BASKETBALL

National ‘A’ Division Boys First Round
Hwa Chong Institution vs Innova Junior College
Friday, 4 May 2007, at Singapore Basketball Centre

Story by Lee Hwee Cheng.  © Red Sports /soulbreath pictures

The following pictures in this report have been kindly taken and contributed by our volunteer, Goh Shao Wei.  Thanks, Shao Wei!



HCI’s no.14 tries to stop an IJC shot from getting to the basket.  © Goh Shao Wei

In the second-last Group A game of the National ‘A’ Division Boys Basketball first round that took place last Friday at the Singapore Basketball Centre, what was supposed to be a clash of the group titans became a runaway victory for Hwa Chong Institution when they flamed Innova Junior College 66-39.

Looking nothing like brutes or bullies, the Hwa Chong boys played their own game of finesse and their showcase that afternoon only served to send out an unmistakable warning note to all seven other quarter-finalists – that they know their game, that they know what they want, that they know they possess one of the strongest team cohesion in the tournament, and that they have an insatiable hunger for the basket and for that ultimate championship trophy.

Perhaps a testimony to their peak form, Hwa Chong have been remarkably consistent in limiting the scoring abilities of their opponents.  In their earlier games against Raffles Junior College and Yishun Junior College, they kept their opponents to a total score of 38 apiece, while they went on a 16-point-difference and 27-point-difference trouncing respectively.  And in the last game, Innova fared a tad better, with just one point more.

Right from the first quarter, Hwa Chong spared no mercy and their simple-yet-effective strategy was clear for all to see.  Boasting of inexhaustible stamina and unfailing speed, the forwards and guards had only one item on their agenda whenever the ball turned over to their possession from a defensive play – that is, to launch into fast-break after fast-break after fast-break.  Perhaps the explosiveness was just too fast, or perhaps the IJC boys were too stunned at the sudden loss of possession, many of the breakaways ended up uncontested and converted into easy baskets.  When the fast-breaks failed to convert and the ball remained in the offensive possession, there was tall and lanky Lim Shengyu (no.13) to the rescue in the paint.  With this strategy, Hwa Chong were leading 19-10 at the end of the first quarter.

HCI’s no.10 attempts a field-goal in spite of the defensive effort of an IJC player.  © Goh Shao Wei

In the first quick seconds of the ensuing quarter, a good feed of the ball from HCI’s no.12 to Shengyu in the low-post position proved to be a defensive mistake, as the latter executed his trademark turnaround move to the basket with his too-long limbs that left his defender in his trail.  Just about half a minute later, the long-legged Shengyu put his asset to good use again as he grabbed an unexpected rebound off a poor free throw atttempt by teammate no.15 and promptly executed another turn towards the basket for an easy two. 

The HCI guards then went on the hustle in the defensive end.  The ball never got beyond the hands of IJC’s playmaker and into real play, as it was continually stripped off by the quicker hands of HCI’s guards.  Calvin (no.4) did the deed first with a steal and then launched rapidly into a fast-break, spotted teammate no.7 cutting down the lane on the right flank and dished the ball deftly.  No.7 went on a lay-up, drew a foul and converted both free throws.  Then it was no.12’s turn for a steal, and for a one-on-one fast-break that he finished with a finger-roll release on a lay-up down the middle lane.  Before two minutes had barely gone by in the second quarter, HCI had pulled away to a 27-12 lead.

IJC stole a couple of points when no.13 went on a counter-attack and sent an outlet pass to teammate Kah Kiat (no.5) for a fast-break.  The lay-up was unfortunately missed, but in a display of good teamwork, no.13 followed up from behind, grabbed the rebound off the rim and put the ball back in the basket for an easy two.  However hard-earned a basket had been, it must be doubly frustrating that the opponents were scoring at a faster rate.  Within the next minute, HCI had scored from another two easy fast-breaks and pulled away to 31-14.

IJC’s Yisheng (no.7) dribbles his way on an attack.  © Goh Shao Wei

In the remaining minutes that ran down to the end of the quarter, IJC went on to commit grave fumbles, a few as frivolous as travelling and double-dribbling violations, that only gave HCI more scoring opportunities.  IJC’s no.13 decided on a fast-break attempt against HCI’s Shengyu, who drew a a rather dubious offensive charging foul from that play.  In another play, IJC’s Kah Kiat drove down the lane in the middle for a lay-up but in the presence of a menacing Shengyu, executed a wild hook-shot that missed the basket.

