By Kandon Duenas
The JFK Islanders improved to a 4-0 in the Guam Basketball Confederation Girls High School Basketball League after defeating the Okkodo Bulldogs 73-47 Friday night at their home gym.
It is a determined JFK squad this season, especially after losing the ISA championship game last year to the Sanchez Sharks when they were the favorites to take it all.
The Islanders were on fire from the beginning of the game with their point guard Jaelyn Han leading the way by sinking two three-pointers and dishing out six assists.
Okkodo’s Taurehn Arjona went on her own 6-0 run by making a three-pointer and converting a lay-up while getting fouled in the process. She also led all scorers with 22 points, Ivy Rosario and Alexa Fionabelle Buluran chipped in seven points each for the Bulldogs. However, the Islanders led 45-27 by halftime with Francesca Aguilar closing out the half by shooting two three-pointers. Gabrielle Gogue from JFK scored eight points and had a game-high eight rebounds.
The Islanders pulled away in the third quarter led by Aguilar’s shooting to go up 65-32.
Aguilar, senior, scored 18 points for her team.
Han had 15 points and eight rebounds.
“I feel like I lacked on defense today and was also lost multiple times on defense. However, offensively I’m pretty sure I did well. Everyone has off games and tonight wasn’t my best. Even though I was playing badly in the first half. I motivated myself to play better and keep pushing despite the amount of turnovers I made, losing the championship last year and playing badly just keeps motivating me to play better. As a team, I know some of us were lost on defense, but I feel like we can improve by just working on moving the ball more, having better defense, and communicating more on the court,” said Aguilar.
“I think as a team we’re excited to be challenging other teams, especially the private schools. I just feel like it’s going to be a new experience. I know our team always has room for improvement and with us conjoining leagues, it gives us a new environment, and mainly I think we need to improve on defense and communicating on the court,” said Han.
The Islanders will look to extend their winning streak next Monday against the GW Geckos at JFK. The Bulldogs will play the St. Paul Warriors next Tuesday at St Paul.
In the junior varsity game, Jameisha Ceria led the Islanders with 13 points. Okkodo’s Jalene Quidachay had a game-high 15 points.
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Matsuno’s second place finish earned him an invitation to compete in the FCG Junior Golf Championship to be held in July 2025.
A junior at St. John’s, he is also currently leading the IIAAG high school All-Island golf competition, chasing the coveted individual high school golf title.
