Story by Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports. Photos by Dylan Chua/Red Sports.

Kimberly Tay (AHS #7) rises for a lay-up. She had a game-high 12 points in the victory. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Kimberly Tay (AHS #7) rises for a lay-up. She had a game-high 12 points in the victory. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

OCBC Arena, Monday, March 19, 2018 — Anglican High School (AHS) led from start to finish as they cruised to a 35–15 victory over Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary (AIS) in the preliminary round of the National B Division Girls’ Basketball Championship.

Anglican High improved to a 1–0 win-loss record in the preliminary round while Ahmad Ibrahim fell to 0–1.

Anglican High was led by Kimberly Tay (AHS #7) who scored a game-high 12 points while Marilyn Yap Shu Shan (AIS #8) led Ahmad Ibrahim with an 11-point performance.

The first period saw a dominating performance by Anglican High, as their “run and gun” offence often led to points in transition before Ahmad Ibrahim could get back on defence.

On the other hand, Ahmad Ibrahim struggled with their offence as they committing turnovers off their dribble, made careless passes and struggled to make their shots.

As a result, it was a lopsided first quarter that ended with Anglican High grabbing a commanding 13–0 lead.

Ahmad Ibrahim eventually ended their scoring drought with 9:48 on the clock in the second period, after Dania Ervianny Nah Wei Lin (AIS #4) drove through the Anglican High defence for a lay-up.

However, that would prove to be the only points for Ahmad Ibrahim in the period as Anglican High responded by tightening their defence to spark a 7–0 run over the rest of the quarter to enter halftime with a 20–2 lead.

The third period was more of the same, as Anglican High continued to dominate both ends of the floor to outscore Ahmad Ibrahim 13–6 in the period to enter the final quarter with a 33–8 lead.

The fourth quarter proved to be Ahmad Ibrahim’s best quarter in terms of their performance on both ends on the floor.

They were able to find their rhythm on offence as players started to convert shots in the paint and around the perimeter as a result of crisp ball movement and timely off-ball cuts.

Ahmad Ibrahim also locked up defensively by hustling to contest shots, holding Anglican High to a measly two points in the final period.

However, their impressive fourth-quarter display proved to be not enough to erase the 25-point deficit from the first three quarters as Anglican High emerged as victors at the final buzzer with a 35–15 scoreline.

Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary will next face Jurong Secondary while Anglican High will be matched up against St Margaret’s Secondary.

Both matches are held on 21 March at the OCBC Arena and will tip-off at 3.45 pm.

Scoring by Quarter
Anglican High vs AI
1st Q: 13–0
2nd Q: 7–2 (20–2)
3rd Q: 13–6 (33–8)
4th Q: 2–7 (35–15)

Top Scorers
Anglican High
Kimberly Tay (#7) — 12 points

AI
Marilyn Yap Shu Shan (#8) — 11 points

Anglican High Roster
Tan Wei Lin (#3), Amabelle Lim (#5), Soo Weng Kei (#6), Kimberly Tay (#7), Tan Le Xuan (#8), Lee Li Xuan (#9), Aw Zi Yann (#11), Clara Chiang Wei Lin (#13), Atalanta Lim (#15), Annie Poh (#17), Koh Wei Ting (#20), Jane Hia (#21)

AI Roster
Dania Ervianny Nah Wei Lin (#4), Nur Asyura (#5), Eunice Koh Shu Ning (#6), Jing Yi (#7), Marilyn Yap Shu Shan (#8), Nur Hairunnishah (#9), Damia Tarisyah (#10), Eunice Tan (#13), Chloe Toh (#15), Marilene Ang Jia Xin (#24), Chang Wai Chain (#25), Caren Chia Jia En (#49)

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