Contributed by reader Kelwin Koh.
Clementi Sports Hall, Wednesday, July 22, 2009 – It was a do-or -die game for Catholic High as a loss would mean the end of their 2009 season. Unity Secondary, on the other hand, were eager to prove that their earlier wins in the West Zone were not fluke. Catholic High started off very promisingly, but Unity eventually overcame the odds to take this National C Division Boys Basketball preliminaries game 63-55.
Catholic High started off with consecutive 3-pointers by their guards #10 and #4. Recognising that they did not have a solution to the interior defence of Unity's imposing centre, Delvin (#14), Catholic Hight stuck to their game plan of crisp passing and mid-range jumpers. Unity were unruffled and went to their key player in the post for their offensive outputs.
Catholic high held a slim four-point lead with just 2 minutes 43 seconds left in the first quarter, but successive defensive stops by Unity saw them regain the lead. CHS tried a few different ways to stop centre Delvin (Unity, #14), fronting him and trying their best to deny him position. However, he was back to his old self and there seemed to be little that they could do to stop him.
The second quarter saw more of the same with Unity switching to their pair of tiny but gutsy guards Alvin (#5) and Zhung Kiat (#10). Sparking a series of baskets with the strong interior defense and rebounding of their centre, Unity quickly pulled ahead to 12 points near the end of the half.
Catholic High refused to go away just like that, and with a very gutsy play at the buzzer, Catholic High guard #4 made a buzzer beater to reduce their deficit to 10 points at 21-31.
However it came at a cost as he sprained his ankle and was seen hobbling off after he picked himself up from the ground.
The second half saw Catholic High emerge with renewed strength and smart plays by Catholic High’s #13 and #5 pulled them to just within six points of Unity.
Just as momentum seemed to swing in their favour, Unity’s centre came up with a monstrous block on a Catholic High layup attempt that breathed life into his teammates. With their lead finally reaching 15 points, Unity’s coach pulled his key centre out for a well deserved rest.
With a smaller quicker lineup, USS reverted to their traditional full-court press. Catholic High took this opportunity to break the Unity rhythm. Smart play from the CHS #10 and #5 combined with the inspirational return of their #4 pushed them on to a short scoring run. Catholic High went on their own full court press and it made a difference as they kept the score close.
The final play of the quarter saw Unity guard #11 break free from the Catholic High press to score a buzzer beating layup and bring the score to 49-36.
Sensing that a loss would mean the end of their season, Catholic High went all out in the fourth quarter with their press. The maturity of the team must be applauded as they methodically stuck to their coach's game plan and did not panic or give up.
The final minutes were especially intense with Catholic High #5 and #13 making shots and defensive plays to keep the score interesting.
Unfortunately it was simply a case of Catholic High not having any answer to the inside strength of Unity.
An interesting observation was the sheer number of rebounds that USS centre Delvin (#14) grabbed in this game. Unofficial numbers calculated by the audience seemed to indicate that it was close to 30 rebounds, an amazing number especially since he had almost half of those on the offensive board!
Catholic High also showed great improvement in their play and had they performed at this level in their South Zone game against Raffles, they would surely have been the champions of the South Zone.
Unity now progress to the next round alongside North Vista, who beat Dunman High in another game.
Watch exciting 1st quarter highlights of Unity Sec v Catholic High:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey5VslX-k8A
Watch exciting 3rd quarter highlights of Unity Sec v Catholic High:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKJXlZjYtgI
Watch exciting 4th quarter highlights of Unity Sec v Catholic High:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrmeiqvtCDo
Watch exciting 4th quarter highlights of Dunman High girls v Deyi Sec:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaf4wZR-UH8
Watch exciting 4th quarter highlights of Unity Sec v Zhonghua Sec girls:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNWzXVPe6kM
y no1 support us zhonghua? i was there too^^ they play well^^
@someone – Yes, we got the story but we still have to edit it and then post it.
The reason why every story that goes up looks and reads right is because we spend time editing it.
You want to help?
You don’t have to be sarcastic about reminding us that we are a reader-generated site.
But on the tagboard apparently someone called pink wrote about an article about the Presbyterian High and Raffles match, yet the article never came out. what happened to “we are a reader generated site.” ?
@(._.)
We are very protective of our contributors (especially those who put their names for all to see) and sometimes our language gets a little tough cos they get attacked by usually anonymous people.
For those who have been subjected to that treatment, you’ll understand how painful it is.
I think we have to take that into account.
No part of it is rude?
Hmm.
Yup no point arguing with someone who don’t understand things from my perspective. I guess you’d only miss the water when it’s gone too.
“The term ‘get off your butt’ is a term used to get people to get up and start doing something. No part of it is rude and it has been used worldwide as a term to get people to take action, no where near the condescending ‘you are a biased loser’ phrase.
No point being nice to rude and unappreciative people. But then again, no point arguing with people who don’t understand things from our perspective. I guess you’d only miss the water when it’s gone.”
“you’re obviously some biased loser.”
@les
that’s definitely rude. agreed.
so “get off your butt” isn’t rude?
Hey, awesome detail you gave on the report! 😀
I bet you brought a notepad and wrote everything down.
Anyway, great job!
GO UNITY 😀
go unity sec !!!!!!!!!!!
i am a fan from tampines north primary school.
i really want to join unity sec cause their basketball is sooo good.i am the main point guard of tampines north primary school.
ps. i’m a filipino
TO Someone,
Like what JunWei say, Readers who dare to type their story. we will post it out.
so for the fair side of my own point.
catholic high may got improvement in their game play during the south zone like you say it. but in this time around, maybe them lack off of something during the Game. so did’t do well. And like you say so. the writer did’t write wrong thing as you as reader saw the game too.
IF that is the facts, I believe people like Catholic or Raffles will like to learn their own mistake and grow to do better next time. this gone to any other school right?? don’t you agree with me.
@someone:
then I suppose you prefer to read articles which just continue round and round praising everyone don’t you? No article can be perfectly neutral, everyone is biased to some certain extent. If you want to read a sports article, be prepared to see criticisms.
I say again, we are a reader generated site. If you don’t like what you see, you are always more than welcome to submit your own versions. You send it, we post it.
still it doesn’t give them a right to criticize other schools.
Well being keyboard warriors wouldn’t help anything would it.
So like what junwei said, you send it, we post it simple and sweet.
Good article kelwin.
Easier to type two lines of complaints than to take the initiative to submit your story.
We are a reader-generated, volunteer driven site. You send it, we post it. If you think Kelwin is biased, then get off your butt and contribute your own version. Stop hiding behind a pseudonym to attack our contributors.
#10 blocked quite alot of nice fastbreaks too.
this reader did not say anything wrong. Frm what i see frm the games that catholic high and raffles institution played in nationals, i think cat high is much stronger.
“had they performed at this level in their South Zone game against Raffles, they would surely have been the champions of the South Zone”
you’re obviously some biased loser.
@kevin (aka anon)
The writer is not “some biased loser”. He is not a player but a working adult.
If you don’t agree with the writer, that’s fine, but no need to call people names.
It’s rude and reflects on your upbringing.
“Catholic High also showed great improvement in their play and had they performed at this level in their South Zone game against Raffles, they would surely have been the Champions of the South.”
But they didn’t. -.-