Story by REDintern Daniel Yeo. Photos by Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports.
Goh Kung Huang (#15) of Nanyang Girls shoots against Guang Yang Secondary. She scored a game high of 15 points. (Photo 1 © Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports)
OCBC Arena, Friday, March 23, 2018 — After suffering a tough loss to Yishun Town Secondary in their previous game, Nanyang Girls’ (NYG) came back to OCBC Arena with a vengeance, and it showed in a 31–6 win over Guangyang (GYS) as they completed the first round of the National B Division Girls’ Basketball Championship.
This means that Nanyang qualifies for the second round in second place from Group S, with a 2–1 win-loss record. Meanwhile, Guangyang’s season ends with a 0–3 win-loss record in the nationals.
Nanyang were led by Goh Kung Huang (NYG #15), who had a game-high 13 points. Toh Wang Xin (GYS #36) led Guangyang with four points.
As the starting buzzer sounded, Kung Huang (NYG #15) got to work, scoring Nanyang’s first points after snatching an offensive rebound and drawing a foul. In the first 10 minutes of basketball, she scored seven of Nanyang’s 10 points.
Kung Huang’s (NYG #15) dominance was evident on the other end of the floor too. With her in the paint, Guangyang was put under pressure every time they tried to drive to the hole.
Guangyang’s captain, Jasmin Pun (GYS #23) commented on how they tried to break through the Nanyang defence: “It (Nanyang’s defence) was tough because some of them were tall, but in the end, we still tried to go for as many rebounds as possible.”
However, despite being able to pull down their fair share of offensive rebounds to go along with a host of fast-break opportunities in the first half, Guangyang were unable to convert, and remained scoreless. The first quarter ended 10–0.
The second quarter began with a renewed defensive intensity by both teams, forcing turnovers in their own way. Nanyang double-teamed the ball-handler early in the possessions, Guangyang stepped into passing lanes. This resulted in both teams being held scoreless in the first half of the second quarter.
Although the Guangyang defence was doing its job to provide possessions for the offence to score, their strategic passing did not help them to generate any points. On the other hand, Chua Su-Ann (NYG #33) finally helped Nanyang to get on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a trey. The first 20 minutes of basketball subsequently ended 17–0 in Nanyang’s favour.
Guangyang’s first points finally came in the third quarter, as Dursan Rai (GYS #31) finished an and-one layup but missed the free throw. Emi Chow (NYG #34) put Nanyang on the board with a fast-break layup not long after.
Following a Guangyang timeout with five minutes left in the third, Nanyang stepped up on defence and began employing their full-court press. Guangyang did not score for the rest of the quarter, and it ended 25–2.
The fourth quarter saw more of the same full-court press by Nanyang, which caused Guangyang to turn the ball over multiple times. Guangyang did their best to make sure Kung Huang (NYG #15) did not score more than her 13 points by doubling, and even tripling, her in the post.
Guangyang’s Wang Xin (GYS #36) managed to score four points in the quarter, but it would never be enough for the massive lead Nanyang had built up. The final buzzer sounded, Nanyang running away with it 31–6.
Captain Jasmin (GYS #23) is staying positive despite her team’s loss: “We had a fighting spirit all the way (throughout the game), even though there were some mistakes, we learned to get back on our feet again, so overall, it was a good game.”
For Nanyang, who will be advancing into the top eight, we asked what mindset they’d be taking into the next round of games. Captain Yang Shixuan (NYG #12) told us: “I think (the loss from Yishun Town) serves as motivation. We’ll have a difficult group (in the second round) this year but we’ll do our best to get into the top four.”
Nanyang has been drawn into Group Y of the top eight, consisting of Chung Cheng High (Main) and South Zone champs National Junior College. Rounding out the group is Jurong Secondary, their rivals in that three-overtime thriller of a West Zone final.
Scoring by Quarter
Guangyang v Nanyang Girls
1st Q: 0–10
2nd Q: 0–7 (0–17)
3rd Q: 2–8 (2–25)
4th Q: 4–6 (6–31)
Leading Scorers
Guangyang
Toh Wang Xin (#36) – 4 points
Nanyang Girls
Goh Kung Huang (#15) – 13 points
Guangyang Roster
Jastena Gurung (#2), Janelle Lim (#8), Grace Lim (#9), Chia Jie En (#10), Tan Ying Ying (#11), Adeline Ee (#12), Veronica Tan (#20), Jasmin Pun (#23), Valerie Sng (#25), Eksa Mabo (#30), Dursan Rai (#31), Toh Wang Xin (#36)
Nanyang Girls Roster
Goh Wing Xuan (#5), Lee Ying Ying, Pamela (#7), Goh Cheng Gek Jade Lenor (#8), Li Silin (#11), Yang Shixuan (#12), Goh Kung Huang (#15), Rachel Teo Hui Ling (#31), Low Ying Hui (#32), Chua Su-Ann Shu En (#33), Emi Chow Yu Tong (#34), Michelle Heng Qian Ying (#35), Zann Siow Jun Hui (#37)
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