Story contributed by reader AJCien. Pictures by Tan Huey Ying.
Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Thursday, May 22, 2008 – In an epic battle, Hwa Chong Institution snatched the A Division girls Basketball Championship title from Raffles Junior College in a last-gasp 55-52 fightback against the 2006 champions Raffles Junior College.
Backed by equally raucous crowds from both sides, the game got off to a surprisingly muted start. The HCI girls looked jittery in the early stages, allowing RJC to race off to an 8-2 lead. Having missed four shots in the first two minutes, a spirited fightback ensured that the drama was only just beginning.
Throughout large parts of the match, RJC were firmly in control, although a 3-pointer from HCI late in the quarter did reduce the arrears to 11-15. A cautious beginning for both sides, with HCI let down by poor finishing and RJC reduced to making speculative 3-pointer punts.
HCI did start the second quarter brightly amid a cagey opening that saw more blocks than shots in the first two minutes. It was thus ominous that HCI scored two unanswered shots at that moment to tie at 15-15. This quarter was marked by a series of unforced errors which suggested nerves getting at the players. HCI even ended up taking the lead for a short while, a converted free throw making it 18-17 midway through the quarter. But quickfire counter-attacking by RJC meant that HCI were put on the back foot again. The game went into the first quarter break with RJC leading 25-20.
RJC came out with guns blazing in the third quarter. Two free throws heralded a brilliant run of form that saw the Rafflesians run off into a 32-20 lead. HCI’s cause wasn’t helped by their poor finishing, contrasted against RJC’s lethal finishing by their #13. In a quarter marked by unusual incidents including a power trip of the electronic scoreboard and a ball stuck between the rims caused by HCI, the crowd was treated to brilliant 3-pointer shots by both sides. This resulted in RJC taking a 44-29 lead at the third quarter break, and (so they thought) the title was done and dusted.
But with players being fouled out in a match, HCI were suddenly finding their finishing touches. Free throws bundled with shots caused by Rafflesian fouls allowed HCI to claw back, surely but steadily in the game. From 44-29, the HCI defence restricted the RJC girls to just three points while they scored 13 points against all odds to storm back into contention.
In the last five minutes of the game, Rafflesian ill-discipline returned to haunt them as they protected a precarious 50-43 lead with two of their star players fouled out. Subsequently the match turned physical and RJC’s captain had to limp off after a challenge by HCI players en route to goal. With three minutes left, RJC’s position looked untenable and with their centre following her captain into the sick bay, it was only time before their slender lead crumbled.
Within a minute, HCI were now leading 52-51 with well-converted free throws after a fatigued and depleted Rafflesians let the title slip from their grip, conceding the two shots in the last minute. When the whistle went, the 1,000-strong HCI travelling support were delirious at the 55-52 comeback victory, while the Raffles fans were left to ponder how a final went all too wrong within a quarter.
Ed’s note: If you recognise yourself or your team mates in any of the photos, feel free to leave the names behind and we will update the captions accordingly. Thanks!
end result was 55-52,
half time score 25-20.
last 2 min 10 sec, HC was actually losing 49-50. RJ scored a free throw to make it ahead 52-49. then HC made 2 free throws and 1 shot bringing them to 53-52and #12 finished with 7.3secs to go with a fastbreak layup. Final score was 55-52.
exciting last quarter. i took snapshots of the scoreboard at different times.