MARIANAS High School and Saipan Southern High School’s junior varsity teams tasted victory in the boys high school division of the IT&E Interscholastic Basketball League on Wednesday at the MHS gym.
MHS JV pummeled Mount Carmel School JV, 39-21, while SSHS JV edged MHS JV 2, 28-27.
In the opening half against MCS JV, MHS JV showcased their wide range of offense as Marl Balignasay, Kenny Laquian, Mark Caponpon and Jun Escalada delivered the buckets.
MCS JV gave a good fight with a display of ranged shots by Charles Cepeda and Jared Terlaje, but MHS JV was more productive and led 16-10 in the first half.
MCS JV picked up the pace in the second half with Devin Propst finishing strong. However, they failed to close the gap as MHS JV went on a scoring spree led by Balignasay, Laquian and Jan Catubo to secure the win, 39-21.
SSHS JV vs MHS JV 2
Saipan Southern High School JV joined the winner’s circle by outlasting MHS JV 2.
SSHS JV played aggressively in the opening half with the game going to the free-throw line in the last 10 minutes. With every SSHS JV attempt to penetrate, MHS JV 2 was forced to foul, allowing SSHS JV’s Onick Ragbonshe, Melfred Asuncion and Kian Helgen to convert eight points from the charity line and seize the lead, 17-13.
In the second half, MHS JV 2 started to find their groove and cut the deficit. Ruzel Quizon was the key to their comeback as he delivered a three-pointer followed by another trey late in the game.
But when MHS JV 2 was forced to foul to stop the clock, SSHS JV connected the crucial free-throw shots to win the game, 28-27.
SSHS JVs’ Simon Tang protects the ball as he posts up against a defender during a boys high school division game of the IT&E Interscholastic Basketball League at the MHS gym.
