Story by REDintern Lim Yi Fei. Photos by REDintern Chua Zhen Rong.
Jaron Ng (PH #15) attempts to make a shot. (Photo 1 © Chua Zhen Rong/Red Sports)
Clementi Sports Hall, Monday, April 4, 2017 — Christ Church Secondary withstood a final quarter onslaught to edge out Presbyterian High 57-56 in the second-round group stage of the B boys basketball Nationals.
Presbyterian High outscored Christ Church 24 points to 11 in the fourth quarter, but had a basket disqualified for travelling in the very last play of the game that would have won them the game. With this win, Christ Church top Group A ahead of Presbyterian High, with both schools on identical 5-1 win-loss records and qualified for the semi-finals.
“During the last quarter, we were all panicking due to the thought of us previously losing by just 1 point to Dunman High and we didn’t want that to happen again,” said Christ Church Point guard Eugene Junior (CC #23). “We should be more confident next time and not panic so much.”
Eugene (CC #23) had a game high 22 points, followed by teammates Pan Ming Hui (CC #22) and Oscar Ong, with 12 and 11 respectively. Dillion Yap (PH #7) led Presbyterian High with 17 points, with teammate Constantin Lim (PH #13) on 11.
With top place in the group at stake, both teams aggressively engaged their full court press right from the tip off. Ernest Kwek (CC #32) managed to secure the first basket, but Presbyterian High responded through Constantin Lim (PH #13) with a shotclock underbasket. Christ Church’s Eugene (CC #23) then replied with a three.
With Eugene leading Christ Church’s game plan, he was able to get over his opponents’ two-on-one men defence. They were though helped by Presbyterian High’s dribble and dish strategy, which left them vulnerable on the counter.
At halftime, Christ Church led Presbyterian High 28-23. The third quarter was a tight affair, with both teams guarding tightly, with Christ Church restricting Presbyterian High to shooting from outside the three-point arc.
Then trailing 32-46 at the start of the fourth, Presbyterian High went for broke.
Two free throws brought them up to 54-57 with 36 seconds remaining. And then another underbasket brought them within a single point.
But it was not to be, as the last basket did not count for Presbyterian High. Christ Church collectively exhaled, relieved history did not just repeat itself.
Points by Quarter
Christ Church vs Presbyterian
1st Q: 15-12
2nd Q: 13-11 (28-23)
3rd Q: 18-9 (46-32)
4th Q: 11-24 (57-56)
Top Scorer
Christ Church
Eugene Junior (#23) – 22 pts
Pan Ming Hui (#22) – 12 pts
Oscar Ong (#28) – 11 pts
Presbyterian High
Dillion Yap (#7) – 17 pts
Constantin Lim (#13) – 11 pts
Christ Church Roster
Wong Yi Dian (#20), Jason Soh (#21), Pan Ming Hui (#22), Eugene Junior (#23), Lin Kai Yao (#24), Oscar Ong (#28), Lee Looi Yen (#29), Lee De En (#30), Rico Liu (#31), Ernest Kwek (#32), Yeo Yuan Jun (#33), Jonathan Gue (#34)
Presbyterian High Roster
Ivan Kau (#4), Kovan Toh (#5), Dillion Yap (#7), Barry Yeong (#9), Tang Kah Wai (#10), Foo Yong Ming (#12), Constantin Lim (#13), Jaron Ng (#15), Kievan Chang (#16), Andy Tan (#24), Aaron Chaw (#26), Jerel Tan (#34)
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