By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

The Lady Rays of Saipan Southern High School snapped their three-game losing streak after pulling off a 50-48 win over the Lady Dolphins of Marianas High School in the MISA High School Basketball League last Friday at the MHS Gym.
Coralee Echang shot poorly from the free throw line hitting only 5-of-13, but delivered when she was needed the most, scoring Southern’s last four points.
Her split charities off a foul by Rizza Tacliad gave Southern the lead, 47-46, with 1:08 remaining in the game.
The Dolphins had two opportunities to regain the lead, but muffed them missing four free throws in the ensuing plays.
Marlene Agbanlog drove to the basket and was fouled by the Lady Rays’ Minerva Cabrera, with exactly a minute left on the clock. Agbanglog missed both free throws and Laliane Pagarao won the battle for the loose ball.
Pagarao then drew a foul from Eva Ito, who committed her fifth and last foul in the last 43.5 seconds of the game.
The Dolphins’ gunner completely missed her first charity, as she threw an airball. She drilled the second, but the basket was nullified, as she stepped on the line.
Southern quickly inbounded the ball on the right sideline with Echang receiving the pass and streaking to their frontcourt.
Echang barged her way through a phalanx of MHS defenders on the baseline, nailed the basket and drew a foul from Sheralyn Manacop. She completed the 3-point play giving the Lady Rays a 50-46 lead, with 37.8 left on the clock.
But the defending champions refused to give up, as Manacop drilled a basket plus drawing a foul from Echang. Manacop, however, failed to make the bonus shot and Southern still led by a deuce, 50-48, with 32.8 left in the game.
The Lady Rays missed four free throws in the ensuing plays keeping the Dolphins’ bid for their second win alive.
After Echang’s second miss from the 15-foot line, there was a scramble for the ball. Southern first took the possession, but the Dolphins stole the ball. When MHS was about to cross the midcourt, the Lady Rays snatched it again. Southern dribbled the ball, but it was stolen anew by the Lady Dolphins, who had the last shot of the game.
When the Dolphins finally took the ball after a couple of counter steals, Agbanlog found herself open on the baseline, but missed the layup. MHS got the offensive rebound, but time had expired giving the Lady Rays a two-point win.
Echang topscored for Southern with 17 points, while Pagarao led MHS with 15 markers.
Scores:
SSHS 50—Echang 17, Ito 11, S. Maratita 10, Cabrera 7, Castro 2, Sikyan 2, Jacob 1.
MHS 48—Pagarao 15, Agbanlog 9, Ermitanio 6, Manacop 5, Paez 5, Jang 3, Pinkerton 3, Diaz 2, Tacliad 1.
Quarterscores: 6-4, 19-13, 37-31, 50-48