovered against Mt. Carmel School on Jan. 31.
Tarkong and Aldan added 17 points apiece for the Dolphins.
Kagman dropped to a 1-2 slate despite getting 22 markers from Ada.
Scores:
Girls
KHS 61—Ruluked 17, Falig 11, Pagou 8, Igisaiar 8, Mabel 5, Diaz 4, W. Camacho 2, Adriano 2, Reyes 2, Bennett 2.
MHS 45—Ermitanio 16, Jang 7, Agbanlog 7, Pinkerton 7, Manacop 4, Tacliad 4.
Quarterscores: 13-15, 29-23, 53-31, 61-45
Boys
MHS 80—Cruz 34, Aldan 17, Tarkong 17, Tumaquip 6, Philip 4, Sablan 2.
KHS 71—Ada 22, Moses 15, Matagolai 10, Tellei 10, Chariton 5, Teregeyo 3, Deleon Guerrero 2, Concepcion 2, Delos Reyes 1.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 35-26, 57-51, 80-71