By REDintern Gan Yu Neng
Koh Jin Quan (Holy Innocents’ #8) fighting for the loose ball. (Photo 1 © Chong Ng/Red Sports)
PESEB, Tuesday, July 3, 2012 – In a game where Holy Innocents’ High School were unable to take the lead even once, Fairfield Methodist School won 40-36 to take their second Group D win in Round 1 of the C Division South Zone Boys’ Basketball Championship.
Fairfield’s top scorer, Benedict Ng (#13), used his agility to his advantage, slipping easily through Holy Innocents’ zone defense again and again to score a game-high 20 points.
Not to be outdone, Holy Innocents’ Koh Jin Quan (#8) also maintained a heavy presence in the offense, scoring 16 points for his team. However, Fairfield’s unshakeable zone defense was ultimately Holy Innocents’ High’s undoing.
The game began with a three-point play by Hedley Ying (#15) for Fairfield, who quickly followed it up with a two. Holy Innocents’ Brandon Tei (#5) responded with a three-pointer, followed by Jin Quan (#8)’s two. At 5-5 and five minutes into the first quarter, this was the closest Holy Innocents’ got to Fairfield throughout the game.
Fairfield proceeded to outscore Holy Innocents’ in the first, second and third quarters. Benedict (#13) and Krison Sum (#12) besieged Holy Innocents’ defense through the entire game, to the extent where Benedict’s glasses flew off on more than one occasion.
Holy Innocents’ High responded in kind, with Jin Quan (#8) and Ren Li (#15) keeping up offensive pressure. However, once put on the defensive, Fairfield immediately retreated into their zone defense, which successfully prevented Holy Innocents’ from getting too close to the basket. While Holy Innocents’ encountered no resistance in advancing the ball, once they were on Fairfield’s side of the court, they were unable to find many scoring opportunities.
Trailing 22-33 at the start of the last quarter, Holy Innocents’ began to narrow the gap, with Jin Quan using fast breaks to reach Fairfield’s basket before their defense was able to form up. Despite going into the fourth quarter 11 points behind, Holy Innocents’ caught up to the point where they were only three points behind going into the final minute.
Near the end of the game, Holy Innocents’ had an opportunity to stage a dramatic turnaround. With 20 seconds left on the clock, Jin Quan made a three-point play, but missed the free throw for his team to trail by three at 36-39.
The last 17 seconds saw four fouls in quick succession as both teams tussled hard for the ball. Eventually, this allowed Fairfield’s Gavin Tay (#11) to make the free throw that kept Holy Innocents’ High at bay. Fairfield’s Benedict subsequently took Gavin’s rebound and held on through the three seconds it took for the game to end, finishing off Holy Innocents’ Round 2 hopes.
This is the second game that Holy Innocents’ High have lost by a slim margin. Last Friday, they were beaten 39-37 by Serangoon Garden Secondary, after being declared the latter’s main rival.
Fairfield will next meet Bishan Park Secondary on Thursday, July 5th, 1.00pm at PESEB. Should Fairfield win, they will be through to the next round of the South Zone Basketball Championship, along with Serangoon Garden.
Holy Innocents’ High will face Henderson Secondary, also on Thursday, July 5th, 1.00pm at PESEB. Henderson Secondary has yet to win any games in this tournament.
South Zone C Division Basketball Championship — full fixtures and results
Score by Quarter
Holy Innocents’ High vs Fairfield
1st Q: 7–13
2nd Q: 9–10 (16–23)
3rd Q: 6–10 (22–33)
4th Q: 14–7
Final Score: 36-40
Top Scorers
Holy Innocents’
Koh Jin Quan (#8) – 16 points
Brandon Tei (#5) – 7 points
Ren Li (#15) – 5 points
Lim Kian Huang (#10) – 4 points
Goh Jun Quan (#6) – 2 points
Francis (#9) – 2 points
Fairfield
Benedict Ng (#13) – 20 points
Krison Sum (#12) – 8 points
Hedley Ying (#15) – 5 points
Lee Lai Quan (#9) – 4 points
Gavin Tay (#11) – 3 points
Holy Innocents’ Roster
Brandon Tei (#5), Goh Jun Quan (#6), Koh Jin Quan (#8), Francis (#9), Lim Kian Huang (#10), Brendan Neo (#11), Myo Min Tun (#12), Patrick Chew (#13), Farand Teh (#14), Ren Li (#15)
Fairfield Roster
Ryan Chew (#4), Joshua Yap (#5), Shuan Tham (#6), Ryan Lee (#7), Andre Wong (#8), Lee Lai Quan (#9), Bryan Ng (#10), Gavin Tay (#11), Krison Sum (#12), Benedict Ng (#13), Jerome Tan (#14), Hedley Ying (#15)
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