Marshall Islands 15-Under Team Competes in Pohnpei
The first 15-and-under national basketball team from the Marshall Islands is competing in the 15-and-Under Micronesia Basketball Tournament being held in Pohnpei July 8-14, 2011. The team, which was developed after open tryouts organized by the Marshall Islands Basketball Federation in March, is coached by Head Coach Paul Kattil and assisted by Alber Alik and Robert Pinho.
This is the first eastern division 15-and-Under Basketball Tournament, with the western division tournament having been held in Palau in June following a new format agreed to at the Micronesian Games in Palau in 2010.
The Marshall Islands team departed Majuro for Pohnpei on Thursday July 7, 2011 and will return on Friday July 15, 2011.
Players on the team are: Kyle Paul, Joseph Benjamin, Russel Bollong, June 'Tokki' Matayoshi, Emilyo 'Tam-Tam' Maddison, John Erra, Jason Langbata, Harold Tarkwon, Jackson Aster, Mathis Eeorge, Carthney Laukon, Jr., and Asher Asher.
The RMI team played its first game against Pohnpei II (Pohnpei has 2 teams in the tournament) on Friday July 8. Final score: RMI 77-Pohnpei II 42. Leading scorers for RMI: Kyle Paul 14, John Erra 8.
On Saturday July 9, RMI played its second game against Kosrae. Final score: RMI 74-Kosrae 36. Leading scorers for RMI: Mathis George 15, Kyle Paul 14.
On Monday July 11, RMI played its third and fourth games. At 12 noon, it played Pohnpei I. Final score: Pohnpei I 68-RMI 65. Leading scorers: June 'Tokki' Matayoshi 17, Mathis George 15.
At 7pm, RMI played Kosrae. Final score: RMI 74-Kosrae 46. Leading scorers: Kyle 'Bollet' Paul 19, Emilyo 'Tam-Tam' Maddison and John Erra 13 each.
In the rematch against Pohnpei I Tuesday, July 12 at 7pm, the RMI national team turned the tables on the strong Pohnpei team. Final score: RMI 74, Pohnpei I 65. Scoring leaders: Mathis George 17, June 'Tokki' Matayoshi, Russell Bollong and Kyle 'Bollet' Paul each 14, and John Erra 11.
RMI's win Tuesday July 12 sends it to the gold medal game on Thursday July 14 at 5pm in Pohnpei (Pohnpei time). RMI awaits the outcome of Wednesday's (7/13) game between Kosrae and Pohnpei I. Whichever team wins will challenge RMI for the gold medal on Thursday 7/14. In their previous meeting last week, Pohnpei I defeated Kosrae 75-45.
UPDATED: On Wednesday July 13, 2011, Pohnpei I defeated Kosrae 79-71 to advance to the Gold Medal game against the RMI 15-and-under national team. The Gold Medal game will be played at the College of Micronesia gymnasium at Palikir, Pohnpei with tip-off scheduled for 5pm local time Thursday July 14, 2011 (6pm Marshall Islands time).
Posted below are complete tournament results through Tuesday 7/12/2011.
The tournament schedule is below.
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