Looking Back

December 29 2008
JEVON SEE 

It has been an arduous journey for the basketball team. Trainings scheduled at 8am during the holidays when everyone is sound asleep. Short jogs to SRC from hall with our eyes still barely opened. Cruel runs that take half our lives away. As the captain and also on behalf of the manager, Dennis, I would like to thank the players for their commitment and efforts to the team, especially enduring the long journey back to hall just to train.

Hall 4 came up against Hall 3, runner-ups of Group A in the Quarterfinals of the IH competition. It looked set to be a tough battle, with the physique of the Hall 3 team looking superior. Our consistent 3-point shooter and manager, Dennis, was also out of the country.

It spelt trouble right from the jumpball as our team looked way different from the one that won the qualifying matches. Hall 3 showed more aggression and energy as they outmuscled and outplayed us in the first quarter. Hall 4’s starting 5 (Lucas, Weilong, Jevon, Hanlong, Zhenxing) played sloppily and were unable to score a single point in the first quarter and it ended 12-0 in favour of Hall 3.

Morale dropped even further when many of the decisions of the referee went against us. We managed to break the scoring duck at the start of the second quarter but were still unable to match Hall 3’s energy and stability. As our usual manager was absent, we had some problems tactically and made the error of not substituting anyone until later in the game.

Indeed, with substitutions made, the new 5 players (Yewhan, Walter, David, Yang Jie, Jevon) on court looked more energetic. Raymond also impressed with his 3 point shooting. Chunrong frustruated his opponents with his aggressive defence and Gary made slick runs down the court. If we had played like we did in the fourth quarter, I am sure it would have been a totally different ball game.

Hall 4 played their hearts out to make the final scoreline respectable as Hall 4 lost 55-33 to a fitter and bigger Hall 3 team.

Next year, we would definitely come back fitter, stronger and better. Stay tuned!

Closer than it looks

TAN THIAM PENG

Plan A was to shackle their 2-metre tall centre. But things can change quickly in sports and with good adaptability our hall cagers advanced into the quarterfinals of Inter-Hall Games Basketball.

Hall 4’s captain, Dennis, had done his homework and knew how dangerous the towering opponent can be. His instructions to our players were to play hard with him, close him down early and prevent his game from flowing.

But though the plan worked, the other Hall 14 players stepped up to the fight and gave us a minor scare. We quickly adjusted to game conditions, and when our team ticked, we never looked back.

Hall 4 took the Group B Winners’ Pool match by 39 to 28 and earned themselves a rest from having to play a third preliminary match. With promising new additions to the team this year, our cagers look to make a good run in the tournament.

Although we led by 10-odd points for most of the match, the scoreline deceives how the actual game went and Hall 14 was no easy scalp, being winners of their first group match like us.

Size was preferred over speed as Dennis named himself and the experienced campaigner David out of the starting five. Weilong, Lucas, Hanlong, Jevon and Zhenxing began the game for us.

However, as we managed to keep the giant centre at bay, Hall 14’s other players played aggressively and made us pay for our lumbering start, as they raced into a lead. Some good baskets by Jevon helped keep Hall 4 in the game.

This initial hiccup forced the team to rethink tactics, and after Dennis came on and added a critical drive to the team, we caught up.

At one point, after David and Yangjie went on, proceedings almost went awry as Hall 4 suffered from playing with three big men. We could not get the right penetration and speed, allowing the opponents to catch up a little.

Although for most of the game we were restricted to shooting from outside, it was our day and the baskets came steadily.

In another IHG match, Hall 4’s inexperienced female softball team was humbled by a much more illustrious opponents of Hall 7. Their deadly efficiency ended the game in a convincing 19-0 victory over us.

Captain, David, said before the match: “Our team is made up of mostly freshies. We’re just going out there to play for the experience.”

“I should not hide the fact that we’re facing a very strong opponent.”

On his team strategy, David could only muster: “Let’s hope their pitcher is off form today.”

The team of Louisa, Shaline, Lubin, Yuzhao, Peiyu, Sharon, Shermine, Lingqin, Yixuan and Winnie took to the field as we fielded first. Unfortunately, pitcher Louisa’s golden touch was not with her as one by one our opponents earned free walks.

When Hall 7’s batters did swing, the hits were usually long and difficult to retrieve. In no time, they were 7-0 ahead.

