GSIS 2017 Yearbook: #BeYou Volume 11 | Page 131

Top Row: Coach Bertken, Grace Lee, Janet Ahn, Siwon Lee, Teri Park, Sally Kim, Coach Coleman, Coach Chan; Bottom Row: Olena Vasyltsova, Jennifer Kim, Jackie Kim, Cindy Kang, Alex Yoo

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Ending the season with immense growth and success, the varsity girls basketball team was ready to take on bigger challenges by participating in the Asia Christian Schools Conference( ACSC tournament) held in Taiwan. They went in the competition with a mindset to both fight their hardest but also to learn.

This season, the girls faced the obstacle of having few players. Having a smaller team meant a harder time competing against opponents who had more students to sub and fill for their tired athletes.

Most opposing teams had ten or more subs and were able to sub out the whole team at a time, which left the girls at a huge disadvantage. Olena Vasyltsova mentioned how it had a“ big impact” on the team especially after several injuries. However, they were able to“ pull through” the games by pushing forward and being flexible.

The tough competition and the obstacle of a having a small team didn’ t stop the girls from playing hard. Losing by only six points with only three minutes left in the game against Dalat International School, of Malaysia, the girls were able to push through and grab a victory. The game winning play involved Jackie Kim stealing the ball and passing it to Cindy who got fouled and won the game with her free throws.

Coach Bertken explained to the team about having a“ heart” for the sport and working to get the results the girls desired. This unexpected, but hard fought win was evidence that basketball is not always about skill, but perseverance and willingness to play the game.

Siwon Lee expressed the important lesson she learned,“ At the beginning of the season, Mr. Bertken asked us‘ What kind of story do you want to tell at the end of the season?’ During the whole season, I was wondering about this question and I couldn ' t find an answer. However, I found the answer during the trip [ to ACSC ], it was‘ the heart of wanting’. I learned that the result doesn ' t matter, but rather how big your heart is.”

Mr. Coleman, assistant coach, said,“ I want the girls to learn that skill only goes so far for an athlete. Having heart and the will to win can push a team really far. The lessons we learn on the court should stay as a part of our lives as we continue to run into troubles that seem bigger than us.”

1. Alex Yoo practices her shots before the APIS game. The players warmed up before the game by shooting, passing, and dribbling. 2. Teri Park boxes out the ball to block a TCIS player from receiving the ball, preventing a rebound for the opposing team. As she blocked her opponents, her teammates were able to make fluent passes, with less distraction from the opposing defense. 3. Jennifer Kim crouches down to grasp the ball and steal it from the opposing player. Throughout the game, the players focused to keep possession of the ball in order to have more chances to score. 4. Siwon Lee runs through a celebratory line to enter on to the court. For the game played against APIS, the crowd came together by doing school chants along with the cheerleaders which encouraged players to keep pushing until the final victory. 5. During a time out, the team gathers in a circle to regain their energy and listen to feedback. Coach Bertken called a timeout to rearrange the team and discuss their strategies. 6. Olena Vasyltsova dribbles through a KIS player who attempts to defend her basket. The team’ s 21-19 victory against KIS stimulated the team with the prospect of a successful season.