By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

SAIPAN Community School won its debut game in the boys’ middle school division of the Coalition of Private Schools basketball tournament with a 46-16 victory over Whispering Palms yesterday.
Ardel Tumbaga led SCS’ 30-point win firing 14 points, as he was often on the receiving end of the Susupe-based school’s good ball movement.
He drilled a couple of baskets inside the paint, as SCS patiently moved the ball around until spotting an open man for high-percentage shots.
Tumbaga had six points in the third period, as Saipan Community started to break the game wide open taking a 34-14 lead, entering the final quarter.
Whispering Palms scored only two points in the third and fourth period, as they had a hard time setting up their plays and getting the ball inside to starting forwards Lucas Knecht and Kai Staal.
Actually, both teams struggled offensively in the first half losing a lot of possessions, as they played in a light rain.
Whispering Palms scored eight in the first quarter, but was off in the second nailing only four.
Saipan Community, which fired seven markers in the first period, scored better in the second drilling 11 to take an 18-12 halftime lead.
When the game held at Whispering Palms court resumed for the second half, the host continued to struggle offensively, as it was scoreless for more than seven minutes.
Whispering Palms’ coach Richard Brostrom replaced his starting five with less than a minute left in the third period and with SCS leading by 22, 34-12.
The Navy Hill-based team had the last possession in the third period and Joe Motto, Jr. broke Whispering Palms’ long silence drilling a jumper, a few steps away from the 15-foot line with less than a second left in that period.
Whispering Palms scored the first basket in the fourth period courtesy of Lucas Knecht, who nailed an undergoal stab against the SCS center Melvin Kim.
But that was Whispering Palms’ last hurrah. Although, it had good looks at the basket, it simply could not get the ball to drop in. Brostrom wards’ also had to scramble for the loose ball due to the slippery court.
Saipan Community also spent a lot of time chasing the ball and losing it. But again, its impressive ball movement made up for the errors and SCS easily won its opening game in the annual tournament.
Two other games were scheduled for yesterday with the Seventh Day Adventists facing Marianas Baptist Academy at the MBA court in Dandan. Grace Christian Academy was to meet Mt. Carmel at the Eagles court on Navy Hill.
Results of neither games were unavailable at press time.
Today, Saipan International School challenges SDA in the boys’ and girls’ division matches at the SIS court.
Scores:
SCS 46—Tumbaga 14, M. Kim 11, Ko 9, Hidalgo 6, J. Kim 2, Guerrero 2.
Whispering Palms 16—R. Knecht 6, L. Knecht 4, Ko 2, Brostrom 2, Motto 2.
Quarterscores: 7-8, 18-12, 34-14, 46-16