Sih Yong Jie (ACS(BR) #12) lays up for two against RI. Yong Jie finished with a team-high 14 points, including one 3-pointer. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Jurong East Sports Complex, Monday, March 5, 2012 — Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) edged out Raffles Institution 50-48 to wrap up their first ever South Zone B Division Basketball Championship.
RI looked more comfortable than ACS(BR) in the early going and led 16-8 at one point in the first quarter. ACS(BR) then got into their groove and put together a 5-0 run to go into the first-quarter break trailing only by three points at 13-16.
ACS(BR) took a brief 18-16 lead in the second quarter but RI never let them get away as both teams traded baskets to keep the score close. With 3:08 left in the second, the game was tied 23-23 but RI finished the stronger team with a 6-1 run to lead 29-24 at half time.
ACS(BR) made their physical superiority count in the third quarter as they made it difficult for RI to penetrate into the paint and dominated on the rebounds. RI were restricted to just nine points as ACS(BR) dropped in three 3-pointers to outscore RI 15-9 in the third quarter.
ACS(BR) took a slim one-point, 39-38 lead into the fourth quarter but RI scored the go ahead basket through Zhuang Bao Kun (#11). RI then held ACS(BR) for three and a half minutes before Foo Ce Xian (#14) gave ACS(BR) their first point in the fourth quarter from a free throw to tie it up 40-40.
While RI continued to struggle to get inside against the bigger ACS(BR) players, the boys in blue could not put any comfortable distance between themselves and RI they missed open layups and were plagued with numerous travelling calls.
Some steady free throw by Han Xing Jian (#10) and and a field goal by Sih Yong Jie gave ACS(BR) a 46-42 lead with 2:25 left on the clock and captain Brian Wong (#11) added another two points to extend their lead to 48-42 to allow their supporters to breathe a little easier.
But RI were not done yet.
Mark Khoo (#9), who had a game-high 16 points and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP), started an RI fightback with a two-point field goal. Bao Kun then added two free throws to reduce the deficit to 46-48.
With RI threatening to stage a comeback win, Xing Jian went to the line for ACS(BR) and he again delivered under pressure with two free throws to extend the ACS(BR) lead.
RI managed a final two points by Chan Chun Cheong (#13) but time ran out on them.
“RI had good shooting and their mentality is very good. They don’t give up,” said ACS(BR) Brian Wong after the game.
“There was pressure because there were a lot of people in the stands, but we played as a team and I’m glad my team managed to get the win. We didn’t give up and trusted each other to take the shot,” added Brian.
Guangyang Secondary finished third in the South Zone after they beat Serangoon Garden Secondary 61-43.
In the girls’ final played earlier, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School beat Raffles Girls’ School 36-31. National Junior College finished third with a 62-59 win over Zhonghua Secondary.
Quarter by Quarter Scores
RI vs ACS(BR)
1st Q: 16-13
2nd Q: 13-11 (29-24)
3rd Q: 9-15 (38-39)
4th Q: 10-11 (48-50)
Scorers
RI
Mark Khoo (#9) — 16 pts (3 x 3-pts)
Zhuang Bao Kun (#11) — 13 pts (1 x 3-pt)
Phi Yao (#8) — 6 pts
Chan Chun Cheong (#13) — 6 pts
Lim Mingjun (#7) — 4 pts
Hao Shuan (#12) — 2 pts
Zaki (#15) — 1 pt
ACS(BR)
Sih Yong Jie (#12) — 14 pts (1 x 3-pt)
Brian Wong (#11) — 13 pts (3 x 3-pts)
Han Xing Jian (#10) — 9 pts (1 x 3-pt)
Foo Ce Xian (#14) — 12 pts
Misheel Bayaraa (#6) — 2 pts
RI Lineup
Jie Ren (#4), Lim Mingjun (#7), Mark Khoo (#9), Zhuang Bao Kun (#11), Hao Shuan (#12), Chan Chun Cheong (#13), Wyman (#14), Zaki (#15)
ACS(BR) Lineup
Timothy Wong (#4), Michael Palero (#5), Misheel Bayaraa (#6), Jordan Wong (#7), Joel Foo (#8), Alexes Yan (#9), Han Xing Jian (#10), Brian Wong (#11), Sih Yong Jie (#12), Darian Hidajat (#13), Foo Ce Xian (#14), Imran Careem (#15)
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