Story by REDintern Lim Yi Fei. Photos by REDintern Chua Zhen Rong.

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Xie Muqi (YT #11) looks to bring the ball upcourt. (Photo 1 © Chua Zhen Rong/Red Sports)

Clementi Sports Hall, Monday, April 3, 2017 — North Vista Secondary overcame Yishun Town Secondary 40-37 in the second-round group competition to maintain their unblemished record at this year’s B girls basketball Nationals.

In a testament to North Vista’s strength, not even a game-high 20 points from Yishun Town’s Nur Afiyah (YT #5) — one half of the Misban sisters — and a resolute defensive display could stop them. Led by captain Lydia Ang (NV #7) with a team-high 13 points, this was North Vista’s fifth-straight win, including three in the first round round-robin competition.

“We started slowly in the first and second quarter. We didn’t do well on the defensive rebounds,” said Lydia after the game. “However we bucked up on our defence in the third and fourth. We went aggressive in the last quarter and we had more points.”

Still, North Vista is currently top of the second-round group of four and next play Christ Church Secondary. With this loss though, Yishun Town now have to win against Unity Secondary to stand a chance of making the semi-finals.

While North Vista took the early lead through Lydia Ang right from the tip off, the Misban sisters kept life difficult for them. Nur Afiyah replied early with a three and a two for Yishun Town. Hardworking Nur Afifah (YT #8) pressurised and helped her team capitalise on North Vista’s sloppy passing.

Yishun Town went into half time, trailing just a point, 15-16. They restricted North Vista to shooting outside the three-point arc, limiting their opponents to four points, scoring eight themselves in the second quarter.

The Yishun girls were also helped by four free-throws awarded after Lydia Ang (NV #7) had back-to-back fouls.

Tiong Zhi Wen (NV #2) banked in a three while Yuki Kung (NV #3) clutched a two at the start of the third quarter to help North Vista pull away from Yishun Town. Lydia Ang helped by denying two of her opponents’ shots from under the basket.

The action heated up in the final quarter, when both teams went for broke.

Even though North Vista grabbed some crucial rebounds, they could not finish off cleanly. This led to fast breaks on turnovers as the game’s standout players Nur Afifah (YT #8) and Lydia Ang (NV #7) went toe to toe, willing their teams on both offensively and defensively.

Bad shooting though plagued both teams, even as North Vista tried to slow the game down.

An open floater from Lydia Ang (NV #7) gave them a three-point advantage with 43 seconds left. North Vista started using the hands-off technique which led to another floater from Lydia Ang (NV #7).

Nur Afiyah (YT #5) scored the final points in a reverse layup but that proved insufficient as North Vista sealed the game with a final 40-37.

“To improve, we have to start the game faster as we are currently starting slow for every game which we would have to end up chasing back and it may be hard,” said North Vista’s Lydia.

Points by Quarter
North Vista vs Yishun Town
1st Q: 12-7
2nd Q: 4-8 (16-15)
3rd Q: 9-8 (25-23)
4th Q: 15-14 (40-37)

Top Scorer
North Vista

Lydia Ang Zi Yi (#7) – 13 pts

Yishun Town
Nur Afiyah Bte Misban (#5) – 20 pts

North Vista Roster
Tiong Zhi Wen (#2), Yuki Kung Zhixin (#3), Poh Ke Hui (#4), Kweh Jia Qi Joli (#5), Teo Zi En (#6), Ang Zi Yi, Lydia (#7), Lum Yi En Charis (#9), Nurruzinna Binte Rohaizat (#10), Ong Qian Ying, Nikki (#11), Chang Yoke Suan, Jamie (#13), Ros Ellisyah Nur Umairah (#14)

Yishun Town Roster
Poh Rui Han (#0), Charlotte Lee Li Xuan (#4), Nur Afiyah Bte Misban (#5), Gin Chong Manyun (#6), Junnie Lisa Putri Karni (#7), Nur Afifah Bte Misban (#8), Ong Xuan Yi, Mabel (#10), Xie Muqi (#11), Jennifer Chue Jing Wen (#12), Regina Kaw Zhuan Hwee (#13), Natasha Shoba Sivalingam (#14), Fiona Tan Yu Xuan (#17)

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