ITE crush Ngee Ann Polytechnic 75-53 in girls’ POL-ITE basketball

Story by REDintern Desiray Tay. Photos by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports

Republic Polytechnic, Tuesday, August 4, 2009 – The Polytechnic-Institute of Technical Education (POL-ITE) championships may spell ‘polite’, but the players were anything but as the Combined ITE team crushed Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) 75-53.

Both sides played rough in order to secure a win but it was ITE girls who prevailed to ensure that their team are joint-leaders with the Republic Polytechnic at the top of the table with four wins each.

RP had won their earlier match against Nanyang Polytechnic.

ITE showed why it has not lost a match so far, when they took possession from the tip-off and surged to an early 4-point lead. NP tried hard to fight back, determined not to extend their winless streak. But while NP found it difficult to score, ITE could not miss, and scored 14 consecutive points before their opponents finally opened their accounts to make it 14-2.

ITE’s key player was #11, as she thwarted NP’s attacks with her perfect interceptions, and put her speed to good use during opponents’ turnovers. But NP improved their shooting accuracy, and reduced the deficit to 10-18 when the first-quarter buzzer sounded.

ITE opened the second period by scoring the first 2 points, but NP replied with a basket of their own, from #15. With ITE scoring 3 straight times, the NP players fought hard to contain them, at one point resorting to sandwiching an ITE player. This led to tempers flaring and the game getting more physical between both sides.

As much as Ngee Ann tried to contain the ITE team, they could not prevent their more skilful opponents from adding to their tally. ITE’s play seemed simpler and more fluid, without the need to beat around the bush like NP, which saw much of their play getting disrupted by ITE. While NP struggled to get even near the basket, ITE players found no little resistance from the NP defence. The first half ended 43-26 to ITE.

The final two quarters were littered with rough play and fouls with both teams racking up the team foul count. ITE maintained their double-digit lead, and saw out the game in the foul-laden fourth quarter to win 75-53.

ITE and RP are now tied for first place with 4 wins each, and are followed by NYP with 2 wins, Temasek Polytechnic with 1 win, and Singapore Polytechnic and NP with 0 wins.

It should be a cracking game on Thursday, August 6, as RP and ITE will be playing each other. The scoreline should be excruciatingly close, and the energy, explosive.