Story by REDintern Stefanus Ian. Photos by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports
Amelia Lee (HCI #10) catching the rebound. (Photo 1 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Toa Payoh Stadium, Friday, May 20, 2011 — Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) beat Raffles Institution 54-50 in overtime to win the National A Division Girls’ Basketball Championship.
The HCI girls were emotional when the final buzzer sounded when they finally won the match in overtime against a very strong Raffles Institution (RI) team that ran out of steam down the stretch. Leading by as many as six points during the game, RI could not close out the game as HCI mounted a late, late comeback to win the match by four points.
RI relied on their quick transition offense and were always looking to get a high percentage shot from inside the paint. With HCI playing tough defense down low, RI managed to get to the line a few times. HCI started the game in style scoring a three pointer to put up their first points on the board. However, after six points, they hit a snag, giving away offensive rebounds and second chance points. In one instance, the defending champions allowed RI three consecutive offensive rebounds before RI finally convert. The quarter ended with the Rafflesians trailing 13-15.
The second quarter saw RI matching HCI point for point to keep the gap the same all the way to half time. RI’s offense seemed a little bit rushed and turnovers were beginning to pile up. However, HCI were unable to capitalize on this.
Hannah Ng (RI #4) stepped up her game, scoring half of her team’s points in the second quarter. She was RI’s main play maker and scorer, chalking up eight points in the first half. With her scoring capabilities and court vision, she set up her teammates for open looks as HCI players double-teamed her. Alanna Lim (RI #10) also made her presence felt with more than a couple blocks. RI trailed 21-23 at the end of the first half.
After the break, it was Alanna’s turn to take the lead, scoring eight points in the third quarter alone as RI pulled away slowly. Hannah started the quarter brightly by scoring a difficult lay up inside the paint despite a defender’s hand in her face for RI’s first points in the second half.
HCI struggled in the opening minutes of the third, managing just five points in the first five minutes. Their usually dependable post game was missing and they were only able to stay in the game through their clutch shooting with Michelle Tsen’s (HCI #4) three-pointer crucial even as RI slowly forged ahead.
RI stepped up their defensive game, forcing HCI to earn their points from the charity stripe from which the girls in red struggled to convert. HCI looked shaken as they lost their lead for the first time in the game. With 3:27 on the clock, Hannah continued her stellar performance with a fast break finger roll after she had stolen the ball from HCI to put the contenders up by six, forcing a timeout by HCI.
RI increased the pace of the game but that led to a few rushed possessions which led to turnovers. It turned out that there was a reason behind this as Hannah’s injured left knee, which was taped for the game, was beginning to slow her down and RI were hoping to put the result beyond doubt before they had to make any tactical changes. After a while, it was noticeable that Hannah was not moving as well as she was in the first half and this spelled trouble for RI.
RI ended the third quarter with a slender five-point lead. With the score so close, a photo finish looked to be in store and true enough, the two teams did not disappoint. HCI came out in the final 10 minutes eager to show just why they were the defending champions as they blitzed RI to score five unanswered points.
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HCI people should just learn how to take a chill pill. Have noticed that HCI people take themselves too seriously.
You have won the game and the title, but somehow cannot stomach an article that devotes most of it to RI and for that reason alone accuse the writer of bias.
The truth of the matter is that if HCI boys or girls team played any of the polys, they would lose.
(i’m not from HC but this is my take)
by saying that HC needs to take a chill pill, arent you generalising? and doesn’t HC have a rather legit reason to be upset or at least defensive, since the article on their victory focused heavily on RI. as you said, the article is mostly devoted to RI. is that fair? of course the article doesnt need to sing endless praises about HC but there is a notable lean towards the spirit of raffles and that itself undermines the fighting spirit that HC put up, AS MUCH AS raffles did 🙂
Similar to the A div boys basketball finals, this report was more biased towards RI. In almost 3/4 of this report were talking about RI players. “Had Hannah Ng been fully fit..” makes it seem as though HCI lucked out, that the best player in RI was not on form, otherwise HCI might not have won. The report was truthful and detailed, however the tone and the way it was presented sided more towards RI.
Hmm okay I get your point, let me explain, when I cover a game, I try to look for possible turning points and or game changing-plays like blocks, steals and morale-boosting baskets. I also write based on my “feel” for the game which I would readily admit is not perfect. Perhaps, that is one of the reason why I wrote mostly about RI players because they were the ones making those plays. Honestly speaking, without looking at the stats sheet, I could hardly recall any HCI player as dominant as Hannah in that match and I was watching every minute of the game. I am not from Raffles Institution and this is my second time watching an A Division Girls Basketball match so I would not have any background knowledge to influence me before hand. What I see is what I write.
To me, as an athlete, you live for the big games pitting yourself against the very best players and I believe that most neutral supporters would agree that that’s what make sports so exciting and interesting. I was putting forth the idea or asking the reader to humour me perhaps with a match between the top two girl teams in the A Division Basketball with their full squads at their top physical and mental form. That was what I was trying to put across, unsuccessfully I might add. I can see now how the part where I mention about Hannah being injured may seem to have demeaned HCI’s victory and I would gladly apologize to anyone who interprets it that way. Injuries, to me, are not down to luck but to a lack of preparation and perhaps training, it was definitely NOT in my intention to say that HCI was lucky that Hannah was injured and that’s how they won.
However, I stand by my opinion that both teams were equally matched and on any given day it’s the little things (like niggling injuries, playing FORM and mental toughness) that would prove the difference between the two sides and that the result could have been different on another day. Thank you for taking into consideration that the report is factually sound, but at the same time pointing out that tone is something that I need to work on. I really appreciate it 🙂
good article, and mature breakdown of the game. Well done.
err. a little confused with the players names. in the picture it writes #10( Alanna Lim, HCI ) but in the write-up it says #10 (Alanna Lim, RI) so…
Yeap sorry about the mix up. Updated it already 🙂 Thanks for the heads up!