The difference in organization was the difference in the game.
Incheon’s Song Do-joong came from behind to defeat Chungnam’s Cheonan Sungseongjung, 93-77, on the second day of the 52nd National Under-16 Boys’ Championship at Ulsan University Gymnasium in Ulsan, South Korea, on Sunday to claim the last spot in the quarterfinals.
In addition to Kim Min-ki (194 cm, F), who has led the offense this season, Lee Joo-ho (188 cm, F) was a steady scorer throughout the game and finished with 34 points, while Seo Shin-woo (187 cm, G) also contributed 25 points.
Cheonan Sungsung Sungjung kept pace with Songdojoong in the early stages of the game thanks to a pair of three-pointers, but the team was unable to capitalize on a few unforced turnovers late in the game.
Earlier in the day, Seoul’s Samseonjoong, who have won two titles this season, showed their superiority and defeated Jeonnam’s Yeo Cheonjoong 97-49 to reach the quarterfinals.
With four starters scoring in double figures and all 12 starters seeing action, Samseonjoong looked like one of the tournament’s strongest favorites.
In other action, Jeonbuk Namjung, led by 23 points from Son Kwang-won, had an evenly matched performance with all of their starters scoring in double figures as they cruised to a 105-77 victory over Daejeon Daejeon to advance to the quarterfinals and set up a semifinal matchup with Samseonjung.
In the third game of the men’s U16 tournament, Wonju Pyeongwonjoong of Gangwon Province overcame a back-and-forth battle to defeat Geummyungjoong of Busan 89-69.
After taking a narrow lead in the first quarter, Pyeongwonjoong’s tenacious defense held off Geummyungjoong’s late surge to seal the win.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s U16 event at the Ulsan Institute of Science and Technology Gymnasium, Busan’s Dongju Yeo-jung pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, defeating Korea’s Cheong Sol-jung 67-58 in a hard-fought game to enter the quarterfinals 안전놀이터.
In the battle between Incheon’s Buil Yeo-joong and Jeonnam’s Glory Hong Nong-joong, Buil Yeo-joong, who played a salty defense that allowed her opponent to score just two points in the second quarter, won 65-31 to advance to the next round.
Seoul’s Sunil Girls’ High School, making its first appearance in the boys’ tournament in a long time, defeated Daegu’s Hyosung High School, 90-46, while Gangwon’s Bongu Girls’ High School held on to its early lead to defeat Sangju Girls’ High School, 57-48, to advance to the next round.