The American Samoa Basketball association continued its pool play competition on Wednesday March 30^th at the St. John Paull II gym in Malaeloa with two exciting games that were lined up. In the first match saw two teams that were looking for their first win of the season, Liahona and Dawn Breakers. Right at the tip-off the game quickly controlled by the Liahona team after two quick buckets by Jarvis with a 3-pointer and short bank shot that put Liahona up 5-0 within the first 90 seconds. Dawn Breakers made the adjustments by going to their go-to forward, Ken & Charlie. Ken was able to pick up 5 points in the first quarter for the Dawn Breakers, but costly turnovers were the factor that saw Liahona capitalized off it.

By the end of the second quarter, Liahona’s Sui was on fire scoring 8 points in the 2^nd quarter that helped them control most of the first half, but Dawn Breakers Kamilo, Jordan and Tyler kept the game close and by halftime Liahona led 26-16.

In the 3^rd quarter saw a determined Dawn Breakers with Kamilo, Charlie & Moli leading the attack by cutting the Liahona led down to single digits. Liahona’s 3 point specialist, Jarvis, went cold for the past 2 quarters and had to rely on Iosefa’s defense to keep the Dawn Breakers at bay. By the end of the 3^rd the score was 35-29 with Liahona in the lead.

In the 4^th quarter, Liahona started committing a vast amount of fouls that led two of the players to foul out of the game. Their other guard, Antonio fouled out in the 3^rd quarter prior to the beginning of the 4^th. However, Liahona was only able to dress up 9 players. Jarvis began the 4^th quarter fast with 4 quick points, but on a 3 pointer attempt, Dawn Breakers defender was trying to block his shot and his knee caught Jarvis ribs and immediately fell to the ground in pain. After a turnover, Dawn Breakers was able to score on the other end on the advantage and play was immediately stopped to tend to Jarvis. After two minutes on the floor, he was able to move under his own power, but was still in pain and was ruled out of the game by their coach. Liahona was forced to play with 4 players on the floor.

Kamilo and Charlie quickly took over the game and brought the Dawn Breakers within 2. After a missed lay-up by Liahona’s Iosefa, Kamilo rebounded the ball and quickly outlet towards a wide open Jordan for two points and their first lead of the game. The game was 41-40, Dawn Breakers in the lead. However, it was devastating turnovers that led to a Liahona steal and basket on the other end and regain the lead 42-41. Charlie was in the post on a feed by Moli and went up for a lay-up and fouled but could not convert on the basket. Charlie went 2 for 2 from the line and got the lead back 42-41 Dawn Breakers. Gordon from Liahona made a wide open layup that brought the lead back to Liahona 43-42. Ken was driving the ball back for Dawn Breakers and passed to one of his guards only for him to lose it and turned over and a quick basket for Liahona and the lead up 45-42. After a timeout by Dawn Breakers and 9 seconds on the clock, it was obvious that Ken, Charlie & Kamilo were the scoring option. Liahona was riding on fumes as the 4 players remaining on the court were in need of a desperate stop to get their first win. After the timeout, the ball was inbounded by the Dawn Breakers and Ken had a good look for a shot, but the ball rattled in and out of the rim and rebounded by Liahona and as time expired, Liahona walked away with their first win of the season, 45-42 with Jarvis scoring 15 points for Liahona and leading all scorers and Kamilo scored 14 points for Dawn Breakers.