The varsity girls matched up against the Daegu Middle High School (DMHS) basketball team at the Jetnasium on Jan. 27. Despite high hopes and a home-court advantage, the Jets struggled to pace up and fell 38 to 12.

The starting lineup featured Jayden Hayward (35) as point guard, Lily Lee (4) as shooting guard, Juyeon Kim (27) as small forward, Liwen Wang (1) as power forward, and Luisa Silva (26) as center.

DIS entered the court short-handed because point guard Apple Jun (7), shooting guard Minori Kojima (9) and center Bonnie Kim (6) couldn’t suit up due to the flu. With three starters short, the rest adjusted to the new lineup with only a few days before the match. “I felt like I was stepping into quite a lot when I was put in for Apple. I’d never been in that position before,” said Hayward (35).  

Even so, the Jets entered the court with determination. Over the first quarter, they executed the set plays to create space for the forwards. At the same time, Coach Park rotated substitutes to maintain the energy. With effective screens and firm stances, the girls nailed successful baskets. 

But the momentum did not last into the second half. With the opponent’s barrage of three-pointers, the once-roaring stands fell silent, and the team’s momentum slipped away. “The DMHS players were really hyped up, and the people that came to cheer for them were really loud. So all of our team members kind of felt down and then we all didn’t really get hyped up,” said Wang (1).

Even with multiple offense plays in motion, the girls struggled to finish at the rim on every attempt. “I think the girls panicked, so we were rushing to our places and not looking for an open shot.” Ultimately, the match ended with a 12:38 loss.

Despite a consecutive defeat, the team saw it as an opportunity to showcase their progress and find areas of improvements. “There were just so many valuable lessons – like communication skills – that the girls learned,” said Coach Park. 

With just a few weeks left for the KISAC (Korean International Schools Activities Conference) tournament on Feb. 6 to Feb. 7, the squad will come together to fine-tune their strategies. They aim to build their stamina, tighten their defense and integrate new offensive sets as previously absent players return, all with their sights set on reaching the podium and bringing home a medal.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Agnew Kim

Jayden Hayward (35) cuts to the corner to take the ball off her teammate’s hands. With one leg grounded, she makes sharp and quick pivots to break through the defense as she searches for a solid pass.