The DIS boys’ varsity and JV basketball teams faced a rematch against Daegu Middle High School (DMHS) on Jan. 27 at their home court. After a tough loss in last month’s season opener, both squads entered the court with hopes of redemption. Nevertheless, both came up short once again with final scores of 41 to 62 and 14 to 22.
The JV boys opened the matchup with Kevin Ahn (27) as shooting guard, Joseph Yoon (34) as point guard, Jason McAteer (31) as small forward, Alex Seo (12) as power forward and Ryan Chae (1) as center.
The Jets struggled from the first quarter as loose defensive coverage and multiple unstable passes allowed the Warriors to jump ahead by 2-7. “I think we weren’t fully warmed up yet. We also made quite a few mistakes on our plays,” said JV captain Chae (1). “Overall, we needed stronger communication.”
Despite the rocky start, they quickly adjusted their strategies and shifted the momentum. DMHS JV point guard Jayden said, “I was really surprised at how quickly the DIS team changed after the first quarter. Their teamwork and energy on the court improved noticeably.” By halftime, DIS trimmed the margin to just two points.
However, the high spirits did not carry into the second half. Defensive breakdowns led to several missed shot opportunities, yielding extra ball possessions to the opponent. Soon, the Jets trailed behind again. “Our passes got weaker by the third quarter. I think our stamina depleted very quickly. Also, we weren’t being good defenders, giving up easy buckets,” said point guard Joseph Yoon (34).
Despite a late push to narrow the deficit, the game closed with a 14-22 loss. “We were so close to winning our first game against DMHS,” said Chae (1). “I think we had to focus more on finishing plays and communicating. It would have definitely helped us a lot.”
Following the girls’ match, the varsity boys stepped on the court with confidence and high hopes. The starting lineup featured point guard Justin Son (25), shooting guard Evan Rossmeisl (2), small forward Chris Ryu (30), power forward Brandon Hyun (11) and center Charlie Park (23).
However, DIS faced an early setback. DMHS applied aggressive pressure on the ball and forced rushed decisions, breaking the Jets’ offensive rhythm. With uncoordinated passes and team plays, they struggled to establish the pace necessary for the win.
The gap stretched as the second quarter tipped off. While the Warriors pushed the tempo and sank multiple shots in, DIS struggled to maintain possession and settle into an offensive rhythm. “It was a very difficult match. We had a hard time keeping the ball on our side. Turnovers were the main reason,” said varsity captain Ryu (30).
By the end of the second quarter, the game transitioned into garbage time. With the win secured, the Warriors’ rotated their bench players. “We thought we were well prepared for the game, but it was unfortunate that we lost the game. A few of our key players got injured during the game, so we couldn’t play the game to our fullest,” said power forward Hyun (11).
The second half mirrored the earlier stretch. Even with DMHS’s loosened defense, DIS struggled to close the scoring gap. Despite the determination, the squad failed to recover and took a lopsided defeat.
Both teams displayed commendable sportsmanship and gratitude after the buzzer. “I was really surprised by how well DIS played. They definitely improved a lot compared to a month ago,” said DMHS point guard Xavier. “I think it was a great opportunity for both teams to learn from each other.”
Although the Jets suffered a tough loss, the scrimmage provided valuable lessons. The team now reflects on their performance and makes adjustments for the upcoming Korean International School Activities Conference (KISAC) tournament from Feb. 5 to Feb.7.
