Story by REDintern Samantha Yom. Photos by Dylan Chua/Red Sports.

Tang Kah Wai (PHS #10) attempts a spin move to the basket. He scored a game-high 21 points. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Tang Kah Wai (PHS #10) attempts a spin move to the basket. He scored a game-high 21 points. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Singapore Basketball Centre, Monday, February 12, 2018 — Presbyterian High School’s (PHS) 66–32 victory over Woodgrove Secondary (WGS) in the second round of the North Zone B Division Basketball Championship cemented their status as the reigning North Zone champions.

This was the first time both schools have faced off since their last meeting at the North Zone B Division Basketball Championship final in 2017, which saw Presbyterian High emerge as champions with a 71–53 success.

However, Presbyterian High’s dominance was not obvious in the first quarter.

Though three consecutive field goals had initially given Presbyterian High a six-point lead, the deficit was quickly nullified by Woodgrove’s Cheng Pengkun (WGS #9). Pengkun’s (WGS #9) contribution, which included a trey, placed him as Woodgrove’s top scorer with 13 points, 11 of which were contributed in the first quarter alone.

Seven minutes into the game, the scoreline was tied at 8–8. The last three minutes of the quarter saw both teams neck-and-neck – one team’s attempt to break away with a slight two-point lead was always answered in the same style by the other. In the end, the buzzer sounded with the teams tied at 14–14.

It was only in the second quarter that Presbyterian High began to find their groove. Presbyterian High’s top-scoring trio Tang Kah Wai (PHS #10, game-high of 21 points), Kovan Toh (PHS #5, 14 points) and Jaron Ng (PHS #15, 11 points) steered their team clear ahead of their opponent. Despite Scott Tay’s (WGS #14) promising three-pointer at the start, Woodgrove appeared to have lost their scoring rhythm. Unsuccessful attempts near the basket meant that Woodgrove only added five points in the quarter, a far cry from Presbyterian High’s 17 points.

Nevertheless, Woodgrove fought back in the third quarter and found more success in their frontcourt. Their strengthened defence and teamwork also forced a number of turnovers for Presbyterian High. Yet, it was not enough to stop Presbyterian High’s sharp-shooting trio who worked to extend their lead further into the fourth quarter.

With a comfortable lead, Presbyterian High continued to display their scoring prowess throughout the final quarter. Woodgrove was seemingly left in the dust scoring a disappointing two points in the final ten minutes of play, while their opponent amassed an impressive 20 points.

When asked for his comments on the match, Presbyterian High’s captain Kovan Toh (#5) was quick to account for his team’s initial lacklustre performance.

“I think in the beginning, the team was a bit slack, possibly due to the lack of sleep. But by the third quarter, we were more focused, and began to score and improve our game,” he explained.

As to what their expectations are for their next match against Catholic High School, Kovan was clear.

“We hope to win and play as well as we did against North Vista,” he said.

Scoring by Quarter
WGS vs PHS
1st Quarter: 14–14
2nd Quarter: 5–17 (19–31)
3rd Quarter: 11–15 (30–46)
4th Quarter: 2–20 (32–66)

Top Scorers
WGS
Cheng Pengkun (#9) — 13 points

PHS
Tang Kah Wai (#10) — 21 points
Kovan Toh (#5) — 14 points
Jaron Ng (#15) — 11 points

WGS Roster
Alfred Soo Ian Hern (#4), Lim Rong Xuan (#5), Tham Sheng Hong (#6), Lim Zun Kang Falco (#7), Chong Shao Kai, Sky (#8), Chen Pengkun (#9), Soh Keng Yip (#10), Fang Hanbin (#11), Neo Zhen Quan (#12), Teo Yung Juen (#13), Scott Tay Yong Jin (#14), Chung Yue Heng (#15)

PHS Roster
Constantin Lim (#3), Ivan Kau (#4), Kovan Toh (#5), Thomas Lor (#7), Tang Kah Wai (#10), Foo Yong Ming (#12), Goh Yi Xiang (#13), Jaron Ng (#15), Dylan Lee (#20), Gifford Chua (#21), Aaron Chaw (#26), Reuben Ng (#35)

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