As the 24-25 high school basketball season concluded, the junior varsity (JV) team endured ups and downs. While the (Korean International Schools Activities Conference) KISAC tournament on Feb.14 to 15 ended in defeat, the team used this as a learning process for the (Southern Korean Association of International Schools) SKAIS conference on March 1, where they emerged victorious.
Unlike the varsity team that traveled to Jeju for KISAC, JV competed at Fayston Prepeston of Suji (FPS). For the inaugural match, they faced off against the home team. Sophomores Bryan Lee (number 9), Noah Hwang (number 21), and Oliver Park (number 88) set the tempo for the inexperienced freshmen. However, poor shot accuracy led to a 26-14 deficit by the third quarter.
However, the Jets staged a dynamic comeback in the last quarter. Through a full-court press and tight defense, they scored bucket after bucket. At 26-23, it became a one-possession game with under ten seconds left. Coach Jang called a timeout to strategize the winning play, which aimed to send the ball to point guard Jason Kim (number 8), who shot consecutive three-pointers in the last quarter.
Unfortunately, Kim collided with an FPS player, which caused a bloody nose, and a forced early departure. “I got really mad for having to leave the game. Coach Ricky set up a perfect plan for us to get an open three, and we couldn’t execute it. However, when Noah got the ball instead of me, he got fouled, and the ref didn’t call it. It was unfair,” Kim said.
Despite the close loss, the boys regrouped for the remaining matches, including a lopsided game against the St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju (SJA) Hilltoppers. Although they worked as one, they crumbled at the Hilltoppers’ efficient ball handling (52:29).
With no time to rest, the boys squared off against the KISJ Dragons. Kim’s nose healed and he returned from his earlier injury. While the Jets kept pace in the first half, fueled by the point guard’s layups and three-pointers, they faltered in the second due to weak defense and low intensity, falling 57:39.
However, tensions surfaced on the hardwood. As Alex Seo (number 12) dribbled up from half court, one of the KISJ players intentionally pushed Seo, resulting in an ejection. “I actually got pushed by a KISJ player before [Seo] got pushed, and the ref gave a warning to him at first. But then, in the next possession, the same player pushed [Seo], and that’s when I got sick of it and told him to stop,” Park said.
While day one wrapped up with consecutive losses that powered down the Jets, they set their sights on day two. With one game left, they prepared for the next day’s physical demand.
On day two, they contested the NLCS Orcas for their last round-robin match. In order to qualify for the bronze medal game, the boys needed a win. Hwang’s swift moves lifted the team, but inefficient defense and poor ball movement led to a 48-24 loss to the Orcas.
While the squad fought hard, the boys concluded their KISAC journey on a low note after their loss against the Orcas. Although they faced consecutive defeats, their inaugural tournament served as a springboard for future matches.
After a couple of weeks of recovery and intense training, the Jets traveled to (International School of Busan) ISB for the SKAIS tournament on March 1. Although excitement rose, the JV division consisted of only two teams: ISB and DIS.
As a result, the Jets automatically entered the finals without competing in a single game.
“It was sad to have only two teams for the tournament. I was expecting more teams, more competition, but it is what it is,” Kim said.
To extend playtime, the JV squad faced ISB twice – once in a round-robin and again in the finale. While they hoped for an intense match, DIS dominated both games, and earned the first-ever SKAIS trophy.
To further challenge themselves, the squad went head-to-head against the (Busan Foreign School) BFS Sharks, third seed varsity, in an additional game. While freshman Jacob McAteer (number 7) dominated the varsity Sharks with his physicality, the Jets lacked consistency. The score gap continued to widen as the clock wound down, as the matchup resulted in a loss (46:24). However, this served as a strong foundation for future seasons.
While both tournaments unfolded with different outcomes, every game consisted of pivotal moments that shaped the team. From resilience to success, they wrap up the season with a reward more valuable than a trophy — experience.
