Jurong Sec assert supremacy with win over Peirce in boys’ C Division Basketball

Story and photos by reader Kelwin Koh

Clementi Sports Hall, Thursday, July 16, 2009 – Peirce Secondary School were always going to be the underdogs in this boys’ National C Division basketball Group B match against Jurong Secondary School, but spurred on by North Vista’s surprising win over Catholic High yesterday, the Peirce Boys seemed to harbour some hope of an upset.

The first 2 minutes of the game gave them some hope when Jurong were unable to get into their usual defensive or offensive rhythm. Peirce scored first and it took over 2 and a half minutes before Jurong got onto the scoreboard with a single free throw by their centre (#15).

With their nerves settled, the Jurong guards (#7, #8) put on a passing clinic and slowly pulled the score apart. Peirce’s guard (#9) scored with a long-range bomb, only to have the favour returned almost immediately by Jurong's own #9.

Peirce continued to try their best on the defensive end, and held Jurong to only 17 points in the 1st quarter. However, they were let down by their poor shooting form, perhaps a result of the truncated training period that they suffered due to the H1N1 situation.

The 2nd quarter saw the insertion of what I first mistook as a Charles Barkley. For our young readers, Charles Barkley was a recipient of the 1993 National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award, and was also a member of the Original Dream Team with Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Chris Mullin, etc at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. And until Shaquille O’Neal arrived on the NBA scene in the same year, Barkley (or Sir Charles, as he prefers to be called), had the biggest rump in the entire NBA.

Jurong’s #14 looks like a younger Sir Charles, albeit with a lot more hair on his head. His overall skill and mobility was impressive and it was evident within the first couple of Jurong possessions that Peirce would be having a long, tough day ahead as long as he was in the game. He displayed baseline moves, power rebounds, fast-breaks that one would not quite tally with his physique. He terrorized the Peirce frontline and turned the tide for Jurong.

Peirce tried to go on their usual 3rd quarter run, but their dependence on the 3-point shot was always a risky strategy, and had already proved to be their weakness once, at the Zonal level. With their guards unable to find their rhythm, Peirce were unable to string together any consistent run at all. With Jurong focusing their offense on #14, they extended their lead to 42-25 by the end of the third period.

The 4th quarter saw a change in strategy by Peirce’s coach Wong Weilong, as he was determined not to let the score run awry. He changed strategy, instructing his team to drive in for layups in hope of drawing fouls from the Jurong team. Valiant drives by the Peirce forwards (#12, #13) proved to be a case of too little, too late. The lack of match experience by the Peirce players showed and they soon succumbed to Jurong's relentless waves of attack.

The final score, however, was a testament to the fighting spirit of teams in the South Zone, as the Peirce players fought until the last minute and tried their best, despite being overmatched in size, skill and experience. The final score was 60-34 to Jurong.

In another Group B match taking place on the next court, Dunman Secondary School put on a clinic against Deyi Secondary School, showing poise and skill in dispatching their rivals from the North Zone. It was a comprehensive 86-29 skinning of Deyi and it seems to bide well for Dunman in their imminent matchup with Jurong next Thursday, July 23.