Saipan Southern High School ruled the court 67-46, giving the Knights no room to breathe at the MHS Gymnasium.
Tudela top scored at 15 points, Salem piled 14, and Ecalnea finished with 10 to bury MCS.
Try as they might, Geza Baka and John Griffin couldn’t break through the Mantas’ defense in the opening eight minutes. SSHS led 18-8 in the first quarter and rammed past the second with 16 more points. Griffin tallied nine of his 13 points in the first half. His teammate Min Seong Kim rallied for six more in the final quarter. Their 16-point, late game surge couldn’t match up to Southern’s high-flying offense.
SSHS’ center Luis Byun garnered six points. Melvin Cadiang and Reinhold Ferrer earned eight and four, respectively. Baka watched Salem pour shot after shot in the third quarter, boosting the Mantas by six points.
The game wasn’t looking good for the Knights, whose 25-point deficit lasted half way through the fourth period. Tudela slammed two free throws and a jumper to end the afternoon. Southern’s Timmothy Sula scored last-minute shot past John Sanchez for an extra two points.
The Mantas now have a season-ending record of three wins and four losses. Joining the team were A. Palacios, Reinhold Ferrer, Pedro Castro, Joaquin Muna, and coaches Eric Cooke and Adam Walsh.
Scores:
Saipan Southern High School 67 – J. Tudela 15, N. Salem 14, T. Ecalnea 10, M. Cadiang 8, A. Palacios 6, L. Byun 6, R. Ferrer 4, J. Jung 2, T. Sula 2
Mount Carmel School 46 – J. Griffin 13, M. Kim 12, R. Cabaltica 7, G. Baka 6, A. Sablan 4, K. Bautista 4
Quarterscores: 18-8, 34-21, 51-30, 67-46
