Story by Zachary Foo/Red Sports. Photos by Laura Lee/Red Sports.

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Soh Jia Xuan (RI #6) scores a layup. Jia Xuan led all scorers with 18 points. (Photo 1 © Laura Lee/Red Sports)

Singapore Basketball Centre, Friday, May 9, 2014 — Raffles Institution (RI) booked a place in the semi-final with a 46–36 win over Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) in the National A Division Girls Basketball Championship. Soh Jia Xuan (RI #6) led all scorers with 18 points, while Tan Li Min (NYJC #7) paced her team with 13 points.

The win puts RI joint-second in Group Z with a 2–1 win–loss record, along with NYJC.

The first quarter was a low-scoring affair between both teams. Leanne Cheng (RI #15) managed to put some daylight between both teams with a three-pointer. Farah Tan (RI #4) did well to manage the game, as she was extremely vocal on offence. She directed her players to their spots and facilitated the ball well.

NYJC came close in the second quarter after scoring four straight points. This pulled them to within three points of RI, but this was as close as they got. RI went on a 9–2 run after that. Jia Xuan (RI #6) and Farah Tan (RI #4) were RI’s main source of offence during the run. This allowed RI to open up a comfortable 12-point lead going into the half time break.

The second half saw NYJC reduce the deficit in small spurts, but RI were able to respond each time. NYJC scored the first seven points in the third quarter, but Farah (RI #4) and Jia Xuan (RI #6) combined again to make an 8–0 run to close out the period.

NYJC came into their own in the final quarter, Winnchis Yap (NYJC #15) had more success in the post as she was able to outwit her defenders. NYJC recognised that and continued to feed the ball in to her. Ong Sze Ming (NYJC #9) also found her shooting touch in the quarter, as she put up eight points for her team after a quiet first half. Even though Nanyang won the quarter 18–15, it was too late as Raffles took the game 46–36.

RI captain, Farah Tan (#4), said, “Both teams played a good game and they gave us a hard fight. We started with confidence and we were very calm and focused. This is our second win and we are very grateful to qualify for the semi-final. We will fight very hard as we want to gain back the championship.”

Scoring by Quarter
RI vs NYJC
1st Quarter: 10–4
2nd Quarter: 13–7 (23–11)
3rd Quarter: 8–7 (31–18)
4th Quarter: 15–18 (46–36)

Top Scorers
RI
Soh Jia Xuan (#6) – 18 points

NYJC
Tan Li Min (#7) – 13 points

RI Roster
Farah Tan Li Yee (#4), Yang Wei Yun Lily (#5), Soh Jia Xuan (#6), Kee Yi Siew (#7), Ong Qiu Hui (#8), Thasnova Rahman Thamim (#9), Tan Mei Jun Madeline (#10), Barcelo Penielle Marisse T (#11), Woon Wei Jing (#12), Isabel Wong Ee Lerr (#13), Alethea Ng Kai Ti (#14), Cheng Le En Leanne (#15)

NYJC Roster
Ong Sin Kee (#4), Toh Hui Ying (#5), Sixu Vongsuvanish (#6), Tan Li Min (#7), Adeline Phua (#8), Ong Sze Ming (#9), Yan Soo Peng (#10), Sim Lee Ching (#11), Shaynnie Phoe (#12), Luah Yin Yi (#13), Audrey Tay (#14), Winnchis Yap (#15)

A Division Girls Basketball Championship — Fixtures and Results

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