The HCI vs RJC girls’ bball final – a reader’s perspective

Story contributed by reader saintsyadayada

Jamie (#8, RJC) breaking through the HCI defense in the recent girls’ A Division Championship Final. (Photo © Tan Huey Ying)

Raffles Junior College (RJC) started the game off with a quick lead of two 3-pointers made by #4, Joelynn Ng. The defence by both teams was tight, keeping the score low at 6-0 by 7:50. Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) didn’t look as composed, as their offensive plays seemed rushed. RJC, on the other hand, played an organised game centred on #7, Liew Si Hui. She put in another 3-pointer for RJC at 6:30. HCI had the advantage of having bigger centres, like #11, Tan Seow Hwee, but she missed many under-baskets.

The RJC supporters were outnumbered by HCI, but they definitely made their presence known with their loud cheering. HCI was heard to have sent all their J2s down to support the teams.

RJC’s #8, Jamie Chow, was substituted out at 5:00, with RJC playing the smaller but quicker forwards and guards. HCI’s #11, Phua Kaiyi, seemed to be handling most of HCI’s possession. Both teams showed that their defence were almost unbreakable. Both teams had made five successful 3-pointers by 1:50. The first quarter ended with a score of 15-11, RJC taking the lead.

In the second quarter, RJC counted more on their shooting from the perimeters. HCI started to have some foul trouble, with the “red flag” up about two minutes into the game. They were not grabbing the opportunities as they continued to miss many easy under-baskets. At 6:25, the game was tied at 15-15. Seow Hwee showed her ability as a centre, taking many rebounds right from above the RJC players. With 2 big centres, Seow Hwee and #5, Chong Jie Ying, HCI made rebounding for RJC difficult. With tight and intensive defence, RJC started getting into foul trouble.

RJC’s Joelynn was trying her luck with 3-pointers, taking long-range shots further than the 3-point line. RJC’s Si Hui didn’t disappoint her teammates, making a successful fast-break, her speciality, at 2:48. HCI then had a change of tactic, applying the half court press on RJC. However, it didn’t seem to work RJC. Instead, HCI might have given RJC even more space to make their runs. The low-scoring game saw a half-time score of 25-20 in RJC’s favour.

Just one minute into the third quarter, RJC’s Si Hui put in a 3-pointer. A technical glitch happened at one point of time, delaying the game for about three minutes. These three minutes were definitely used well by the supporters of both teams to show what they really got as they sang and chanted.

When play resumed, Spectators watched in anxiety and disbelief as HCI took many tries under the basket but scored none. Many 3-pointers were made, especially for this game. HCI’s #10, Cindy Chan, an MVP during her years in Nanyang Girls’ High, made a successful shoot which send the crowd into rapture.

HCI then gave RJC a good fight with their full-court press after a timeout. Joelynn had by then already put in five 3-pointers. RJC seemed to have some trouble trying to break HCI’s press. Another 3-pointer from Joelynn was made at 2:00, and another successful basket followed right after. A fierce body check by RJC’s key centre Jaime on her opponent saw her foul out of the game with five personal fouls and just one minute left in the game. This would prove crucial in the end. At the end of the third quarter, RJC led 44-29.

In the last quarter, HCI gave RJC much pressure with their double-man trapping defence, causing RJC to fumble at the start of the game. A timeout was called at 7:23 as RJC had not scored a single point by then. HCI slowly caught up and trailed only by five points at 39-44 at 7:00. The HCI supporters did not rest their voices at all as they continued to cheer their school on.

RJC fumbled again under HCI’s full-court press when play resumed. HCI continued to trail by five points at 5:50 with red flags already up. With smaller players on the court, most of the rebounds were going into HCI’s hands courtesy of Seow Hwee. HCI’s #13, Athena Tan then scored on a fast break which brought her team to 49-50 at 3:00.

“The ball comes in and the hand goes away.” The referee awarded Seow Hui with two free throws, but she couldn’t sink them. With one minute remaining, HCI still trailed 51-52. HCI intercepted a pass from RJC and passed it to Seow Hwee. She attempted a fast break while her opponent chased her down. When Seow Hui made a sudden stop near the basket, her opponent overran, and while everyone was anticipating that Seow Hui would pass it to the trailer running in, she spun around and scored from under the basket.

HCI, for the first time during that game, took the lead at 53-52.

Then RJC’s Si Hui missed her attempt at a lay-up while blocked by 3 defenders. An HCI long pass to Kai Yi saw her put in a basket to pull her team further into the lead at 55-52 just before the final whistle was blown.

Both teams definitely put up a tremendous fight. My teammates and I agreed that we would not know who the winner would be until the end of the game and so it proved. HCI surprised us once again. Well done, both teams!!!