By Tan Yan Qi (26S06M) and Tara Teo (26A01D)

All photographs provided by Sriram Tharaneetharan (25S06Q), Fang Rui Shan (26S06R) and Chew Rui-Yan (26S03N) from RIAC unless otherwise stated.

Sport is fair game. Luck isn’t. We all know that. Even so, athletes give all they have to training. They sacrifice time, slog under the hot sun, and sculpt their bodies into tools for victory, all for the hope of receiving back what they put into a sport. But despite all their efforts, it’s often that all they can do is flip the coin and see where it lands.  

This was no different for the Girls’ basketball team.

Luck was a key word for the Basketball Girls’ season this year. Luck in the draw, luck in their players’ conditions, and luck in the competitors they faced. And at every turn, the world seemed to be against them, throwing obstacles and hurdles for them to overcome. 

The Cards Handed to Them 

Not all obstacles pop up on the court. In fact, one was set in stone 8 months ago, when none of the RGS basketballers chose to continue on at RI. The Y5 batch this year hence comprises two DSA students and six complete beginners. 

Like any team sport, the chance to even score in basketball requires the team to function as a well-oiled machine. Forget court chemistry or inter-team dynamics, the fact that nearly half of the team were still developing their technical skills posed a noticeable disadvantage. 

However, the 2 DSA students truly pulled their weight this season. Captain Ren Xinyi (25S03A) remarks, “Our juniors are quite solid. They are scorers. Whereas last year, no one really stood out to score, so they helped out a lot.”

Things weren’t all grim for the team, though. If there was one thing that did go in their favour this year, it was the preliminary draw. 

A good draw goes a long way. A bad one cuts the journey in half. Last year’s draw brought them head-to-head with Hwa Chong Institution and Eunoia Junior College, who wound up getting 1st and 3rd place respectively that season. The two strong competitors in their group had pushed the team out during the preliminary rounds, stripping them of the chance to advance into the quarterfinals. 

This year, the team faced EJC once again. Fortunately, a better draw prevented an early exit from the season from occurring again. By placing second in their group, right behind EJC, they advanced to the quarterfinals.

However, that was only the start of the season. 

Semifinals: All but One Man Down

With the odds stacked against them, they headed down to the semifinals against EJC, the team less than optimistic about the game. But in a battle ruled half by luck, they chose to focus on themselves, not the odds. No matter what was thrown at them, the only thing they could control was their own performance. 

Despite their low expectations, this was their best game yet. Trailing closely behind for the first three quarters, they gave no chance for rest, threatening to take over the moment their opponents let their guard down. 

In a twist of fate, tragedy struck with 3.5 minutes to the end of the game. In the span of less than a minute, Kayla Tan (26S03E) and Megan Lim Shu Yao (25S03P) were injured consecutively. As their key players were forced out of the game, there was little that the team could do except to play on. 

Injuries do not discriminate. You can’t bargain with the slow-motion rush of the ground rising to meet your body. You can’t swerve to avoid the sharp impact of a split second collision. You can’t pit your dreams against painful reality and hope to win.

There are many things you can’t do after an injury. Vice-Captain Natasha Kee (25A01E) knows that feeling all too well. During the preliminary game against EJC, she suffered an ACL tear. Just like that, her last season of competitive basketball came to an end. 

The barrage of injuries that followed followed the same pattern. No matter big or small, every injury meant a whistle blown, a game paused, and a spike in pressure. “When someone was injured, the momentum would just break.” – Natasha 

Eventually, the game ended at 51-45 to EJC. One could call the result expected, but that would overlook all of the obstacles that had been thrown their way, both before and during the game. It was tough, yet also hopeful and commendable. 

Bouncing Back

However, the season wasn’t over just yet. The semifinals left them not only with a loss, but also an even smaller team. With their final 3/4th placing match scheduled just three days later, there was little time to recover and reset.

So the girls did the one thing they could. They got back up. When asked how they managed to power through the physical pain, Celestine Choo (25S03G) showed us her recovering finger, still in a splint, and cited the spirit of just going all in.

“It was possibly my last game ever, so I wanted to give it my all. Injuries can be healed, but the results last forever.” 

Despite a team riddled with injuries and a lack of supporters, the players were determined to give their all for the final game of the season, no matter the circumstances.

Empty Stands 

The final game is the most important match in a team’s entire season. Yet, against the backdrop of NYJC’s roaring crowd of supporters, the RI stands were dead silent. Students went about their morning lessons as usual, save for a small group watching the canteen livestream. 

The thrum of crowd reactions often act as the final push for an athlete to strive towards the goal. But what happens when it’s just the players and the court?

Ironically, the lack of supporters and injuries only seemed to bring them closer together. When luck wasn’t on their side and the opposing team’s cheers drowned out their own, there was a certain comfort in knowing that they only had themselves to fight for. “I honestly think that since there were no supporters, there was no pressure.” Natasha shared. 

Unfazed, the team played a strong match against NYJC, maintaining a solid lead throughout to win 51-40. As they received their bronze medals, the scene perfectly summarised their season—no matter what happened, they would come back stronger. 

There were many things that contributed to their win this year, but luck certainly wasn’t one of them. After all that had been thrown against the girls’ team this year, one can confidently say that the medals hanging on their necks were well-earned. 

Congratulations to the Girls’ Basketball team for the bronze, and we look forward to their future matches! 

Photo credits: @rafflesbasketball on Instagram