Story by Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports. Photos by Dylan Chua/Red Sports.

Lydia Ang (NV #7) handles the ball against Yishun Town Secondary. She scored a game-high 14 points in the victory. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Lydia Ang (NV #7) handles the ball against Yishun Town Secondary. She scored a game-high 14 points in the victory. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Singapore Basketball Centre, Thursday, February 22, 2018 — In a game of scoring runs, North Vista Secondary (NV) overcame a resilient Yishun Town Secondary (YTS) 38–32 to advance to the North Zone B Division Girls’ Basketball Championship Final.

North Vista was led by Lydia Ang (NV #7) who scored a game-high 14 points despite picking up 3 quick fouls in first four minutes of the game. Teammate Joli Kweh (NV #5) added 13 points in a solid scoring performance.

Yishun Town was led by Xie Muqi (YTS #11) who also scored a game-high 14 points while Nur Afifah Bte Misban (YTS #8) added 8 points.

North Vista struggled on offense at the start as they missed wide-open looks and committed unforced errors. They also struggled with foul trouble as they found themselves in the penalty after Lydia Ang (NV #7) drew her third foul four minutes into the quarter.

On the other hand, Yishun Town sprinted out of the gates aggressively, driving into the teeth of the North Vista defense to score points in the paint and drew fouls for points at the free-throw line. This fuelled a quick 8–2 run in the first four minutes of the game.

Just when Yishun Town seemed to be in control of the match, North Vista flipped a switch on both ends of the floor, locking up on defense while scoring basket after basket on fast-breaks to end the quarter on a 12–2 scoring run to lead by 14–10.

North Vista would ride on their momentum into the second quarter, where they went on a 8–0 run to lead 22–10 with 4:57 remaining in the period.

However, a fast break lay up by Xie Muqi (YTS #11) with 5:02 left on the clock sparked a 6–0 run by Yishun Town to cut North Vista’s lead to 22–16 at halftime.

The third quarter proved to be an evenly-contested battle between both sides who locked up defensively and held each other to a measly six points.

Despite trailing 22–28 into the final period, Yishun Town put up a spirited performance to claw their way back on a 8–4 run to make it a 30–32 ball game with 4:07 left and leave the spectators holding their breaths with the game hanging in the balance.

However, any hopes of a comeback was crushed as North Vista responded with a clutch 6–0 run of their own to leave Yishun Town trailing by eight with 57 seconds remaining.

An offensive putback basket by Regina Kaw (YTS #13) with 37 seconds remaining would prove to be the final basket of the match as North Vista advanced to the final with a 38–32 victory.

North Vista will go up against familiar rivals Singapore Chinese Girls’ School for the crown in a repeat of last year’s final while Yishun Town will be facing Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary in the 3rd/4th placing match.

Scoring by Quarter
North Vista vs Yishun Town
1st Q: 14–10
2nd Q: 8–6 (22–16)
3rd Q: 6–6 (28–22)
4th Q: 10–10 (38–32)

Top Scorers
North Vista
Ang Zi Yi Lydia (#7) — 14 points
Kweh Jia Qi Joli (#5) — 13 points

Yishun Town
Xie Muqi (#11) — 14 points
Nur Afifah Bte Misban (#8) — 8 points

North Vista Roster
Nurul Haziqah (#0), Lim En Tong (#2), Kweh Jia Qi Joli (#5), Lee Lin Xuan (#6), Ang Zi Yi Lydia (#7), Long Yan Xi (#8), Lum Yi En Charis (#9), Loh Hui Ting Shanice (#10), Ros Ellisyah Nur Umairah Binte Mohamed Aminudin (#12), Hazirah Bte Arifin (#14), Grace Suganya D/O Arokiaraj (#28), Wong Jasmine (#35)

Yishun Town Roster
Nur Afiyah Bte Misban (#5), Gin Chong Manyun (#7), Nur Afifah Bte Misban (#8), Mabel Ong (#10), Xie Muqi (#11), Jennifer Chue (#12), Regina Kaw (#13), Cynthia Chin (#15), Li Zixi (#16) Nur Nadia Lim (#17) Marilyn Goh (#21), Chua Ting En (#78)

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