By Rebecca Yip/Red Sports
Jasper Chua (#7) of Chung Cheng High lays up for two against Jurong. Jasper had a game-high 12 points. Mao Yu Xian (#14) of Jurong also had 14 in the game. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Clementi Sports Hall, Tuesday, July 31, 2012 — Jurong Secondary fought back an unexpected surge by Chung Cheng High (Main) to win their opening match of the National C Division Basketball Championship 51-42.
Jurong, ranked second in the West Zone, fought back from being two points down in the third quarter to overcome Chung Cheng High, who finished third in the East Zone.
Baskets from Mao Yu Xian (#14) and Bryan Ang (#10) gave Jurong an early lead. Chung Cheng struggled against the Jurong defence until Seah Zen Yi (#12) put one in for the team three minutes into the match.
Chung Cheng warmed up by the second quarter and began piling pressure on Jurong’s attack, restricting Jurong to scoring from far. Chung Cheng’s speedy attackers also made it difficult for Jurong’s defenders to fend them off. Chung Cheng’s Dave Peter Ho (#11) and Jasper Chua (#7) were particularly threatening in the attack as their short bursts threw off the Jurong defence at some points.
A basket by Chung Cheng’s Seah Zen Yi (#12) leveled the score at 23-23 shortly the start of the third quarter. An additional basket by him and one by Jasper Chua (#7) put Chung Cheng ahead 27-23. Jurong looked lethargic and could barely keep up with the Chung Cheng players. By the end of the third quarter, Jurong found themselves two points down at 29-31, after dominating for most of the match.
However, Jurong increased their aggressiveness in the last quarter, scoring double of what Chung Cheng put in. Jurong had a lead of 13 points with three minutes to go on the clock, the largest in the match.
Chung Cheng, on the other hand, let the pressure get to them as they collectively missed five out of six of the free throws they were given in the fourth quarter.
Chung Cheng’s Captain, Nicky Ng, thought his team played well despite the result and aim to be in the top four of Nationals.
P.S. Chung Cheng lost 46-58 to Presbyterian High in their next match on Wednesday, August 1st while Jurong beat Fairfield Methodist School 68-42 for their second win on the same day. Chung Cheng and Fairfield are out of the running for the second round while Jurong and Presbyterian High are through.
Score by Quarter
Jurong Secondary v Chung Cheng High
1st Q: 13-8
2nd Q: 10-9 (23-17)
3rd Q: 6-14 (29-31)
4th Q: 22-11
Final: 51-42
Top Scorers
Jurong Secondary
Mao Yu Xian (#14) — 12 points
Bryan Ang (#10) — 11 points
Isham (#13) — 8 points
Eugene Yeong (#8) — 6 points
Chung Cheng High
Jasper Chua (#7) — 12 points
Donavan Soh (#8) — 9 points
Nicky Ng (#6) — 6 points
Lim Zhi Kang (#13) — 6 points
Jurong Roster
Simeon (#4), Kurt Tan (#5), Chew Hong Xiang (#6), Wu Mingming (#7), Eugene Yeong (#8), Nigel Ong (#9), Bryan Ang (#10), Zester Tay (#11), Jordon Boey (#12), Isham (#13), Mao Yu Xian (#14), Galton Yeo (#15)
Chung Cheng Roster
David Lim (#4), Brandon Ng (#5), Nicky Ng (#6), Jasper Chua (#7), Donavan Soh (#8), Sim Jia Ming (#9), Domonick Soh (#10), Dave Peter Ho (#11), Seah Zen Yi (#12), Lim Zhi Kang (#13), Elkan Sim (#14), Bryan Tan (#15)
National C Division Basketball Championship – full fixtures and results
More photos in gallery next page
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