Chung Cheng High (Main) edges out Woodlands Ring in basketball quarter-final

Story and pictures contributed by reader Ian Chew

Chung Cheng’s Tan Ee Ruey (#9) holding on to the ball despite Woodlands Ring’s aggressive defense. He scored 8 points in Chung Cheng’s close 55-53 win. (Photo © Ian Chew)

Singapore Basketball Centre, Wed, April 9, 2008 – Chung Cheng High (Main) survived a fierce fourth quarter rally, as well as injuries to two key players, to hang on for a famous 55-53 win over Woodlands Ring Secondary.

In a match where the qualifying stakes were especially high, Chung Cheng High started the better of the two teams, with their lead as big as eight points at one stage in the second quarter. However, a worrying point came when their key forward Colin Chou (#13) pulled up with a sprained ankle in that quarter.

Despite his obvious pain, the inspirational captain of the Chung Cheng High team lasted through the rest of the match, top-scoring for his team with 14 points in the process. His teammates also put up sterling performances, with Hong Kah Qi (#8) scoring 13 points and Tan Ee Ruey (#9) contributing 8 points for his team. Ee Ruey had to sit out the last minutes of the fourth quarter due to a severe calf cramp.

Colin was understandably ecstatic about the win. “The entire team put in a great deal of effort for this result,” he explained.

Yet credit has also to be given to the team in blue. Never giving up without a fight, Woodlands Ring clawed their way back from an eight-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter. Their oppressive full court man-to-man defense resulted in numerous turnovers by Chung Cheng High. A frustrated Chung Cheng coach decided to field the injured Ee Ruey as a result.

The move paid immediate dividends. Although Woodlands Ring’s #4 successfully scored a 3-pointer at the buzzer, Chung Cheng High’s Kah Qi had earlier scored two crucial baskets to bump up their lead to an unassailable 55-50 lead with five seconds remaining.

Though stung by the defeat, the Woodlands Ring team is by no means out of the picture.

“If we can beat Catholic High by a single point in the next match, we would qualify for the semi-final based on a superior points difference,” elaborated Woodlands Ring’s teacher-in-charge Clement Lim.

Catholic High had earlier defeated Chung Cheng High (Main) by eight points in an exciting 91-83 victory. Woodlands Ring will therefore still be able to qualify for the semi-final if they beat Catholic High in their next game on Friday, April 11, at 3.15 p.m.

Catholic High won the other Group Y quarter-final match against Gan Eng Seng 71-35.

Woodlands Ring’s #4 in an uncontested lay-up. He scored a creditable 13 points for his team. Teammate #7 also shared the top scoring honours for Woodlands Ring with 13 points. (Photo © Ian Chew)

CCH (Main)’s skilful forward Colin Chou being fouled repeatedly by the Woodlands Ring team. He eventually top-scored with 14 points for his team. (Photo © Ian Chew)

CCH (Main)’s head of department and coach urging their charges on. (Photo © Ian Chew)

Catholic High’s Jabez Su scoring 14 points in another Group Y 71-35 win over Gan Eng Seng. (Photo © Ian Chew)