Story by Zachary Foo/Red Sports. Photos by Laura Lee/Red Sports.
Soh Jia Xuan (RI #6) secures the rebound. (Photo 1 © Laura Lee/Red Sports)
Jurong East Sports and Recreation Centre, Monday, May 19, 2014 — Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) defended their National A Division Girls Basketball Championship title with a 63–42 win over Raffles Institution (RI). Woon Wei Jing (RI #12) led all scorers with 22 points, while Au Zi Yu (HCI #9) led her team to the win by scoring 20 points.
The game was a tight affair through the first three quarters, but HCI pulled away in the final quarter to seal the win. This is HCI’s second consecutive title after winning in 2013.
HCI enjoyed balanced contributions from Chan Chu Yin (HCI #6), Freda Chua (HCI #7) and Chin Wan Qing (HCI #15) in the first quarter. Chu Yin (HCI #6) did well to facilitate the ball to her team mates, making good passes each time. RI managed to stay close behind the play-making of Farah Tan (RI #4). She combined well with Soh Jia Xuan (RI #4) and Woon Wei Jing (RI #12) to fuel RI’s attack.
Chu Yin (HCI #6) suffered a minor knock in the second quarter, forcing her to sit out the game for a while. Au Zi Yu (HCI #9) took up point guard duties in her place. She proved a worthy replacement, as she poured in nine points in the period. Over on the RI side, Wei Jing (RI #12) was the sole player who found any success scoring for her team. She kept her team in the game by contributing 11 points.
Wei Jing (RI #12) continued her scoring spree by putting up seven points in the third quarter. By this time, Chu Yin (HCI #6) returned to the game to give HCI some stability in the back court. Freda Chua (HCI #7) found success scoring in the post, using her lithe frame and speed to spin past the slower RI defenders to get easy buckets. This allowed HCI to take a seven-point lead heading into the final quarter.
All hopes of an RI comeback evaporated in the final quarter, as it became evident that the team were losing steam as time ticked by. They experienced a drought on the offensive end, going four minutes without a basket. HCI continued to attack relentlessly, spearheaded by the scoring of Zi Yu (HCI #9). This allowed HCI to extend the lead gradually until they led by 20 with a minute left in the game. HCI were able to eventually seal the title with a 63–42 win.
HCI captain, Chu Yin (#6), said, “I am very happy that we won. Glad that we were able to overcome adversities in the game, especially with our players going down to injury. We stayed mentally strong early, that was what kept us in the game. When I went down, all I wanted to do was to get back up and return to the game. We play our best every game and do our best to win.”
HCI top scorer, Zi Yu (#9), said, “Happy with the win because this is my first year in HCI. My team mates did really well and we made a lot of good passes. We fought hard throughout the game and never gave up. It was good to come back after losing in the B Division final last year.” Zi Yu was part of the Unity Secondary team that lost to Dunman Secondary in the B Division final last year.
Scoring by Quarter
Hwa Chong Institution vs Raffles Institution
1st Quarter: 13–11
2nd Quarter: 16–13 (29–24)
3rd Quarter: 14–12 (43–36)
4th Quarter: 20–6 (63–42)
Top Scorers
HCI
Au Zi Yu (#9) – 20 points
RI
Woon Wei Jing (#12) – 22 points
HCI Roster
Crystal Yong Yun Han (#4), Tan Jia Qi (#5), Chan Chu Yin (#6), Freda Chua Zhi Yun (#7), Sia Si Qin Charlene (#8), Au Zi Yu (#9), Isabel Lee Jiale (#10), Lin Yuan (#11), Zhao Yalian (#12), Leah-Diane Warden Xiu Yu (#13), Mandy Leoh Yun Wan (#14), Chin Wan Qing (#15)
RI Roster
Farah Tan Li Yee (#4), Yang Wei Yun Lily (#5), Soh Jia Xuan (#6), Kee Yi Siew (#7), Ong Qiu Hui (#8), Thasnova Rahman Thamim (#9), Tan Mei Jun Madeline (#10), Barcelo Penielle Marisse T (#11), Woon Wei Jing (#12), Isabel Wong Ee Lerr (#13), Alethea Ng Kai Ti (#14), Cheng Le En Leanne (#15)
A Division Girls Basketball Championship — Fixtures and Results
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