By Marvin Lowe

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Sports School GK defends against the Northland shooter. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Yishun Sports Hall, Thursday, 12 March 2009 – Singapore Sports School successfully defended their North Zone Championship title with a 28-18 victory over Northland Secondary in the final.

It was no surprise that both schools were meeting each other again in the final. Both had emerged as the strongest teams in the North Zone after the preliminary round.

In their previous encounter, Northland gave Singapore Sports School a scare. However in this final, Singapore Sports School more than laid that nightmare to rest by quashing Northland to win the North Zone title again.

The match started tentatively with both teams trying to establish their rhythm and get ahead of the other. Singapore Sports School achieved control first by taking the lead and preserving it.

They kept the Northland attacks at bay with a strong defense and slowly but surely extended their lead. By the last quarter, they had a comfortable 10-point lead and it was just too much for the Northland team to overcome.

The Singapore Sports School achieved the double when their C Division team clinched the title earlier by beating CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ 25-17.

The Singapore Sports School and Dunman Secondary are the only schools to have achieved the B and C Division double at the zonal level this year. Dunman did the double in the East Zone.

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Sports School GD reaching out for a pass. (Photo 2 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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The Northland GK defends against Sports School GA. (Photo 3 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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No magic tricks here as the Northland GA tries to hang onto the ball with one hand. (Photo 4 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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The Sports School GD clashes with the Northland GS for a rebound. (Photo 5 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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The Sports School GD defending with a yoga like pose. (Photo 6 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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The Sports School GA jumps high to hold onto a pass. (Photo 7 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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The Sports School defenders closes in on the Northland C. (Photo 8 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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The Northland GS trying to hang on to a difficult pass. (Photo 9 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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The Northland GD defending. (Photo 10 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

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The Sports School GD reaching in to block a shot. (Photo 11 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)