A Div Bball (Girls): Hwa Chong outlast Anderson JC to set up showdown with Raffles

An HCI player drives to the basket while her AJC opponent is intent on stopping her. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Singapore Basketball Centre, Friday, May 11, 2012 — Hwa Chong Institution bounced back from their second round low-scoring loss to Raffles Institution with a well-executed 59-43 semi-final win over Anderson Junior College (AJC).

With the win, Hwa Chong Institution set the stage for an exciting rematch with arch-rivals Raffles Institution in the National A Division Girls’ Basketball Championship final. Raffles Institution had earlier romped to a crushing 93-22 win over Serangoon Junior College in the other semi-final.

The match appeared delicately poised from the start as Hwa Chong enjoyed a slim 14-10 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Buoyed by their vociferous supporters however, AJC made a strong comeback with a 14-8 run in the second quarter to lead 26-24 going into the half-time break.

The see-saw nature of the game saw Hwa Chong’s centre Ramona Wong (#14) execute a perfect turnaround right-handed hook shot to wrest the lead back for her team at 28-26.

Yet Anderson’s #8 found herself free under the basket for an easy lay up in the next possession. Coupled with a free throw from her teammate #11, Anderson regained the lead at 29-28.

This proved to be the last time that Anderson enjoyed being in front. Hwa Chong’s Pamela Loh (#8) then downed a long range 3-pointer to spark her team to a 9-3 run to finish the third quarter. Hwa Chong took a 37-32 lead by the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to Hwa Chong as they swung the ball well from side to side to extend the Anderson defence. Fatigue and niggling injuries were also catching up with the Anderson team at this point and they could to little to stem a 22-point barrage by their opponents in the final quarter alone.

Hwa Chong’s forward Jolie Ng (#9) proved to be the outstanding player for her team, top scoring with 21 points on outside jumpers and lay ups. She scored eight points in the last quarter alone as her team ran AJC ragged towards the end of the game.

Score by Quarter
Hwa Chong Institution v Anderson JC
1st Q: 14-10
2nd Q: 8-14 (22-24)
3rd Q: 15-8 (37-32)
4th Q: 22-11
Final score: 59-43

Top Scorers
Hwa Chong Institution
Jolie Ng (#9) — 21 points
Tan Yen Yi (#6) – 8 points
Joey Tan (#13) – 8 points
Ramona Wong (#14) – 8 points

Anderson JC
#4 – 8 points
#6 — 8 points
#11 – 8 points

HCI Lineup
Amber Tan (#4), Sing Qing (#5), Tan Yen Yi (#6), Ooi Li Wen (#7), Pamela Loh (#8), Jolie Ng (#9), Edna Lim (#10), Glenda Yeo (#11), Amanda Choo (#12), Joey Tan (#13), Ramona Wong (#14), Lavinia Choo (#15)

AJC Lineup
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