The high school boys’ basketball team headed to Camp Walker for their first Daegu Derby of the 25-26 season on Dec. 15. Unlike last year where only varsity played – due to the small roster of Daegu Middle High School (DMHS) – junior varsity (JV) also stepped onto the base. While both crews fought hard, they came up short of their first win against the Warriors.

The early game of the season did not hinder the team. “Two years ago, we also played against DMHS before winter break. Without much practice time, it’s good to get that experience to play in game situations with much higher intensity so that we can try to correct mistakes and build on for the remainder of the season,” said Coach Kaschub.

The JV game flared off with intensity. Shooting guard Kevin Ahn (27) swooshed two mid-range jumpers and a three-point corner that gave them a seven-point lead. The team showed swift ball movements around the court with their offense and solid defensive positioning. The quarter ended 4-7, with DIS up by three points.

On the other hand, the second and third quarter unraveled a different story. DMHS used their immense height and physicality in the paint, breaking through the Jets’ defense. By the end of third quarter, DMHS flipped the table by a point (17:16).

In the last six minutes of the game, the boys locked in, determined to take their first victory against the Warriors. While point guard Joseph Yoon (34) and captain Oliver Park (88) showed composure, a full court press defense from DMHS scrambled the Jets from their offense, leading to errors in passes. 

The match ended 20-17, a three point loss for the Jets. “They weren’t that good compared to what I thought, but DMHS was very enthusiastic and it made the game more fun. Mr. Kaschub motivated me to shoot whenever I had an open chance, helping me score lots of points,” said Ahn (27).

Next up, varsity entered the court with hype. Starting lineups consisted of: point guard Justin Son (25), shooting guard Evan Rossmeisl (2), small forward Bryan Lee (9), power forward Brandon Hyun (11) and center William Seo (18). 

The first quarter started in no time. From Son (25)’s first bucket with a three-pointer and well-coordinated defense that led Warriors to shoot from far, the team found their footing. Soon after, however, DMHS earned the lead with rapid movements. 

Down by three points, point guard Jason Kim (8) banked in a buzzer-beater shot from half court, tying the match. (9:9) “I was dribbling up the court and I saw the time and there was only two seconds, so I took the shot from half court. I really didn’t expect it to go in, but we were all really hyped because it made the game tie up,” said Kim.

The second quarter continued the fast-paced tempo of the match. Both teams transitioned back-and-forth sharing field goals and fast breaks. Freshman center Charlie Park (23) snagged boards, continuing to give open shot chances for Rossmeisl (2). 

“It’s always great to play in a high-intensity game, and it’s always really fun. I wasn’t too pressured to play in varsity because I was a freshman. As a team and individual, I think we have many areas to improve,” said Park. 

After half-time, Warriors began to prevail with efficient full-court press and offensive movements. Varsity struggled to fight through, which led to turnovers and avoidable errors. By the end of the quarter, the Jets fell ten points behind (31:21).

In the last quarter, the game converted to garbage time. DMHS widened the gap with constant three-pointers. Bench members subbed in for the last three minutes, but the results had no change (49:36). 

“The JV game was pretty intense, and everyone tried their best to make shots and play some good basketball. The varsity team also played really hard, but our team took the lead with better offense and defense after half-time,” said Jayden Cancel, a DMHS player who played in both the varsity and JV game.

While the two teams fell short in bringing the first victory against DMHS in basketball, they reflected on mistakes and improvements to make. With another friendly after winter break at home and two upcoming tournaments, they prepare with determination for stronger performance. 

Gallery • 4 Photos

Azul Rivera Meza

Ryan Chae (1) releases a short-range shot near the basket with controlled form. He continues to play with focus and intensity as the game winds down.