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

Crystal Nathasha (SCGS #9) rises for a lay-up. She scored a game-high 21 points to lead SCGS in the final. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Crystal Nathasha (SCGS #9) rises for a lay-up. She scored a game-high 21 points to lead SCGS in the final. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Singapore Basketball Centre, Wednesday, February 28, 2018 — Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS) claimed the title after edging out defending champions North Vista Secondary School (NV) 52–50 in a tightly contested thriller in the North Zone B Division Basketball Championship Final.

When asked about how significant was the team’s performance in the victory, Crystal Nathasha (SCGS #9) stated: “This game showed that while we might not be the most talented team, we are a very hardworking bunch. We fought with all we had until the last second.”

“North Vista was a really tough team that pushed us all the way,” she added, giving props to an unrelenting North Vista team that came really close to mounting a fourth-quarter comeback.

“It was for the team, not myself,” added Crystal Nathasha (SCGS #9) on her game-high 21 point performance. Tori Chua (SCGS #7) chipped in 17 points.

Lydia Ang (NV #7) led the resilient North Vista with a valiant 17-point performance, while teammate Ros Ellisyah Nur Umairah (NV #12) added 12 points.

In a bid to score quick baskets, SCGS started with a full-court man-to-man press that forced North Vista into turnovers off the dribble and mistimed passes.

However, North Vista showed why they were defending champions with their quick transition defence that repeatedly denied SCGS any fast-break points off their turnovers.

Both teams were evenly matched offensively, as both sides executed their respective plays well with good ball movement as well as timely screens and cuts on and off the ball.

At the end of the first quarter, North Vista held a slight edge over SCGS with a 13–11 lead.

The second quarter would prove to be a struggle for North Vista, as SCGS locked up on defence and forced them into taking tough shots.

They were also unable to take advantage of the fact that SCGS were in the penalty with 4:14 left in the quarter as they struggled with making their free-throws.

North Vista’s struggling offence would only end up with 4 points in the quarter, as North Vista were outscored 4–11 and would trail by 17–22 at halftime.

North Vista would continue to struggle on offence in the third period as their half-court set plays could not seem to pierce SCGS’ unyielding defence and it definitely did not help that Nurul Haziqah (NV #0) would foul out of the game with 3:47 left.

However, North Vista stayed aggressive on offence and got SCGS into the penalty with just over three minutes left. North Vista would score 6 of their 8 points in the quarter from free-throws and trail 25–35 heading into the decisive quarter.

With their title as the defending champions on the line, North Vista came roaring back with a 10–0 run to tie the game at 35 apiece with 7:38 left, sending the North Vista supporters in the crowd into a frenzy and shocking the SCGS supporters.

Crystal Nathasha (SCGS #9), who scored 10 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter, would fire back as she splashed home a trey to ignite a 9–2 run that put SCGS ahead 44–38 with 4:28 left.

However, SCGS would find themselves in the penalty and conceded free-throws off unnecessary fouls to allow North Vista to claw their way back to make it a two-point game with 3:11 left.

After Crystal Nathasha (SCGS #9) made two free-throws to give SCGS a 47–43 cushion, Charis Lum (NV #9) went on a personal scoring run as she scored five straight points which was capped off by sinking a Kobe-esque pull up trey right between her defender’s eye to pull North Vista within one and send the crowd wild.

Crystal Nathasha (SCGS #9) and Tori Chua (SCGS #7), who combined to score SCGS’ last 17 points, scored a baseline jump-shot and a free-throw to freeze North Vista’s momentum and give SCGS a 50-47 lead with 1:42 on the clock.

After Lydia Ang (NV #7) converted a free-throw to pull North Vista back to a 48–50 deficit, Crystal Nathasha (SCGS #9) scored a clutch floater that proved to be the dagger to make it 52–48.

Lydia Ang (NV #7) would again come up clutch for North Vista, scoring a fast-break lay-up after making a crucial steal on defence to cut the deficit to two.

However, that would prove to be the final basket of the game as the final buzzer sounded with SCGS taking over North Vista’s throne as the zonal champions after what was a classic showdown between two powerhouses.

Both SCGS and North Vista Secondary will next feature in the National B Division Basketball Championship.

Scoring by Quarter
SCGS vs NVS
1st Quarter: 11–13
2nd Quarter: 11–4 (22–17)
3rd Quarter: 13–8 (35–25)
4th Quarter: 17–25 (52–50)

Top Scorers
SCGS
Crystal Nathasha D/O Mathi Vanan (#9) — 21 points
Tori Chua (#7) — 17 points

North Vista
Ang Zi Yi Lydia (#7) — 17 points
Ros Ellisyah Nur Umairah (#12) — 12 points

SCGS Roster
Fatin Nazura Bte Mohammad Rafi (#4), Haziera Bte Hairudinsah (#5), Jovys Woo Sze Lee (#6), Tori Chua (#7), Rachel Tan (#8), Crystal Nathasha D/O Mathi Vanan (#9), Freda Wee (#10), Rachel Ang (#11), Margaret Suriya (#12), Nur Nadia Bte Abdul Ghani (#13), Alisa Sarah Bte Jefri (#14), Hillary Yeo (#15)

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

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