[sixcol_five_last]
By Robert Balajadia
The Southern Dolphins avenged their only loss of the IIAAG girls basketball season against the undefeated Academy Cougars with a big 54-40 win at the Southern gym Saturday night.
The Dolphins had a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter when the two teams met earlier in the season, but they allowed the Cougars to comeback and tie the game to send it into overtime where the Cougars grabbed the win.
This time, the Dolphins held on to their double-digit lead for an entire half.
The Dolphins held a 31-19 halftime lead and never looked back. The stifling defense of the Dolphins forced the Cougars into some costly and uncharacteristic turnovers, led by the blazing quick point guard April “Speedy” Talledo, who finished with 16 points.
Talledo helped force a lot of the turnovers on the defensive end and help slow the game down by attacking the basket and scoring from the free-throw line.

Receiving a pass to the inside, Cougars’ Jasie Villanueva shoots for two points. (photo by Jesse Castro)
“We got ready by focusing more on the game and by not letting anything else get to us. Coach tells me to trust me teammates, play my game and play my best,” said Talledo.
Another big factor was the height of Dolphins’ Mar Tenorio and Brielle Meno, which allowed the Dolphins third, fourth, and sometimes fifth extra opportunities to score by cleaning up the offense glass.
Tenorio finished with 16 points while Meno added 12.
The Cougars tried to rally back in dramatic fashion by scoring six straight points from Alina “ICE” Bonto and Kali Benavente to cut the lead 49-38 with three minutes left in the game, but the Dolphins forced Academy into more turnovers and slowed the game down to hold on for the win.
“We wanted to control the tempo and it worked to our advantage by getting our big girls involved. We only had about a day and a half of practice due to the Thanksgiving break and I told the girls we needed to prepare the entire Academy team and not just certain players,” said head coach
Southern led by just two points after the first quarter before Talledo and Tenorio would take over in the second quarter where the two combined for 12 of the teams 16 points.
“We wanted to defend our home court like they defended our home court,” added Talledo.
With the win the Dolphins are now 9-1 on the season while the Cougars drop to 10-1. The season is winding down and Sanchez knows this win was big for his girls heading into the playoffs.
“It gives us momentum heading into the final games and playoffs knowing where we are at having played all the other teams. Once the playoffs start, everyone has to come with their ‘A-game.’ I just hope that when we do peak that it’s in the playoffs.”
Bonto led the Cougars in scoring with 15 points while Benavente added 12.
Other Scores
GW 54, Guam High 40
St. Paul 79, Sanchez 39 – Joy Pangilinan 30 points
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

On a fast break Dolphins’ April Talledo flies in to put two points on the board. (photo by Jesse Castro)
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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