Defending champions HCI make late comeback to beat RI in girls’ A Division basketball quarter-finals

Story by REDintern Alan Chiang. Photos by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports.

Singapore Basketball Centre, Friday, May 8, 2009 - Defending champions Hwa Chong Institution had a late-game surge to beat Raffles Institution 39-35 in the A Division girls basketball quarter-finals.

It was their third victory in a row after overcoming St Andrew's JC and Nanyang JC earlier in the round. Raffles Institution had the same record before the match, but lost the 100 per cent record to the defending champions.

Jamie Chow's (RI #8) 21-point game was the highest among all scorers for the match, but that was not enough to salvage a victory for Raffles Institution as they lost steam late in the match. Hwa Chong Institution's twin towers of Chong Jieying (#5) and Tan Seow Hwee (#15) were equal to the task of helping to spur their team to a late push in the game.

The match began with Hwa Chong Institution scoring the first points through a 3-pointer from Cindy Chan (#10). Raffles Institution then broke away for a 5-point lead after Jamie (RI #8) converted eight successive points.

With 3:34 remaining, the Hwa Chong Institution coach called for a vital time-out to calm the players down. Their state of affairs improved as Seow Hwee (HCI #15) made her presence felt in the paint and drained a second-chance shot after an offensive rebound. Raffles Institution's lead was down to three points by the end of the first quarter at 10-7.

The second quarter was just as closely fought as Hwa Chong Institution tried to reduce the deficit while Raffles Institution attempted to break away. By half-time, the latter were able to hold on to a 17-13 lead.

The third quarter was sluggish early on as the first points were only scored after 1:30 of play. Raffles Institution were proficient in their play and increased their lead to nine points after Jamie (RI #8) and Natasha Goh (RI #12) combined for five straight points. Both teams traded points freely, and Raffles Institution clung on to a comfortable 8-point lead at 27-19 after the third quarter.

Hwa Chong Institution started the fourth quarter with much desire as they went on a 7-0 run in the first four minutes of play and shrank the lead to one point, 27-26. Soon after, efforts from Tsang Wei Yi (#6), Seow Hwee (#15) and Mok Ying Ming (#11) allowed Hwa Chong Institution to race into a 7-point lead, the largest of the game for the defending champions.

With 4:02 left, the Raffles Institution coach had to call for a time-out to settle several matters, particularly in defence as most of Hwa Chong Institution's points were converted in the paint. Raffles Institution managed to reduce the lead to three points after Jamie (RI #8) and Vienna Chua (RI #14) added four points in the rally.

With 47 seconds remaining, Hwa Chong Institution were up 37-33 after all six players got onto the score sheet. Raffles Institution brought the lead down to two points after Jamie (RI #8) drilled a 2-pointer from range. However, in the dying seconds, Seow Hwee (HCI #15) converted two free throws to extend the lead to four points. Her team managed to hang on to the victory as they staged one of the most spirited comebacks after trailing by as many as eight points.

Michael Wong, Hwa Chong Institution teacher-in-charge said, "I thought defence is the key to our victory. The girls had confidence in themselves during the final period."

He added, "We were missing shots and they (RI) were making shots earlier in the game and I thought the girls had to take a while to calm down."

On the next opponent in the semi-finals, he said, "We need this win to avoid facing the stronger team in the semi-finals and we hope to claim the champion title again."

Match statistics:

Scores by quarter
1st Q: HCI 7 - RI 10
2nd Q: HCI 6 - RI 7
3rd Q: HCI 6 - RI 10
4th Q: HCI 20 - RI 8

Top scorer
HCI
Tan Seow Hwee (#15) - 14 points

RI
Jamie Chow (#8) - 21 points