ASHSAA011- 12 season ends with baseball and basketball championship games

Last Friday evening at the Samoana High School gymnasium, the Samoana High School Sharks girls varsity basketball team became the 2011-2012 ASHSAA Girls Varsity Basketball Champions, when they defeated the Faga’itua Vikings by one point. [photo: Jeff Hayner]

It was a busy weekend for the Department of Education (DOE) American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA) sports competition, as two sports, ASHSAA Girls Varsity Basketball and ASHSAA Baseball each came to an end, with new champions being crowned for each sport for this 2011-2012 season.

The ASHSAA Girls Varsity Basketball came to a close on Friday evening, while ASHSAA Baseball finished out its season on Saturday morning. 

2011-2012 ASHSAA Girls Varsity Basketball Championship Game

The undefeated Samoana Sharks Girls Varsity Basketball team that was undefeated with a 9 win and 0 loss record by steam rolling over their opponents this whole season, came into the championship game this past Friday evening against the Faga’itua Vikings, with all of the confidence in the world.

They were seeded #1, playing in their home gym, had a pro Shark crowd backing them and have been on a roll since the beginning of the season, gaining more and more confidence after each game. But no one told this to the Vikings, as they came out of the starting block screaming with a tenacious defense that allowed their offensive game to open up and take the lead and momentum going into half time — putting the Sharks in a spot that they were not used to being in this season, as it clearly showed in the first half being down to the Vikings by 8 points.

In the second half, the Sharks were determined not to be denied the victory as they were last season in the finals against the Tafuna Warriors. With minor adjustments, the Sharks were able to tie the game late in the 3rd period, that started a seesaw battle with the lead going back and forth. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Sharks were able to take the lead with less than 5 seconds left in the game to secure the victory by one point.

Final score, Vikings 39- Sharks 40.

In the Junior Varsity Division, with no playoffs or championship game played, the Samoana Sharks were undefeated- the only team to do so, with 9 wins 0 loses, taking the Junior Varsity championship trophy.

Here is the list of this year’s final 2011-2012 ASHSAA Girls Basketball Awards:

Varsity Champions:            Samoana Sharks

Varsity Runner’s Up:            Faga’itua Vikings

Junior Varsity Champions:            Samoana Sharks

Championship Game Most Valuable Player:            Yandell ‘Small’ Liu/Samoana Sharks

Season Most Valuable Varsity Player:            Fitimalo Tuamasaga/Samoana Sharks

Season Most Valuable Junior Varsity Player:            Rosie Folosi/Samoana Sharks

Varsity Most Valuable Coach:            Andrew ‘Bill’ Ena/Samoana Sharks

Junior Varsity Most Valuable Coach:            Carl Schuster/Samoana Sharks

2011-2012 ASHSAA Baseball Championship Game

The Fa’asao Marist Crusaders literally ran away with the championship trophy this past Saturday morning at the Tony Solaita Baseball Field, when they forced a stoppage to the championship game in the top of the 5th inning due to the 10 run mercy rule, when they were up 17-1 against the Nu’uuli Voc-Tech Wildcats.

The Wildcats, who scored their only run in the top of the 1st inning, couldn’t come up with anything after that, mainly due to the pitching of the Crusaders Carl Samoa, who kept the Wildcats in check throughout most of the game, which undoubtedly earned Samoa the ‘Championship Game’s Most Valuable Player title.

Immediately following the championship game, ASHSAA Baseball Coordinator Clayton Mahuka acknowledged and thanked everyone for coming out in support of ASHSAA athletics and the ASHSAA baseball players. He also thanked both teams and coaches for playing well in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

Here is the list of the this year’s final 2011-2012 ASHSAA Baseball Awards:

Champions:            Fa’asao Marist Crusaders

Runner’s Up:            Nu’uuli Voc-Tech Wilcats

Coach Of The Year:            Victor Langkilde/Fa’asao Marist Crusaders

Season Most Valuable Player:            Rhoderick Tarray/Fa’asao Marist Crusaders

Championship Game- Most Valuable Player:            Carl Samoa/Fa’asao Marist Crusaders

The Fa’asao Marist Crusaders were able to win this year’s 2011-2012 American Samoa High School Athletic Association Baseball Championship finals when they ran away with the victory in the championship game this past Saturday against the Nu’uuli Voc-Tech Wildcats, by a score of 17-1. Pictured bottom left is head coach of the Crusaders Victor Langkilde with (bottom right) Bishop John Quinn Weitzel holding the championship trophy. [photo: Jeff Hayner]