The DIS boys’ varsity and JV basketball teams headed to Busan Foreign School (BFS) for the South Korea Association of International Schools (SKAIS) tournament on Feb. 24. Varsity faced difficulties defending their crown, finishing second, while JV took control over the court and remained undefeated. 

With the varsity league missing one of the SKAIS schools, Gyeongnam International Foreign School (GIFS), the round-robin table only featured three teams: International School of Busan (ISB), BFS and DIS

Varsity kick-started their day with a match-up against the ISB Bears. 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) led the team as the starting five. With improved execution of promised plays, the Jets secured a clear win (61:31).

After a short break, the squad faced another Busan school, the BFS Sharks. Building on their early success, they dominated the court with active communication, leading to another lopsided victory (49:33).  

Entering the finals undefeated, varsity rematched the ISB Bears. After their dominant round-robin win over the Bears, the Jets launched with confidence they could secure the championship. 

The Jets started strong, building an eight-point lead by the end of quarter one. ISB responded quickly to DIS’s attacks, tightening their defense and closing the gap. “The ball went around well, but just well enough for the DIS. We could read the pass ways very easily“, said Andrew, Bears point guard.

In the second quarter, ISB converted efficiently while DIS struggled offensively. Combined with the Bears’ momentum, poor calls from the referees disrupted their rhythm. By the end of the third quarter, the game tied, with both teams battling intensely for control. 

The fourth quarter carried the same tense energy, but the balance collapsed in the final minutes. ISB knocked down key shots while DIS missed clutch opportunities, ultimately allowing the Bears to secure the win (57:52) “There were many bad calls made by the referee. I think that hugely contributed to our loss in the final game,” said Ryu.

On the other side of the court, junior varsity (JV) set the tone early for their tournament. In the preliminary round, they vied off the ISB Bears with Joseph Yoon (34) as point guard, Kevin Ahn (27) as shooting guard, Alex Seo (12) as small forward, Maddox Jolly (13) as power forward and Ryan Chae (1) as center. 

As soon as the whistle blew, the JV boys began to dominate the court. With a 15 point-lead by halftime, the game quickly transitioned into garbage time. “We were playing great defense, and I could see that the Bears weren’t able to go through it,” said Chae, Jets JV captain.

After a lunch break, they tipped off against the Bears once again for the finals. ISB adjusted with tighter defense and forced early turnovers that challenged DIS. “The Jets were having really great teamwork from the first game, so we had to come up with a second plan. Our coach told us to play man to man defense instead of zone defense. I think it worked out really well for the first half,” said Mir Ososhenko, ISB point guard.

The Jets did not back down easily. Through improved ball movement, stronger communication, and increased shot efficiency, they regained control of the game.

By the fourth quarter, the game once again shifted to garbage time, with a Jets blowout (56:36). They once again secured the JV trophy for back-to-back seasons. “We were dominating the court. Our teamwork was great and I think it contributed to our success a lot,” said shooting guard Jason McAteer (31).

With the basketball season at its finale, varsity and JV showcased consistency throughout the three month run. From well-deserved wins to hard-fought losses, athletes trade in sneakers for cleats as soccer season awaits.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Noah Lee

Justin Son (number 25) hops between two ISB defenders for an easy basket. While he struggles through, his physicality allows him to get untangled and lead into the paint.