By Rebecca Yip/Red Sports
Mao Yu Xian (#14) of Jurong driving in for two while Kelvin Ser (#5) of Jurong West gives chase. Yu Xian finished with a game-high 15 points. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Clementi Sports Hall, Friday, July 13, 2012 — Jurong Secondary chalked up a second win in Round 2 of the West Zone C Division Basketball Championship after beating Jurong West Secondary 47-29.
It was only the second time this season that Jurong, the 2011 West Zone runners-up, have scored less than 50 points in a game. Jurong West trailed for the whole game but kept the score close and Jurong were not certain of victory until late in the fourth quarter.
Jurong had previously beaten School of Science and Technology in their opening Round 2 game. This is Jurong West’s first Round 2 loss after having narrowly beaten River Valley High 50-46.
With the Jurong players towering over them, Jurong West struggled from the start. The relatively shorter Jurong West players simply could not match their opponents’ longer reach and arm span, and were often left with no room to manoeuvre near the basket. Jurong West were limited to just four points in the first quarter.
However, Jurong West never gave up fighting. An interception by Jurong West’s Kelvin Ser (#5) and his subsequent conversion increased the team’s morale. Shaun Ong (#8) added another basket soon after and the substitutes tried to show support for their team-mates by chanting, “DEFENCE!”, as Jurong West attempted to stop Jurong’s scoring streak.
Jurong also had a whole group of supporters — their girls basketball team — constantly cheering them on, and the atmosphere was electrifying as the game came down to the fourth quarter.
Trailing by 13 points at half time, Jurong West managed to outscore Jurong 7-5 in the third quarter to close the gap to 11 points.
Jurong West went into the fourth quarter fighting, with Shaun Ong (#8) suffering a bloodied nose at one point, but they could not stop Jurong from sealing a 47-29 win.
Jurong’s captain and top scorer of the game with 15 points, Mao Yu Xian (#14), was happy with his team’s win and thought that the team played cohesively.
When asked how he thought his team performed, Jurong West’s captain, Benjamin Ang (#15), was optimistic and said: “Even though we lost, I think we played well and never gave up. We all didn’t want to lose and never stopped fighting.”
He added that they kept up the team’s morale by constantly encouraging each other.
Jurong West faces a tough fight against the defending West Zone and National champions, Unity Secondary, next on Monday, July 16th, while Jurong go up against River Valley High on the same day.
Score by Quarter
Jurong vs Jurong West
1st Q: 13-4
2nd Q: 17-13 (30-17)
3rd Q: 5-7 (35-24)
4th Q: 12-5
Final: 47-29
Top Scorers
Jurong
Mao Yu Xian (#14) — 15 points
Eugene (#8) — 10 points
Galton (#15) — 8 points
Jurong West
Shaun Ong (#8) — 9 points
Kok Siong (#11) — 8 points
Michael (#13) — 6 points
Jurong Roster
Simeon (#4), Kurt (#5), Chew Hong Xiang (#6), Wu Mingming (#7), Eugene (#8), Nigel (#9), Bryan (#10), Zester Tay (#11), Jordon Boey (#12), Isham (#13), Mao Yu Xian (#14), Galton (#15)
Jurong West Roster
Dexter Tan (#4), Kelvin Ser (#5), Jeff Tan (#6), Sean Tian (#7), Shaun Ong (#8), Jin Han (#9), Gabriel (#10), Kok Siong (#11), Alvin (#12), Michael (#13), Jing Kai (#14), Benjamin Ang (#15)
West Zone C Division Basketball Championship – full fixtures and results
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