With four minutes left in the quarter, HCI launched into a sudden full-court press tactic that did not deter IJC.  IJC handled the pressing defense well, broke free and went into quick attack as no.9 drove along the baseline to the basket and drew a foul.  Both free throws were unfortunately missed.  With 1:30 left on the clock, HCI’s Shengyu scored a move under the basket, drew a foul and converted it into a three-point play.  HCI finished their final play in the last 25 seconds with a three-on-two fast-break that saw Calvin driving down the centre lane, then dishing the ball to teammate Fang Naizeng (no.10) cutting in from the right.  The basket from the lay-up wasn’t made but the resulting free throws were converted.  It was IJC who scored the last points of the quarter when, after three failed shot attempts, Yisheng (no.7) scored on a bank-shot.  But by then, HCI had already gone on a 19-9 run in the second quarter alone to lead 38-19 by half-time.

Hwa Chong rested Shengyu at the start of the third period, and for the first half of the period, the team seemed to find something amiss.  Teammate no.14 went on to commit two consecutive fouls.  The rebounding force was missing in the paint.  And IJC grabbed hold of the opportunity to score two consecutive baskets, one of which came off an uncontested offensive rebound.  On the offensive end, Hwa Chong attempted more three-point shots than they had in the first half but none converted.  It was only five minutes later that HCI found their fast-break groove again with a three-on-two play.  Calvin (no.4) made his way down the centre lane toward the basket, then dished the ball to Naizeng (no.10) on his right, only to receive it right back for a finger-roll in the basket.  Still, HCI were far ahead at 40-23.

HCI’s Rongkang (no.15) executes a no-look pass on a fast-break while IJC’s Kah Kiat (no.5) tries to give chase.  © Goh Shao Wei

With about four minutes left to go in the quarter, Shengyu was put back into the game and he immediately grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul.  It was at this point that IJC, under the quick strategic thinking of the coach, came back from a timely time-out call and launched immediately into a full-court press tactic – something the HCI had executed earlier but surprisingly failed to counter as well.  Almost immediately, IJC stripped HCI of two consecutive inbound passes and made two easy baskets, closing the gap slightly at 41-28. 

It took HCI about another minute or so before they could break away from IJC’s full-court press and make it to the offensive court for a field-goal.  But by then, IJC had turned on their defensive switch and proceeded into a counter-attacking mode.  A time-out was again called by IJC at 2:11, which probably turned out erroneous as it gave HCI time to re-strategize and come back with a full-court press defense of their own.  HCI went on to score another easy basket as Shengyu grabbed a rebound off a missed free throw by teammate no.7.  IJC’s Kah Kiat tried to set up an offensive play but got caught in a dead-ball situation instead.  As luck would have it, he spotted teammate Yisheng sneaking down the left lane and quickly passed the ball to him for an assist.  IJC completed their quarter with another jumper from Yisheng, but it was HCI who closed the quarter with another fast-break from Naizeng and ended the quarter with a 48-34 lead.

HCI’s no.14 makes a cross-court pass.  © Goh Shao Wei

HCI’s Calvin (no.4) on a fast-break dribble.  © Goh Shao Wei

It was IJC who started the final quarter with aplomb.  A ball was first stripped from HCI’s Shengyu as he made his turnaround move toward the basket, and then a minute later, IJC’s no.13 stepped up to reject a shot from Shengyu.  HCI recovered quickly when Rongkang (no.15) made a three-point play on a baseline drive toward the basket, drawing a foul on a pump-fake.  Shengyu cut a pass in IJC’s attack and went on a fast-break himself, and by then the lead had increased to 53-34.

IJC’s no.9 made an impressive drive past two defenders for a left-handed lay-up to add two points for his team.  But from then, HCI amazed with their undiminishing stamina as they went on a 13-3 run.  With less than seven minutes left in the game, it was all Hwa Chong’s show.  They went on a full-on defensive mode, with the guards intercepting passes and centre Shengyu blocking shots – and then deftly launched into their counter-attacking fast-breaks again.

Hwa Chong ended the match triumphant again with a final 66-39 score.



IJC’s Mitchell (no.11) makes a free throw attempt.  © Goh Shao Wei



IJC’s no.8 makes a three-point attempt.  © Goh Shao Wei

Innova, in all aspects, were a good team.  The boys fought hard in their game, they tried to make most shot attempts count, they were quick to change on-court strategies to counter Hwa Chong’s determination to get to the basket.  But it would take a really strong defensive team to break Hwa Chong’s fluidity in the game.

Both teams, however, have made it through to the quarter-final round.

Good luck, boys!

Editor’s note:  If you recognize yourselves or any of your friends in these pictures, drop us a note in the "Comments’ section, and we’ll update the report and captions accordingly.  Thanks!