Story by REDintern Daniel Yeo. Photos by Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports.
Yang Shixuan (NYG #12) drives against her defender. She finished with a game-high 21 points. (Photo 1 © Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports)
OCBC Arena, Monday, April 2, 2018 — Before this quarter-final game of the National B Division Basketball Championship (Girls), National JC (NJC) were undefeated and boasted a perfect season record. However, they were unceremoniously sent home with their first loss afterwards, courtesy of the reigning West Zone champions, Nanyang Girls’ High (NYG).
With this win, Nanyang are all but guaranteed a spot in the final four with their 2-0 win-loss record. NJC will have to hope results go their way if they want to qualify for the next round with a 1-1 win-loss record.
Nanyang were led by a hot-handed Yang Shixuan (NYG #12) with 21 points, while teammate Goh Kung Huang (NYG #15) scored 12 of her own. NJC were led by Rachel Tan (NJC #2) with 10 points.
From the get-go, it was evident that NJC’s undersized squad would not be able to contain Nanyang’s star big man, Kung Huang (NYG #15). Nanyang immediately fed her in the post, and her spin move for a layup gave them their first points of the game. Not long after, Rachel Tan (NJC #2) pulled up and knocked down a mid-range jumper for NJC’s first points.
However, for the majority of the first quarter, both teams were finding it difficult to convert shots, and it took four minutes for Rachel Teo (NYG #31) to break the scoring drought with a trey.
As the second quarter got underway, NJC changed up their defensive strategy from the oft-used zone defence to a man-to-man defence. They also began pressing Nanyang full-court in an attempt to create turnovers and fast-breaks for easy points.
However, once again, their undersized lineup put them at a disadvantage. NJC was unable to box out and keep Kung Huang (NYG #15) off the offensive boards, and she pulled down board after board for offensive put-backs to score five of Nanyang’s 12 points in the quarter.
The other seven points scored by Nanyang in the quarter belonged solely to Shixuan (NYG #12). The swingman combined her speed and size to blow past her defender in the open court for easy buckets, as well as a nice assist on a handoff to Kung Huang.
NJC called a timeout in the hopes that it would help them get back in the game – and both Arshia Bansal (NJC #10) and Amanda Han (NJC #20) delivered on jumpers to close the gap. The first half of basketball ended 21–11.
NJC did their best to reset for the second half, playing the third quarter with a renewed defensive intensity. Rachel Tan (NJC #2), in particular, was communicating with and leading her team on the defensive end.
And it paid off – NJC were able to generate turnovers from the Nanyang offense, including a five-second violation on an inbound play. However, they were unable to convert those turnovers into points on the offensive end.
Nanyang, on the other hand, were pushing the ball and increasing their offensive production, thanks to Shixuan (NYG #12). She had scored 22 points in her last outing and wasn’t planning on slowing down, scoring eight of Nanyang’s 14 in the quarter. This extended their lead to 17 as the quarter drew to a close.
Much like their last game, the fourth quarter saw the Shixuan-Kung Huang tandem turn to the pick-and-roll. Despite its limited success on the day, the rest of the team stepped up to again increase Nanyang’s offensive production in the quarter to 18 points.
NJC saw their first points of the quarter come off a Harden-esque step-back trey by Agnes Lee (NJC #5). However, that would be one of NJC’s last made buckets, and the game ended 53–25 in Nanyang’s favour.
Despite the win, captain Shixuan (NYG #12) knows that it isn’t over yet: “We’re quite happy because we’re now one step closer to the top four. As long as we beat our next opponent, Chung Cheng, we’ll be alright.”
The final games in this quarterfinal grouping of the National B Division Basketball Championship (Girls) will take place on March 4, at OCBC Arena.
Scoring by Quarter
Nanyang Girls’ v National Junior College
1st Q: 9–4
2nd Q: 12–7 (21–11)
3rd Q: 14–7 (35–18)
4th Q: 18–7 (53–25)
Leading Scorers
Nanyang Girls’
Yang Shixuan (#12) – 21 points
Goh Kung Huang (#15) – 12 points
National Junior College
Rachel Tan Wei Xuan (#2) – 10 points
Nanyang Girls’ Roster
Goh Wing Xuan (#5), Lee Ying Ying, Pamela (#7), Goh Cheng Gek Jade Lenor (#8), Li Silin (#11), Yang Shixuan (#12), Goh Kung Huang (#15), Rachel Teo Hui Ling (#31), Low Ying Hui (#32), Chua Su-Ann Shu En (#33), Emi Chow Yu Tong (#34), Michelle Heng Qian Ying (#35), Zann Siow Jun Hui (#37)
National Junior College Roster
Tan Wei Xuan Rachel (#2), Ng Mu Rong (#3), Agnes Lee Ying Faye (#5), Joanna Wei Xin Yue (#9), Arshia Bansal (#10), Tiana Huang Chienchi (#14), Kimi Neo Huilin (#15), Amanda Han Xinzhi (#20), Aruna D/O Vadivelu (#21), Baskar Janisha Reddy (#25), Engie Low (#27), Breanne Kaur Gill (#32)
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