Story by Dylan Chua/Red Sports. Photos by Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports.
Nicholas Liew (Bowen #8) avoiding the defense mid-air as he attempts a layup. He scored a team-high 21 points in the double overtime thriller. (Photo 1 © Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports)
Singapore Basketball Centre, Wednesday, February 24, 2016 — Behind a pair of clutch free-throws from point-guard Lee Yao Hong (#9), Bowen Secondary rode their luck to claim a breathtaking 66-65 double overtime victory against Woodgrove Secondary and booked their place in the North Zone B Division Basketball final.
In a classic game for the ages, Owen Liow (#11) led Woodgrove with a game-high 23 points while Bowen’s leading scorer Nicholas Liew (#8) bagged a team-high 21 points. Wilbur Tan (#14) added 17 points for Bowen in the win.
Woodgrove had the better of the early exchanges, racing into a 17-7 lead behind an 8-0 run to start the 2nd quarter. With Bowen hot on their heels, the team in blue failed to extend their lead despite dominating the offensive boards and missed five shots on the last possession of the 1st half.
Woodgrove have themselves to blame for not putting the game away as they were firmly in the lead throughout the 2nd half before Bowen went on a 6-0 run in the last 1:54 of regulation to force overtime.
Nicholas Liew (Bowen #8) sparked wild celebrations from the Bowen bench when he sent the game to overtime with 2.7s left in regulation with a put-back off his own missed shot.
With Bowen up 60-55 in OT, Woodgrove proved once more why they are a force to be reckoned with.
Renneth Tan (Woodgrove #9) first sunk a 3-pointer with 27.8s left in OT to make it a two-point game. Then off a costly turnover by Bowen with 10.7s left, Woodgrove raced the other way and set up Owen Liow (Woodgrove #11) to tie the game with 1.1s left in OT, evoking raucous cheers from the Woodgrove supporters and left spectators astonished.
Double overtime loomed as the fitness of key players were put to the test.
Unsurprisingly, a few players from both teams suffered from cramps when play resumed. Making matters worse, Woodgrove had two of their key players fouled out in overtime while Bowen’s top scorer Nicholas Liew (#8) could not return to the game having suffered from cramps.
With 49.4s left, Lee Yao Hong (Bowen #9) stepped-up to drain a pair of free-throws and put Bowen in the lead for good. Woodgrove’s final onslaught proved futile as Bowen hung on to win an exhilarating double overtime thriller.
Bowen will battle it out with defending champions North Vista Secondary on Tuesday, March 1 for the North Zone B Division Basketball title. North Vista had earlier claimed a spot in the final with a win over Catholic High.
Scoring by Quarter
Bowen vs Woodgrove
1st Q: 7-9
2nd Q: 11-13 (18-22)
3rd Q: 11-12 (29-34)
4th Q: 24-19 (53-53)
OT: 7-7 (60-60)
2OT: 5-4 (65-64)
Top Scorers
Bowen
Nicholas Liew (#8) — 21 points
Wilbur Tan Ming Sheng (#14) – 17 points
Lee Yao Hong (#9) — 13 points
Woodgrove
Owen Liow Cheng Xun (#11) – 23 points
Bowen Roster
Cyrus Wong Chin Kiat (#4), Teng Wei Jie (#5), Harry Yap (#6), Jerome Soh (#7), Nicholas Liew (#8), Lee Yao Hong (#9), Wu Shen Chou (#10), Shawn Tay Jia Yi (#11), Ng Zhi Yong (#12), Daniel Ang Yi Le (#13), Wilbur Tan Ming Sheng (#14), Teo Zhe Kai (#15)
Woodgrove Roster
Edwin Soo Ian Zhang (#4), Sean Por (#5), Aw Kai Jie (#6), Lacsado Jack William Santiago (#7), Seah Jin Yong (#8), Renneth Tan Zi Jun (#9), Avin Tech Rong Kai (#10), Owen Liow Cheng Xun (#11), Andy Lim Jia En (#12), Lim Jin Long (#13), Andy Liow Cheng Lin (#14), Yap Chun Jack (#15)
More photos next page
Ha ha.. The report sounds so bias…
“Bowen Secondary rode their luck “,
“Woodgrove only have themselves to blame “,
“Woodgrove proved once more why they are a force to be reckoned with.”
We respect your opinion and acknowledge that we cannot please every reader out there.
However, we do not understand some of your comments.
Firstly, “Bowen Secondary rode their luck…”
If it wasn’t for a series of breaks that went Bowen’s way on the last two possession in regulation, they would not even have had a chance to send the game to overtime. This is just a matter of fact.
Secondly, “Woodgrove only have themselves to blame…”
We concede that Bowen’s good performance must have had a part to play in this outcome and it is our mistake for using the word “only.” The report has been updated accordingly.
Thirdly, “Woodgrove proved once more why they are a force to be reckoned with…”
They have always been a good team and they showed that once again. We do not see anything wrong with this comment.
It would help if you could provide us with more details on how we can improve our story, thank you.
hi Dylan. I am not not displeased by your story. In fact I thought it was very well written.
However every reader has his right to feel what he feels after reading it, and the right to post his comments. I’ve already quoted your lines that made me feel its bias so I see no point in commenting further.
You’ve edited your article after my remarks but I seriously think you didn’t have to. You have presented the story the way you saw it and its totally fine.
So keep up the good work and regards..