Story by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports. Photos by Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports
Claire Seah (GS) of Hwa Chong Institution takes a shot against Anglo-Chinese Junior College. (Photo 1 © Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports)
Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Friday, May 22, 2015 — A late game comeback helped Hwa Chong Institution clinch the bronze medal with a 54–53 victory over Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) in the 3rd/4th playoff game of the National A Division Netball Championship.
In last year’s edition, ACJC were first runners-up, while HCI had finished third.
The game saw a total of four lead changes, with no more than five points separating the teams.
“The girls had a better control over the game today and I think that’s a critical element to our success today,” said HCI coach Lin Shuangru.
Despite sporadic shooting, goal shooter Claire Seah was the hero for HCI, as she made it up with her offensive rebounds, which gave her team several crucial second-chance opportunities.
“Having her (Claire) on the team is always an asset, but today, her rebounds were very critical to the game and she did very well on that,” added coach Lin.
Both teams went back and forth in the first eight minutes of the opening quarter, but HCI’s shooting woes, coupled with some costly turnovers, allowed ACJC to take a three-point lead at the end of the quarter.
HCI’s woes continued early in the second quarter, as ACJC’s pesky defence forced several turnovers to bolster their lead to five points.
HCI quickly recovered to stop the bleeding through Claire Seah, whose height advantage gave her an edge over her defenders. Along with a better conversion percentage from goal attack Lim Miao Wen, HCI managed to tie the game at 20 apiece with six minutes remaining.
However, a late run allowed ACJC to regain a two-point lead to end the half.
In the third quarter, ACJC’s double team on Claire Seah proved to be a double-edged sword. While limiting the HCI goal shooter on offence, goal attack Lim Miao Wen was left open on several occasions, allowing HCI to keep the game close.
In the dying moments of the third quarter, both Lim and Seah combined for three unanswered points to tie the game with nine seconds remaining. Jody Leong responded quickly with a buzzer beater to help ACJC hold the lead.
HCI opened the final quarter with a 3–0 run to take their first lead of the game, which they held on for eight minutes. HCI’s costly turnovers allowed ACJC to regain the lead with six minutes remaining.
With two minutes remaining, two crucial misses by ACJC goal shooter Amanda Quek allowed HCI to regain the lead, which they held on for the slim one-point victory.
“This was our last game, so we were mentally prepared to give it our best shot,” said Lim Miao Wen. “When we were trailing, we told ourselves not to give up and fight back to regain the lead.”
The HCI captain was all praises for goal shooter Claire Seah, whose rebounds helped turned the tide of the game.
“I’m really thankful that Claire managed to secure the rebounds and covered up our mistakes. We helped each other out, and that eventually helped us to the win.”
Score by quarter
ACJC vs HCI
1st quarter: 13–10
2nd quarter: 14–15 (27–25)
3rd quarter: 15–16 (42–41)
4th quarter: 11–13 (53–54)
ACJC Roster
Amanda Quek, Jody Leong, Wen Sze, Shakila, Lishal Chanya, Alesha, Vivien, Joli
HCI Roster
Claire Seah, Lim Miao Wen, Gloria Chan, Joy Au, Yang Shuli, Sabrina Chan, Karyn Tshua, Chan Kai Yen, Low Yi Xuan, Koh Kai Qian, Celine Tan, Low Pei Sze Rachel
More photos next page
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