The Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys All-Stars and Marianas High School's Lady Dolphins triumphed in the 2013 Settsu-Saipan Friendship Basketball Tournament held last week at the MHS Gymnasium.

The MISO Boys All-Stars outlasted the Settsu Basketball Club's Red Impulse, 88-80, in the boys championship match last Wednesday, while the MHS Lady Dolphins reigned supreme over the MISO Girls All-Stars, 72-32, in the girls finals last Thursday.

The boys champion squad is composed of MHS' John Darag, Erick Dela Rosa, Franklin Macahito and Michael Mancao, Kagman High School' Shaun Butters, Russell Hocog, Anthony Malwelbug and Ohmar Nawaz; and Saipan Southern High School's Bryl Alegre, Jack Aranda, Jaymark De Guzman and Nevin Salem.

Settsyu's players include Asuka Akasaka, Sho Arimizu, Kohei Eguchi, Tomohiro Ishikawa, Tokiya Kawano, Riki Kaya, Kohei Matsumoto, Yusuke Nakano, Yuki Oku, and Yuya Takikawa, while Tishoya Kurohara coached the visiting squad.

Playing for the MHS Dolphins were Rachel Abrams, Erream Badilles, Jeraldine and Jeralyn Castillo, Patricia Echavez, Lahaina Gatchalian, Charlene Lizardo, Marlene Lumabi, Kim Ocampo, Friendly Joy Pena, Gabrielle Race, and Glorily Williams. Steve Jents and Preston Basa called the shots for both local squads.

The MISO Boys All-Stars dropped their first match, losing to MISO champion Tinian High School Stallions, 24-28, but rebounded with a 31-26 victory over the Reds Impulse in their first meeting. The eventual champions then pounded the COPSSA Boys All-Stars, 49-16, to earn passage into the finals.

The Red Impulse was also victorious over COPSSA in its debut, 42-17, before falling to the eventual champions and then managed to knock off the THS Stallions, 38-33, to get a second crack at its rivals. The win over Tinian was Settsu's second in as many games, earning the visiting team the distinction of being the only squad to beat the Stallions for two straight years.

In the finals, the Red Impulse took a 29-23 advantage in the opening period after getting 11 markers from shooting guard Kawano and enough contributions from four other players. Settsu maintained control through midpoint, 45-39, as Kawano drained a couple of three-pointers for eight more markers in the second frame.

Though in a hole, the MISO Boys All-Stars shared the ball well in the first half with Aranda, De Guzman and Salem teaming up on offense. The trio then battled back to grab the driver's seat, 61-60, heading into crunch time. Aranda led the rally in the third quarter, firing 8 points.

The MISO Boys All-Stars completed the come-from-behind win in the fourth, as Kawano was then held to just a handful in the payoff period and the home bets managed a late surge to put the game out of reach. Alegre delivered in the clutch with his 9 points, while Salem contributed 6 to secure the win.

In the end, Aranda paced the MISO Boys All-Stars with his 20 points, while Kawano led all scorers with his 31.

In the girls division, the Lady Dolphins went through the COPSSA All-Stars, 38-22, and then defeated the MISO Ladies, 24-4, to advance to the finals. The COPSSA selection prevailed over the MISO Girls All-Stars twice, 21-12, and, 71-54, to earn a finals appearance.

In the winner-take-all finale, the Dolphins worked out an early 12-8 edge before breaking away with a 29-14 advantage at the half. Jeraldine Castillo paced the MISO All-Stars in the first half with her 10 points. Jazmin Rayphand of Grace Christian Academy, tallied 8 markers and did all she could to keep COPSSA in firing range, but failed to get enough support.

The Dolphins did not let up after the break and pulled away, 58-24, heading into the final a stanza to walk with the easy win. Mount Carmel School's Kaylani Lebria splashed in a couple of treys in the third quarter, but COPSSA could not make a much-needed stand on the defensive end.

With COPSSA struggling on defense, the Dolphins capitalized and had eight different scorers in the third period, while Jeraldine Castillo and Lizardo closed the shop in the fourth frame, making 6 points apiece.

Jeraldine Castillo led the Lady Dolphins with 17 points, while Rayphand had a team-high 10 markers.

Boys Finals

MISO All-Stars 88 - Aranda 20, Alegre 17, Salem 16, Dela Rosa 16, De Guzman 12, Melwelbug 4.

Settsu Red Impulse 80 - Kawano 31, Matsumoto 16, Takikawa 10, Ishikawa 9, Arimizu 6, Akasaka 2, Eguchi 2, Kusunoki 2, Nakano 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-29, 39-45, 61-60, 88-80.

Girls Finals

MHS Lady Dolphins 72 - Jerald Castillo 17, Williams 12, Abrams 10, Lizardo 9, Gatchalian 6, Pena 6, Jeraly Castillo 4, Echavez 2, Lumabi 2, Ocampo 2, Race 2.

MISO All-Stars 32 - Rayphand 10, Lebria 6, Kautz 6, Che 3, Demapan 2, Canedo 1, Lee 1, Travilla 1.

Scoring by quarters: 12-8, 29-14, 58-24, 72-32