BASKETBALL

National ‘A’ Division Boys Quarterfinal
Temasek Junior College vs Innova Junior College
Anderson Junior College vs Hwa Chong Institution
 Friday,11 May 2007, at Singapore Basketball Centre

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

On Day Two of the National ‘A’ Boys Basketball quarterfinal round, Innova Junior College kept alive their hope of a semifinal spot when they found the will power to beat Temasek Junior College 55-50, while Hwa Chong Institution kept going with their runaway victories with a 65-50 win over Anderson Junior College. 

IJC’s Yisheng (no.7) drives past a stumbling TJC defender.  © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

The game proved to be a tight one right from the start for TJC and IJC, as both sides struggled to find their own game pace and a scoring momentum.  With the score tied at 3-3 after two minutes with a basket and a free throw on both ends, IJC’s Ong Yisheng (no.7) pulled away to an early lead with a baseline three-pointer.  By the fifth minute of the period, TJC had put in two baskets to take over the lead at 7-6.  But for the rest of the period, both teams remained scoreless as many defensive fouls were committed to foil shot attempts, many easy shots and fast breaks were not converted and much time was spent tussling for possession of the ball.  The low-scoring first period ended at a 7-6 in TJC’s favour.

The second period was a yo-yo situation for both sides again, as scores remained close and both camps took turns leading the game.  TJC’s Chen Zhihao (no.7) scored the opener with a baseline drive and a hook-shot that gave them a quick three-point lead within the first thirty seconds, but IJC answered with a 8-0 run in the next three minutes.  After a three-point shot that levelled the game at 9-9, IJC’s Yisheng converted two free throws and teammate Lee Kah Kiat (no.5) converted a fast break into a three-point play to pull IJC ahead by five points at 14-9. 

Then once again, both sides slumped into a scoring drought for the next four minutes until TJC broke the silence when Lim Zhi Hao (no.12) snuck into the paint, found himself free under the basket and got an assist for two easy points.  Within the next minute, TJC went on to put in two more baskets and regained the lead at 15-14, keeping IJC still scoreless in the meantime.  Action suddenly heated up in the final 18 seconds of the period, when IJC’s Yisheng drew a shooting foul on a three-point attempt but managed to convert only two of three free throws.  It seemed to give IJC the lead by the end of the period, but with six second to go, TJC’s Joshua See (no.13) made two free throws and kept the lead for his team.  By the end of the period, both teams had scored ten points apiece and TJC continued to lead by a mere point at 17-16.

IJC’s Jin Long (no.9) makes a free throw attempt.  © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Within the first ten seconds of the third period, TJC’s Zhi Hao (no.7) sank in a three-pointer to pull away slightly at 20-16, but IJC’s Yisheng answered immediately with a three-pointer of his own to keep his team one point behind the opponent.  His teammate and captain Mitchell Yuen (no.11) pulled a fast break immediately and within the first minute of the period, IJC had regained the lead at 21-20.  TJC continued tussling for the lead with another assist to an unguarded Liu Jie Xiong (no.4) under the basket, but the upperhand was short-lived as IJC fired up out of the blue and went into an astonishing 10-0 run in the next ninety seconds and by only the sixth minute of the period, IJC had suddenly pulled away to a nine-point lead at 31-22. 

In the fifth minute, TJC’s Joshua grabbed a rebound and popped in a jumper to put in two more points for his team, but IJC’s Seah Jin Long (no.9) converted a lay-up into a three-point play for his team to pull ahead by ten points.  IJC continued to put in another three-pointer from Yisheng and another fast-break basket from Mitchell, but they also fell into careless defensive mistakes that gave TJC six chances at free throws, of which only four were converted.  IJC held on to the ten-point lead and ended the third period at 40-30.

In the final period of the game, TJC rose from an offensive slump and looked set to take the game back when they went on a 10-0 run in the first three minutes to level the game at 40-40.  Going all out, the TJC boys ran hard to make steals, intercept passes, go on counter attacks and deliver the right passes under the basket.  IJC looked stumped for a while by the sudden turn of events, and managed to score their first basket of the period only in the fourth minute, only to be immediately pegged level again by another TJC basket. 

In the last half of the period, it was the hot hand of IJC’s Yisheng that pulled his team a little further away from the danger zone when he sank in two consecutive three-pointers to give IJC a six-point lead again.  After another basket from TJC with four minute to go narrowed the gap to four points, IJC’s Yisheng put in a third consecutive three-pointer and teammate Prabbu (no.13) sank in a baseline jumper. IJC were suddenly ahead by ten points at 44-54. 

IJC’s Prabbu (no.13) celebrates with his teammates after the final buzzer.  © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

TJC continued to put in another six points in a hurried chase to catch the leader in the final two minutes, but never got to close in.  IJC won the game 55-50 and turned the table topsy-turvy in Group Y.  Both IJC and TJC now need another win in their next respective games to qualify for a place in the semifinal.

In the other Group X game that took place concurrently, Hwa Chong Institution remained ‘The Unbeatables’ as they beat Anderson Junior College 65-50.  Hwa Chong’s placing in the semifinal looks certain, but Anderson needs a win over St Andrew’s Junior College in their last group game to edge out Victoria for a spot in the semifinal.

HCI’s Calvin (no.4) drives against AJC’s Yan Ming (no.6) for a lay-up.  © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

HCI’s Shengyu (no.13) makes a jumper.  © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

HCI’s Yeow Lin (no.7) takes an open jumpshot.  © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

AJCs Patrick (no.10) goes up for a basket.  © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

HCI’s Calvin (no.4) goes up against AJC’s Andy (no.12) for the basket.  © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

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