By REDintern Lim Yu-Han
Nur Syafirah (#10) puts up a shot against the Jurong defence. She contributed a game-high 17 points in her team’s victory. (Photo 1 © REDintern Lim Yong Teck)
Clementi Sports Hall, Monday, April 13, 2013 — Dunman Secondary beat Jurong Secondary 59–41 in the semi-finals of the National B Division Girls Basketball Championship to enter the final.
The first quarter saw many tussles for rebounds in the paint during Jurong’s attack, with Dunman struggling to grab the defensive rebounds. Jurong’s Lim Xin Yi (#9) sunk in a three to pull her team to the lead, but Dunman’s Nur Adlina Bte Ismail (#14) answered with a basket to equalise at 3–3. Ong Ying Xuan (#11) of Jurong immediately devastated Dunman with her calm fast-break and subsequent three to lead 10–3 with three minutes left. Dunman’s inability to secure their rebounds, especially up against the towering Jurong centres Nur Shahidah Bte Mohamad Saleh (#14) and Tan Ying Yi (#15) cost them their possession, and they trailed 7–15 after the first quarter.
Right from the start of the second quarter, Jurong dominated the paint and Shahidah (#14) went for a contested under-basket. Dunman were unable to break through the Jurong fortress and failed to convert consecutive fast-break opportunities.
However, Jurong’s tall center Shahidah (#14) fouled out seven minutes into the second quarter. Dunman then began to step up their attack with point-guard Sharon Lee (#8) proving to be vital in strategising much of Dunman’s attacks with her good vision. She finally sunk in a basket to close the quarter 20–21, with Jurong in a risky one-point lead.
Dunman’s Nur Syafirah (#10) gave Jurong a rude shock to open the second half when she intercepted the first attack within their court but did not convert her hook-shot. She slotted in a basket in the box to equalise 22–22 but Jurong replied with a three to lead again. Undeterred, Dunman’s Syafirah (#10) came back with her basket and teammate Sharon (#8) executed a beautiful assist to Nur Adlina Bte Ismail (#14), allowing Dunman to lead 26–25 at five minutes.
Chermaine Wong (#7) of Jurong then traded a three with Dunman’s Ungku Sofia Raihanah (#11). Sharon (#8) of Dunman fought through the Jurong wall to drop the ball to teammate Nur Adlina (#14), who went on to complete the basket and do a subsequent layup leading 33–31. Each attack opportunity was seized by the team to put in at least two points, seeing Dunman entering the last quarter leading 35–34.
Ying Xuan (#11) of Jurong put them back into the lead briefly with her opening three, but Dunman’s Syafirah (#10) wasted no time with her own three. Dunman’s duo Sharon (#8) and Syafirah (#10) displayed good chemistry to put in a basket in the paint. Sharon (#8) then dribbled past a flurry of Jurong defenders to sink in a steady three.
Teammate Syafirah (#10) was also critical in securing good scoring opportunities and assists, causing the Dunman supporters erupt in cheers as they now had a 12-point lead at 53–41. Dunman turned the tables in the second half by making smart passes to penetrate Jurong’s defence and holding fast to their rebounds, eventually winning the tense game 59–41.
Sharon (#8), point-guard of Dunman, was overjoyed. “This game wasn’t easy right from the start. Jurong fought their best and we missed many open shots and layups in the first two quarters. However, we caught back our focus during half-time. We fought so hard as a team and really wanted to get into the final. Now that the final is only two days away, we will fight even harder and I believe the team will win.”
Jurong’s captain Lim Xin Yi (#9) said: “It was a competitive game but at least we contained them for the first three quarters. I feel that the team gave up during the last quarter. Although we wanted the championship badly, I guess we will have to fight for the third position.”
Jurong will face Unity Secondary in the final on Thursday, April 18, 2013.
Score by Quarter
Dunman vs Jurong
1st Quarter: 7–15
2nd Quarter: 13–6 (20–21)
3rd Quarter: 15–13 (35–34)
4th Quarter: 24–7 (59–41)
Top Scorers
Dunman
Nur Syafirah (#10) — 17 points (2 x 3 pointers)
Rafizan Roslan (#7) — 11 points
Jurong
Lim Xin Yi (#9) — 12 points (4 x 3 pointers)
Dunman Secondary Roster
Christin Teo Qi Shan (#4), Putri Nur Syazwani Bte S (#5), Ong Sin Kee (#6), Rafizan Roslan (#7), Sharon Lee Mi Yun (#8), Ee Kaye Lin Tanya (#9), Nur Syafirah (#10), Ungku Sofia Raihanah Bte U A (#11), Nur Aqidah Bte Abdul Latiff (#12), Nur Emiliati Bte Ibrahim (#13), Nur Adlina Bte Ismail (#14), Pearlynn Yeo Mei Xin (#15)
Jurong Roster
Nur Diyana Bte Azmi (#4), Syahidah Bte Mohd Hashim (#5), Valerie Ker Liew Ee (#6), Chermaine Wong Jia Qi (#7), Tan Yan li Anabel (#8), Lim Xin Yi (#9), Nur Syairah Sukadi (#10), Ong Ying Xuan (#11), Tiffany Yew Siew Lan (#12), Chua Jia Yun (#13), Nur Shahidah Bte Mohamad Saleh (#14), Tan Ying Yi (#15)
2013 National B Division Girls Basketball Championship — fixtures and results
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