Story by REDintern Daniel Yeo. Photos by Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports.
Lydia Ang (#7) of North Vista Secondary shoots a layup against (#6) of Ngee Ann Secondary. She went on to score a game high of 17 points. (Photo 1 © Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports)
OCBC Arena, Monday, March 19, 2018 — North Vista Secondary School (NV) hung on against Ngee Ann Secondary (NAS) to win their first game of the National B Division Girls’ Basketball Championship by 40–35.
North Vista now hold a 1–0 win-loss record while Ngee Ann must settle for a 0–1 record.
North Vista was led by Lydia Ang (NV #7) with 17 points, while (#8) led Ngee Ann with 10.
The game began with North Vista promptly jumping into a 6–0 lead in under three minutes, thanks to their aggressive defence. North Vista was able to successfully trap the ball-handler with double-teams and create turnovers for easy points.
Ngee Ann called a timeout in the hopes of slowing down North Vista, while at the same time re-energising themselves, and it seemed to have worked. They got right back into the game with four quick points right after this timeout, and the quarter ended 14–6 in North Vista’s favour.
Although it was evident that both teams were playing at a fast pace, neither was able to score to great effect in the second quarter. North Vista’s Lydia (NV #7) scored all four points for her team and Ngee Ann added another five points to end of the first half of basketball with North Vista leading 18–11.
Lydia (NV #7) continued her hot streak in the third quarter, scoring 11 of North Vista’s 16 points. Many of these opportunities were generated by North Vista’s use of the full-court press, which unsettled the Ngee Ann offence.
When asked about it, Ngee Ann’s captain, Gwendaline (NAS #8) explained: “We aren’t used to it…coming to the Nationals, it (playing against the full court press) is so much tougher.”
However, Ngee Ann was still able to create their offence from inside the arc, scoring double the number of points they had scored in their first two quarters. The third quarter ended with Ngee Ann down 21–34.
The final quarter began and both teams traded baskets during the initial minutes. However, in crunch time, Ngee Ann found a way to limit North Vista’s scoring while producing more of their own and held them to just six points while scoring 14.
In spite of this, for Ngee Ann, it was too little, too late. North Vista emerged the victors of the game 40–35.
Despite the win, North Vista’s captain, Lydia (NV #7) feels the best is yet to come: “Honestly, I think the team can play better…way better.”
North Vista will face Kranji Secondary next, with Ngee Ann facing National JC.
Both matches will be held on 21 March at OCBC Arena and will tip-off at 1.15pm.
Scoring by Quarter
North Vista vs Ngee Ann
1st Q: 14–6
2nd Q: 4–5 (18–11)
3rd Q: 16–10 (34–21)
4th Q: 6–14 (40–35)
Leading Scorers
North Vista
Lydia Ang Zi Yi (#7) — 17 points
Joli Kweh Jia Qi (#5) — 10 points
Ngee Ann
(#8) — 10 points
North Vista Roster
Nurul Haziqah (#0), Lim En Tong (#2), Joli Kweh Jia Qi (#5), Lydia Ang Zi Yi (#7), Long Yan Xi (#8), Lum Yi En Charis (#9), Ros Ellisyah Nur Umairah Binte Mohamed Aminudin (#12), Hazirah Bte Arifin (#14), Pansy Chua Wen Xin (#25), Grace Suganya D/O Arokiaraj (#28), Jasmine Wong (#35)
Ngee Ann Roster
Jia Hui (#4), Qian Qian (#5), An Ting (#6), Hanni (#7), Gwendaline (#8), Enqi (#9), Kelly (#12), Amber (#13), Nabilah (#16), Melanie (#20), Khaliqah (#21)
More photos next page
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