BASKETBALL

South Zone, ‘B’ Division
Outram Secondary vs Raffles Institution
Wednesday, 21 February 2007, at CCAB

Text by Lee Hwee Cheng.  Pictures by Leslie Tan.  © soulbreath pictures

Outram Secondary outwitted Raffles Institution in the dying seconds of this winner-take-all game to beat them 47-46, securing themselves a place in the South Zone semi-finals at the expense of the Raffles boys.

Outram Sec’s no.11 Travis Ang (in white), outjumps an RI baller

Equally matched, Outram had better team skills and coordination, but RI impressed tremendously with their power, grit and mental strength.  With both sides still trying to find their rhythm, the first quarter ended with Outram leading with a disappointingly low 12-9 score line.

As the second quarter started, Outram seemed to warm up better.  A few well-executed pick-and-rolls and a few crucial two-point and three-point contributions from playmaker no.8 Cornelius Foo helped Outram pull the lead to 28-18 by the end of the quarter.

Outram Sec’s captain, Cornelius Foo

But the second half was where the real action took place.  As if woken up from slumber, the RI boys pumped up their game and turned on the aggression.  A full-court press tactic, with Foo especially man-marked, caused Outram to lose their pace in the middle of the third quarter and boosted the confidence of the RI boys to bring the score line to a see-saw situation.

The heat turned up in the final quarter which started with a 32-31 score line, the RI boys hot on the heels of Outram.  By the time half of the quarter had been played, the score levelled at 36-36.  With 1:30 left in the final quarter, the RI boys finally took the lead, 42-43.  As the game played into the final minute, all on the sidelines witnessed a heart-stopping drama.  With the clock at 31.90s, Outram committed a shooting foul on RI.  RI called a time-out to ease off the built-up tension, but eventually managed to convert only one of the two free-throws taken.

The Raffles bench calls a timeout to plot strategy in the last seconds

Outram took over possession of the ball, and made a crucial basket to bring the score level at 44-44 with 22.29s in the game.  At 18.38s, another time-out was called by the RI bench.  Back in the game with 14 seconds left, RI made a foul-in basket, but failed to convert it into a three-point-play.  Outram took the rebound and charged for a quick fast-break.  The shot missed but a foul was made.  Only one of two free throws made set the score at 45-46 with 13.36s on the clock.

RI called for their final time-out with 7.36s left in the game.  When the game resumed, RI made their throw-in.  Outram forward no.11 Travis Ang made a bolt toward the ball, got the interception and made an unchallenged fast-break toward the basket.  While the RI boys looked on helplessly, he made the basket and the Outram bench erupted in joy as the scoreboard reflected the final score: 47-46.

Outram Sec’s no.7 Edmund Tan rises above the rest as he drives to the basket

Outram Sec clinch a spot in the last four of the South Zone title chase with this last-second victory.

When asked how he felt being the hero that saved the team, a shy and bespectacled Travis Ang flushed, “Nah! I’m not a hero.  Everyone in the team played a part.”  Spoken like a team player.

Editor’s note:  Please let us know the names of players that we have referred to only by their numbers.  Thanks.

For more action shots, please visit the Picture Gallery.