RGS scrape past Anglican High

BASKETBALL

National ‘C’ Division Championship 2007
Raffles Girls’ School vs Anglican High School
Thursday, 16 August 2007 at the Singapore Basketball Centre

Story and pictures by Leslie Tan. © Red Sports/soulbreath pictures

Last year’s ‘C’ Division MVP Zoe Eng of Anglican High missed an easy jumper with seconds to go to allow Raffles Girls’ School to beat them 44-42. Zoe intercepted a misplaced pass and bore down on the RGS basket with no one near enough to stop her. As the crowd went silent and all eyes were trained on her, she went up for what looked to be an easy two points to tie the game at 44-44 and force overtime. However, the ball just wouldn’t go in, much to the relief of the Raffles bench.

Deanna Ng of RGS (in green) tries to go around Kuah Chiew Shian of Anglican High. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

When the game started, no one had any idea that it would end in such drama. Racing out to a 10-0 lead, RGS set the early pace. By the end of the first quarter, Anglican High managed to reduce the deficit to six points to make the score 4-10. The second quarter was a much tighter affair with RGS outscoring Anglican High 9-8. The score at half-time was 19-12 in favour of RGS.

Captain Hannah Ng (#9) had a game-high 23 points and was the main offensive weapon of the RGS offense. Her team managed to keep their noses in front during the third quarter, outpointing Anglican 16-13, whose best contributor was Chiew Shian (#7) with 12 points. The third quarter ended 35-25 with RGS in the lead.

Zoe of Anglican High goes on a layup while Anna Tay of RGS defends. Zoe had a heartbreaking last-second miss that could have tied the game to send it into overtime.

In the fourth quarter, Anglican High found a second wind and started to outscore RGS to whittle away at the 10-point deficit. With 4:44 left on the clock, Anglican High finally hauled themselves into the lead at 39-37. RGS swiftly replied through Quek Yi Ning (#15) who dropped in a 3-pointer. 40-39, RGS in the lead. At 2:02 on the clock, Vidya of RGS went to the line for two free throws with the score unchanged. Nerves got the better of her and she missed both free throws.

With 1:30 left, Hannah Ng of RGS stepped up again for her team to score two valuable points to make it 42-39 and give her team some breathing room. Anglican High managed to get to the free throw line but only sank one of two free throws. 42-40. Then Hannah of RGS made another basket to stretch the lead to 44-40 but Anglican replied to make it 44-42.

With 37 seconds left, Rachel Wang (#4) of Anglican High went to the free throw line but missed both. Then came the heart-stopping moment when Zoe was clear through but missed the last-second basket that would have tied the game and sent it into overtime.

Chua Ting Yi of Anglican High drives past Hannah Ng (#9) and Anna Tay of RGS. Ti Ying was the highest scorer for her team with 14 points, including two 3-pointers. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

RGS (10-1):

Anna Tay (#4)
Rachael Lo (#5)
Tham Yan Ping (#6)
Vivien Cheok (#7)
Radhakrishnan Vidya (#8)
Hannah Ng (#9) capt
Zhou Ye Lin (#10)
Deanna Ng (#11)
Tang Li Yong (#12)
Stephanie Siow (#13)
Angie Tay (#14)
Quek Yi Ning (#15)

Anglican High (win-loss record unknown):

Rachel Wang (#4)
Cheryl Boh (#5)
Koh Pei Ying (#6)
Kuah Chew Shian (#7)
Hilda Li (#8)
Zoe Eng (#9) capt
Chua Ting Yi (#10)
Kelly Cheong (#11)
Genevieve Ong (#12)
Oh Jing Jing (#13)
Rachel-Anne Yam (#14)
Doreen Sia (#15)

Match statistics:

1st quarter: RGS 10-4 Anglican High
2nd: 9-8
3rd: 16-13
4th: 9-17

Top scorers:

RGS: Hannah Ng (#9) – 23 pts; Deanna Ng (#11) 8 pts; Quek Yi Ning (#15) – 7 pts (one 3-pointer)

Anglican High: Ti Ying (#10) – 14 pts (two 3-pointers); Chew Shian (#7) – 12 pts; Rachel Wang (#4) – 10 pts

Editor’s note: Any updates or corrections on names or facts, please leave it in the COMMENTS section. Thanks. More pictures in the gallery.