By Jeff Ochavillo

The IIAAG High School basketball game between the Academy Cougars and Guam High Panthers was interrupted Saturday night as a power outage occurred late in the 3rd period at the AOLG gym causing the entire game to be suspended until further notice.

The Cougars extended their huge lead to 50-21 with only a minute left in the 3rd quarter when the power outage had occurred causing the entire gym to turn pitch black, leaving the fans to take out their phones and use it as the only light source.

The game was on a full delay as the referees and the coaches came into deliberation to allow a 15-minute grace period to wait for the lights to come back on to resume the game. However, as the time elapsed, the light had still not come back on and the coaches and referees came to a consensus that the game had to be suspended and let IIAAG decide whether or not the game shall be rescheduled or not.

But before the entire power outage had caused the game to be suspended, the Cougars were on a full charge with Kali “Special K” Benevente leading the pack. In just the first quarter, Benavente had filled up the score sheets on both the offensive and defensive end.

Cougars Kali “Special K” Benavente nails a jumper over the outstretched arms of Panthers Jailyn Jones. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

From the start, defense was a key factor in the big lead for the Cougars. The Panthers were stumped by the aggressive defensive, especially with Benavente coming up with back-to-back steals and dishing out passes to her teammates to help the team go on a 13-0 run. Panthers’ Aubrey Taimanglo drained a three-pointer to stop the bleeding and hopefully get the offense flowing (3-13).

At the half, the Cougars had already built up the 38-16 lead and had continued extending it from there. Benavente assisted teammates Kiersten Pangelinan and Uriyah Tobiason for two quick buckets, but Jailyn Jones was aggressive on the lane and drained a jumper to counter. Making the score 42-18.

Afterwards, an outlet play allowed Benavente to dish a backdoor pass to a cutting Jasie Villanueva who made the layup and drew the shooting foul, but missed the free throw. Villanueva got her own rebound off the miss and passed it to Pangelinan who made the jumper to go up 46- 18.

Benavente continued to be the assist leader by getting two passes to a backdoor Taylor Paul and Joie Blas to go up 50-18. The last play ended with Jailyn Jones draining the well-contested three pointer before the power outage.

The score was left at 50-21 with only a 1:40 left on the clock in the 3rd quarter. However, the game could be rescheduled and be continued at another time. But for now, it will be suspended and it will be taken care of by IIAAG officials.

Kali “Special K” Benavente led the game with a double-double of 15 points, 10 assists, and 7 steals. Followed by Kieresten Pangelinan with 10 points and two assists. Guam High’s Jailyn Jones was runner up for overall scorer and led her team with 10 points, with Britney Bailey leading the defense with four blocks.

The game’s status will be updated and be posted.

Other Scores

St. Paul 41, Tiyan High 27 – (SPC – Kindra Young 22 points)

JFK 62, GW 37

Southern def. Notre Dame

PHOTO GALLERY:

Panthers Harmony Yatar tries to split the Cougar defense in the open court. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Cougars Joie Blas looks for a teammate in the post. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Cougars’ Uriyah Tobiason looks for an open teammate on the play.(photo by Robert Balajadia)

Panthers Jailyn Jones runs the offense in the second quarter. (photo by Robert Balajadia)