Maris Stella High prevail over Ahmad Ibrahim in B Division North Zone basketball

Story by REDintern Alan Chiang. Photos by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports.

Singapore Basketball Centre, Monday, February 16, 2009 - Maris Stella High emerged 58-54 winners against Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary in a boys’ B Division North Zone Basketball Championship game.

With this win, Maris Stella secured their second round place at the expense of Ahmad Ibrahim after Presbyterian High had locked in first position in their group.

The intense match saw both Maris Stella and Ahmad Ibrahim exchange leads throughout. Ahmad Ibrahim drew first blood with Ming Yang (AIS #13) scoring the first basket of the match after some decisive passing around the court. Possessing a superior physique, Ming Yang (AIS #13) continued to dictate the offensive rebounds and scored a second consecutive basket.

Maris Stella drained their first two points after a combined effort from Jervin Lim (MSH #10) and Fu Zhi (MSH #4). However, Ahmad Ibrahim broke away on a 9-2 run with Rui Kun (AIS #14) scoring from the 3-point line. Maris Stella's captain Jervin Lim (MSH #10) then reduced the deficit with two consecutive shots and before teammate Samuel Yeo (MSH #7) levelled the score at 9-9 with a 3-pointer.

With 3:00 left, Dan Elvir Cinco (AIS #8) hauled Ahmad Ibrahim back into a two-point lead with a shot from range. But Jervin Lim (MSH #10) and Shervin Lim (MSH #11) connected to allow Maris Stella to take a one-point 14-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. Jervin Lim (MSH #10) contributed nine points in the first quarter.

As the second quarter resumed, Maris Stella started strongly with Jonus Tok (MSH #12) driving to the basket twice to give his team a five-point lead. Ming Yang (AIS #13) replied with an outside shot to reduce the lead to three points.

In the middle of the second quarter, Ahmad Ibrahim lost their concentration as both Ming Yang (AIS #13) and Dan Elvir Cinco (AIS #8) picked up their third fouls of the match. With 2:30 remaining, Ming Yang (AIS #13) collected his fourth foul.

With the tie at 21-21, Maris Stella took the lead again with Samuel Yeo (MSH #7) and Fu Zhi (MSH #4) producing shots from range. With 30 seconds left in the second quarter, Ming Yang (AIS #13) fouled out of the match after committing his fifth foul on Shervin Lim (MSH #11) and Maris Stella led 28-26 at half-time.

Though without their big centre Ming Yang (AIS #13), Ahmad Ibrahim were still able to take control of the offensive board and established a two point lead with Dan Elvir Cinco (AIS #8) and Edwin Tan (AIS #7) making their shots in the paint.

The Maris Stella coach demanded a better defensive performance from his team but they still struggled to stop Ahmad Ibrahim from dominating the board. Edwin Tan (AIS #7) benefited from slack Maris Stella defending and drained a 3-pointer to increase their lead to four points with 2:22 remaining. By the end of the third quarter, Ahmad Ibrahim were holding on to a slim 39-36 lead.

An inspirational team talk by the Maris Stella coach motivated his team to go on a 6-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter and shortly after, Dan Elvir Cinco (AIS #8) fouled out after accumulating his fifth personal foul on Shervin Lim (MSH #11).

With 7:30 left, Jervin Lim (MSH #10) and Samuel Yeo (MSH #7) made two quick successive shots to widen their lead to five points at 46-41.

This forced the Ahmad Ibrahim coach to call for a timeout to sort things out after the loss of his best players to foul trouble. Maris Stella continued to take advantage of the situation with Jervin Lim (MSH #10) and Samuel Yeo (MSH #7) combining again to increase the lead to seven points. It was soon a nine-point lead after Fu Zhi (MSH #4) drove to the basket easily.

With 3:00 remaining, Maris Stella's lead was cut to four points by Edwin Tan (AIS #7) who took centre stage and made two steals that he subsequently converted into two fine baskets. But his effort to overturn the lead was fruitless as Samuel Yeo (MSH #7) and Jonus Tok (MSH #12) churned out back-to-back shots to bring the Maris Stella lead back to eight points.

Rui Kun (AIS #14) managed to squeeze in a 3-pointer and reduce the lead to five points but time ran out on Ahmad Ibrahim and Maris Stella held on with a tight defense to win the match 58-54.

Maris Stella will savour their qualification for the next round at the expense of favourites Ahmad Ibrahim but will have to reflect on their defensive tactics to survive the next round.

Match Statistics:
Points by quarter
1st Q: MSH 14 - AIS 13
2nd Q: MSH 28 - AIS 26
3rd Q: MSH 36 - AIS 39
4th Q: MSH 58 - AIS 54

Top scorer
MSH
Samuel Yeo (#7) - 20 points
Jervin Lim (#10) - 17 points

AIS
Edwin Tan (#7) - 22 points
Dan Elvir Cinco (#8) - 13 points

N.B. If you know the names of the players featured, feel free to update us in the comments section. Thanks.