After we switched over, the storyline ran in about the same manner. Our batters were not confident enough as they faced a gifted pitcher. It was even sooner for the match to reach the second inning.

Things went in about the same way and our girls effectively lost the match by this inning as they went down 14-0. In the spirit of IHG, both halls agreed to play out the last inning. In total, our brave girls recorded three outs while defending against Hall 7.

The team will next play their Losers’ Pool match of Group D.

IHG Update: Carrom & Basketball/F (v Hall 10)

MELVIN LIM

Hall IV’s debutante day of Carrom matches began at 12pm at the Hall 8 Multi-Purpose Court.

Our players, involving the following lineup:

Men’s Singles – Ah Boon

Women’s Singles – Simin
Women’s Doubles – Isabelle & Yee Hwee

Men’s Doubles – Gary & Chun Rong
Mixed Doubles – Mabel & Yew Han

Despite the numerous training sessions Hall IV’s team had undergone in preparation for the IHRG matches, luck was not on our player’s sides, and we were no match for our opponents today. In the end, we lost against all the four halls we played against today.

However, a second day of Carrom action awaits tomorrow, same time, same place, so all is not lost for Hall IV. We wish our Carrom players all the best!

Even more basketball action reigned the NIE Basketball Court, following Hall IV’s male team victory earlier in the day. This being the Loser Pool match, it was make or break for our Hall IV female basketball team, who require a win to proceed to its third preliminary match. Lose, and Hall IV will experience an early knockout in the competition.

The female basketball team is made up predominantly of players in the female softball team, who had to rush over from the SRC Softball Field following their match against Hall 7 earlier, which ended 0-14. The players are: Lu Bin, Pei Yu, Shaline, Sharmin, Priscilla, Winnie and Li Yan.

With our opponents, Hall 10, in the same position as us, a lot was at stake to proceed in the competition. Unfortunately, our team’s hunger and will to win proved insufficient in the face of fatigue and our opponent’s ever-changing tactics and formations.

The final score was Hall 4 (19) - Hall 10 (56). Despite the loss, Hall IV’s players deserve a round of applause for all their efforts and determination.

IHG Update: Basketball(M) – Grp B (Hall 4 v Hall 13)

Date: 12 December 2008
Time: 1630hrs
Venue: NIE Indoor Basketball Court 

 With a dominating first half, Hall4 basketball team edged out the Hall13 team with a 5 points margin. In the first two quarters, despite not having advantage on average height, the Hall4 team played a much more physical game and keeping the Hall13 team pressed throughout the period.

The tough defense limited Hall13 team to only 6 points in the first half. In the 3^rd quarter, the defense of Hall4 team went a bit unorganized missing rotation and leaving a lot space for Hall13’s sharp 3pt shooters. They hit quite a few 3 pointers and closed up the score to within 10 points. In the fourth quarter, the Hall4 team held steady with a few steals and smooth fast breaks.

The score board remained at 34-29 with Hall IV emerging victorious!

Good job to our Hall IV players!

 

- Kai Wen

IHG Update: Basketball (F) – Grp A (Hall 1 v Hall 4)

December 12 2008

Today marks the first day of basketball matches for the IHG competition. To start off, our hall female basketball team played their first match against Hall 1.

In the first quarter, a seemingly much more experienced Hall 1 kicked into gear early, getting off to a bright start as they kept on beating our team on the counter attacks. For some time, we had absolutely no answer to their fast turnover and showed signs of anxiety. A timeout was called so that we could make some formation changes and to get our players settled down and ready for the match. A tactical call was made for our players to work on their basics. Yet, we could not manage to find a reply to their strong attacks and before we knew it, the first quarter was over.

Upon the start of the second quarter (there are only 2 quarters in a game), our players have had a good feel of what the game was suppose to be like and we put up a real good fight. With Priscelia as our driving force and the hardwork of the team members, we managed to break their counter attacks and managed to score frequently against Hall 1. Hall 1 had no reply to our constant attacks in the second quarter and even tried substituting their whole team but to no avail.

But alas, it was too little too late, as even though we won in the second quarter, we still could not catch up. The final score was 21-74, but what we gained in terms of experience will outweigh this small loss. Gambate Hall 4!

- Mark Teo

 

[ED: Well said by Mark - "What we gained in terms of experience will outweigh this small loss". All the best to the Hall IV Female Basketball Team for their next match!]