By Robert Balajadia
The Academy Cougars secured their home floor as the venue for ISA Girls Basketball Championship game after defeating the JFK Islanders 30-22 in the semifinals Tuesday evening. The Cougars locked up the league’s number one seed by finishing the regular season unbeaten which meant hosting the title game was theirs to lose.
After a slow start in their semifinals game, the Cougars found their offense and buckled down on defense to move past JFK for a title shot Friday. Meeting them there will be the St. Paul Warriors, who defeated the Okkodo Bulldogs 53-51 in the other semifinals game.
“This is home and more is at stake because it’s at home. We have to defend this with everything we got,” said Taitano on being able to host the Championship Game.
Cougars guard Mia Taitano had 12 points to lead her team with defense fueling their big win.
The Cougars got the better of the Warriors for the preseason title and also in their regular season meeting. This will be the teams third meeting this season, but their fourth straight battle for a league title!
Cougars defense fuels run
The Islanders looked prime for an upset early after quickly getting a 9-1 lead on the Cougars after a Laila Smart three pointer from the wing midway through the opening period. The Cougars didn’t get their first field goal of the game until the 56-second mark of the 1st quarter on a Myka-Jo Terlaje bucket off a Taitano feed, but managed to get within 9-5 before the quarters end.
Academy quickly took control of the game in the 2nd, capturing a 10-9 lead off an Oriana Sevilla three-pointer and didn’t look back. The Cougars would render JFK scoreless in the 2nd, taking an 18-9 lead into the half.
“It took everyone giving their full effort. We know this is a win-or-go-home game and we want to win; we want to win it all. We came together on defense which got our offense going,” said Taitano on turning the game around.
Academy would stretch their lead 23-9 into the 3rd before a pair of buckets from Islander Philicita Rivera ended the Cougars 22-0 run. Rivera would convert on a jumper in the lane and a three-pointer from the wing, the Islanders only points in the period, to get her team within 29-14.
JFK started to mount a comeback in the 4th after three buckets from Golopin Choay, and a jumper from Jada Han, got the Islanders within 29-22.
Neither team could capitalize on fast breaks in the final minute with a free throw from Taitano in the final seconds icing the contest 30-22.
“We just needed to keep our composure and keep up the defensive intensity. Both teams were tired, but we wanted it more so we had to show it,” said Mia on the tense final minutes.
Terlaje and Sevilla scored six points each for the Cougars while Golopin scored a team-high 10 points for the Islanders.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for March
8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
Events for March
9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
Events for March
9th
Events for March
14th
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
Events for March
16th
Events for March
17th
Events for March
18th
Events for March
19th
Events for March
20th
Events for March
22nd
Events for March
24th
Events for March
25th
Events for March
27th
Events for March
28th
Events for March
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for March
30th
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon