Story and photos by Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports
Mabel Anton (SCGS #10) leads the transition offense. She had a team-high 16 points. (Photo 1 © Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports)
Jurong East Sports Hall, Monday, April 10, 2017 — Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS) were trailing throughout the game but rallied to come from behind to defeat North Vista (NV) Secondary 55-52 in the National B Division Basketball Championship.
The win gives SCGS third place and a 6-2 win-loss record in the Nationals.
North Vista settled for fourth place a 5-3 record.
Both teams had a cold start. Neither teams were making their shots despite the open looks. Lee Yan (SCGS #14) broke the stalemate three minutes into the game by scoring both her free throws after getting fouled on the offensive put-back.
On the ensuing play, North Vista’s Lydia Ang (NV #7) went coast to coast to complete the fast-break. Both teams traded baskets to keep things close.
SCGS, wanting to let everyone play in the final game of their season, substituted their starting five out. North Vista took advantage and pulled ahead by five. Despite having less offensive power without their main players, the SCGS players on court were able to hold the fort on the defensive end to limit North Vista’s scoring.
With time winding down, SCGS substituted their main five back in and while they scored to cut the lead, North Vista were still up 13-10.
In the second quarter, Patricia Orenza (SCGS #7) made a three to tie things up. However, Lydia Ang (NV #7) quickly scored on the transition offense to give the lead back. Unfazed, SCGS went on a 6-0 run to lead 19-15.
North Vista’s Lydia Ang (NV #7) made a quick transition fast-break and drew the foul in the process. She made the free-throw to complete the three-point play and cut lead to one.
Jamie Chang (NV #13) also stepped up and with a barrage of moves, she managed to get into the paint area to draw the foul. She made both free throws to give North Vista the lead. Jamie Chang (NV #13) continued to play well for North Vista as she extended the lead after making two more free-throws. She had a game-high 21 points.
While SCGS fought back to tie, Tiong Zhi Wen (NV #2) knocked down a jumper at the end of the first half to give North Vista the 26-24 lead.
In the third, North Vista dominated at the start. Jamie Chang (NV #13) knocked down a three and got many offensive rebounds to give North Vista several second chance points. North Vista quickly increased the lead to 10.
Just when everything seemed to be going North Vista’s way, SCGS mounted a furious comeback. They played their full-court press defense and they went on a 8-0 run to end the quarter. However North Vista still led 41-39 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth, both teams showed their grit and refused to give in. They traded baskets throughout the fourth and everything boiled down to the last minute of the game. Jamie (NV #13) continued her stellar performance to grab offensive boards which led to a open three by Yuki Kung (NV #3) to give North Vista a three-point lead.
However, it was the team defense of SCGS which shone through as Mabel Anton (NV #10) got a steal and made the fast-break layup to cut the lead. Nadia Ghani (SCGS #9), with her active hands, managed to force another turnover right after that and scored on the transition to give SCGS the one-point lead.
On the ensuing play, after containing the North Vista offense, Patricia Orenza (SCGS #7) went ahead with the jumper. While she missed, she out-hustled North Vista for the offensive rebound and made the put-back to give SCGS a three-point lead.
With less than 30 seconds to go, Lydia Ang (NV #7) made a clutch basket to cut lead to one.
Despite that, Patricia Orenza (SCGS #7) drove in and drew fouls and was clutch as she knocked down all her four free-throws to seal the deal. SCGS clinched third with a score of 55-52 over North Vista.
SCGS captain, Patricia Orenza (SCGS #7), said after the game, “Actually we came today with the mindset that we just want to play together as a whole team. Everyone’s going to play, every single player is going to play. There was an obvious team one and team two and we just rotated throughout the first quarter and second quarter. And I guessed in the second half we just played mostly team one, like the main five played throughout.
“But even though we were trailing behind in the last few minutes of the game, it was evident we never gave up even though North Vista had a 10-point lead. We just fought for every ball and made sure our basics were there, like our boxing out, our rebounds and fast-breaks. And we just focused on our baskets.”
“Third and fourth don’t really matter to us but we really played together as a team today. We won the hearts of each other and that’s what matter most.”
“I am actually very sad that it is all coming to an end and it is already our last game together. Even though we had our ups and downs, we still stayed together and fought through every hell training and harsh scoldings by our coach. But I’m glad we overcame all those tough things and we managed to achieve third.”
Scoring by Quarter
SCGS vs North Vista
1st Q: 10-13
2nd Q: 14-13 (24-26)
3rd Q: 15-15 (39-41)
4th Q: 16-11 (55-42)
Top Scorers
SCGS
Mabel Anton (#10) – 16 pts
Patricia Orenza (#7) – 14 pts
Nadia Ghani (#9) – 11 pts
North Vista
Chang Yoke Suan, Jamie (#13) – 21 pts
Ang Zi Yi, Lydia (#7) – 17 pts
SCGS Roster
Clarice Lee (#4), Haziera Hairudinsah (#5), Tay Jin Ting (#6), Patricia Orenza (#7), Angela Wang (#8), Nadia Ghani (#9), Mabel Anton (#10), Dylen Serrano (#11), Margaret Suriya (#12), Freda Wee (#13), Lee Yan (#14), Lee Fang Yu (#15)
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)
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