[sixcol_five_last]
By Regina Shiroma

Friars’ John Baza scores the baseline jumper off a baseline out of bounds play to bring his team within one. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)
Adrenaline pumped through their veins as pressures mounted. “They had more to lose than us, we weren’t as afraid,” said Panthers’ Austy Hines.
They had nothing to lose and a 6-game winning streak to gain, not to mention the privilege to be known as the team who single-handedly handled the top team in the league. And the Guam High Panthers did just that. In a battle of the winning streaks, the Panthers walked out of the Phoenix center with a well-earned 53-47 win over the FD Friars Saturday night.
“Our problem all year was closing out and for our boys, that was our main goal: to stay focused and when we have a lead, we have to close out. Against an arsenal like FD, I’m just really proud of the boys and what they did because they fought through it. We knew that FD was going to throw the press to get us rattled and they withstood the storm and we made the free throws that mattered, I mean all the free throws matter,” joked Coach Ben Leon Guerrero, “but the crucial ones at the end that really gave us the victory.”
With fifty seconds left in the game, freshman Jason Santos ignited the home crowd dropping a three pointer that brought the Friars within two of the Panthers. However, seconds later, Panthers’ LJ Aguon grabbed a steal and was fouled along the way; Aguon made his free throws and extended the lead 49-44.
“I was just doing what coach told us to do, ‘Play help defense.’ My teammate got beat I helped him out,” said Aguon of the crucial steal.
Though missing most of their free throws throughout the game, the Panthers made it when they needed it the most, as, including Aguon, Nick Clark and Marcus Domingo made their free throws, boosting their lead to six in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Panthers’ Austy Hines attempts the layup with Friars’ Christian Chang looking to make the block. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)
“I’m proud of my team; I can’t ask for anything more. Just play hard and that’s what we did. We came out hot from the beginning to the end and that’s all I ask for, that’s what our coach asks for, and that’s’ what we did,” said an ecstatic Aguon.
In the opening seconds of the game, Aguon and Hines, the leading scorers of the game at 14 points each, landed threes to take the 6-0 lead. And that set the pace for the rest of the game. The Friars would tie the score at 8-8, but would never tie or take the lead for the rest of the game.
“It really has nothing to do with giving them their first loss, its that the momentum is that we beat a good team at a hard-fought battle and our boys now know that we have the ability to compete and it’s a good momentum boost going into the playoffs,” said Coach Leon Guerrero.
Aguon and Hines led all scores with 14 points. Hines grabbed six rebounds. Aguon recorded five rebounds, two assists, and a steal; Aguon’s shots were all threes aside from his two free throws. Teammate Kyle Dougherty tallied eight rebounds and seven points for the night. FD’s Mike Sakazaki led his team with ten points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Friars’ John Baza attempts the high flying layup through the defense of Panthers’ Mike Stewart. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)
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GPS Sports Calendar
May 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for April
1st
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for May
2nd
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for May
2nd
Events for May
4th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for May
5th
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER QUARTERFINALS
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for May
6th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
UOG BASEBALL CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
WOMEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL SEMIFINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for May
7th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 5
Events for May
8th
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
TRITON MEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Events for May
9th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR MEETING
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for May
9th
Events for May
12th
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for May
13th
HIGH SCHOOL PADDLING FINALS
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL FINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for May
13th
Events for May
21st
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 8
Events for May
21st
Events for May
22nd
Events for May
23rd
Events for May
24th
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
Events for May
28th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 6
Events for May
28th
Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th

Volleyball
TITANS ARE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

Volleyball
COMLETE GAME: TITANS VS. FRIARS VOLLEYBALL

Football
PANTHERS WIN BIG, SET UP FD SHOWDOWN
COMING SOON …
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