Meet the Team!

After a series of grueling try-outs we are happy to present this year's varsity girls basketball team. The team is comprised of the following players:

• #4 Laurel Smith (Junior)
• #5 Kat Hyslop (Freshman)
  
• #6 Shoko Hirata (Junior)
  
• #7 Yuri Otsuka (Freshman)
  
• #8 Megan Mak (Junior)
• #9 Aleena Qureshi (Freshman)
  
• #10 Yoon Hei Cho (Senior)
  
• #11 Laruen McMillan (Senior captain)
  
• #12 Casey Broussard (Junior)
  
• #13 Taylor Pewitt (Senior captain)
• #14 Cassie Deverall (Junior)
• #15 Asha Deverall (Senior)
  

New Year, New Season, New Hopes!

It seems like the off-season was never ending. Bits of two-on-two games. Some people shooting as part of the shot club. Some new student-athletes walking on the courts for tryouts. All in all it was a normal off-season. But then, on the first day of tryouts the faces came back, the girls came out and ran, and ran and ran some more. Oh, there were a few layups in there too, some boxing out, and some passing interspersed with a bit of shooting, but basically they ran. In the end, a new ISKL Panthers team emerged and they are about to embark on their 2009-2010 journey together. Final destination: IASAS 2010, hosted right here at ISKL!

Tonight is game 1 against a local community rival, MSA.Game time is slated for 8:30 pm in the Ampang gym. Go Panthers!

Shot Club Starts Up

As is customary during the off-season, the girls at ISKL have the option of participating voluntarily in the Girls Shot Club. A self-directed program it allows the girls on the team, and off the team, to participate in shots throughout the offseason.

For those who succeed in taking at least 5,000 shots between now and October 1st, their name will be added to the plaque in the Ampang Gymnasium and they will receive a Shot Club t-shirt, available to only an exclusive group of female athletes at ISKL.

For shot club tally sheets, please see Mr. Myers in the HS PE Office.

Shoot up a storm!

Award Recipients for 2009

The 2nd season awards night came and passed and it is our pleasure to announce this year's award winners:

IASAS All-Tournament Selection

• Mora Grehl
  

Coaches Awards:

• Larissa Kuscher
• Mora Grehl

MVP Award

• Taylor Pewitt

Congratulations to all three girls for a great season!!

IASAS a bag of mixed emotions

The IASAS Tournament came and went, with the girls putting up a solid effort on the floor. Before the tournament the coaches had asked that the girls have "no regrets" when it was all said and done. If it's possible for a team to have no regrets, but also no wins, this is the one. The girls played their hearts out but, in the end, lacked the depth and size to pull out a win. Several games were very close either at half time or closer to the end of the game. The game against JIS was one such game, with the girls pulling to within a basket with 4 minutes left. At just that moment Yoon Hei sprained her ankle, and a minute later Taylor fouled out and the dream was over. By the last game the team was filled with bruises, scrapes, twists and bangs, but they kept on working as hard as they could.

Though the season ended in disappointing fashion in terms of scores, it could not have ended better in terms of the pure effort put on the floor. The girls showed great promise for next year and many opposing coaches mentioned the tenacity and grit of this team as a resounding success for their efforts.

When all is said and done, this team will be remembered for the strength of its character, for the determination it showed despite lack of experience and size, and for the fact that it returned from Taipei with no regrets whatsoever. It was a great season!

Looking Forward to IASAS

The Lady Panthers are playing solid basketball these days, and gaining experience with each hard-fought game. Following thier final home stand versus Mont Kiara (a 38-34 heartbreaking loss to a tall MKIS team) they set their sights on the IASAS Tournament in Taipei. The Lady Panthers will be looking to better their sixth place finish from last year and are optimistic for their performance. Peaking at the right time they look like a solid team filled with potential.

The IASAS schedule includes clashes with the following opponents:

Thursday, February 5th

• 8:30 am versus Singapore American School
• 4:15 pm versus Manila International School
  

Friday, February 6th

• 11:30 am versus Taipei American School
• 4:15 pm versus Jakarta International School

Saturday, February 7th

• 8:00 am versus International School of Bangkok
• 2:30 pm: Consolation Final (for 3rd place)
• 4:30 pm: Final

For those wanting to follow the games during the tournament, feel free to visit http://www.iasas.org.

Lady Panthers Start Strong in 2009

The Lady Panthers started the new year with two close wins, but playing their best basketball yet. As the season winds down to the wire (three weeks to IASAS) the team seems to be peaking at the right time.

Wednesday saw the Lady Panthers beat Wong Teeng 48-44 after a hard-fought game. Among the highlights of the game was the season's best personal play by Yuna Chong who scored 5 points in as many minutes of play. Apart from that, however, the Lady Panthers showed poise and balance on offense and dealt well with an older opponent. The game was a close one throughout, but the Panthers were able to win after putting together a series of good passing sequences on offense.

Saturday's game against the University of Malaysia saw the Lady Panthers start head-to-head, exchanging baskets during a slow first quarter which also saw junior capatin Taylor Pewitt with three fouls on the very last play of the quarter. Despite playing without Taylor for the second quarter, the Lady Panthers were able to put a good deal of pressure on UM and were able to score 12 unanswered points, almost in succession. The press worked beautifully against the UM guards who were unable to deal with the mounting pressure.

The third quarter found UM fighting back and scoring the first 12 points to tie things up at 23-23. The Lady Panthers, who seemed overwhelmed at the start of the second half, slowly worked their way back into the game and kept working on their transition game. A good mix of full and half court presses was able to make the difference as the Lady Panthers used their defense to set the pace for the rest of the game.

Mora Grehl and Lauren McMillan stood out as having played their best game of the season, supported largely by fine performances from Yoon Hei Cho and Larissa Kuscher, though everyone on the team played well. The final result was 39-31. These two back-to-back victories comprise the first 'steak' of the season for the Panthers, who look forward to another two games in the coming week.

Get to know the team... Deb

Deb is a tenth grader, full of energy and nothing but smiles. She is surely the life of the team and easily becomes the epicenter of joking, smiling and gesturing between games. On the court she plays the point guard or wing positions and is quite able, particularly in offensive transition.

Deb, in her first year at ISKL, has developed a good deal in her skills this season and continues to do so. She has a natural ability to get the ball in the basket even if at times her shots seem like variations of NBA moves. :-)

Off the basketball court Deb can be seen playing soccer during first season. Regardless of what she does, Deb can be counted on to have fun and smile a broad smile to anyone with who she comes into contact.

Get to know the team... Shoko

Shoko hails from Japan. A 10th grader new to ISKL Shoko has made an impact with her ability to be flexible and play a variety of positions. Her abilities are such that she can be considered from nearly all positions on the court, depending on the circumstances. She seems to have a natural athleticism and has a 'playground' approach to scrappy play that makes her a good asset for this team.

Shoko's mere presence on the team is a success as she was originally cut during try-outs. After just half an hour, however, she was called back and she has been with us ever since! She normally plays the wing or post position, but is also adept at outside shooting and dribbling.

We look forward to seeing her in action in Taipei is just three weeks. :-)

Get to know the team... Casey

Casey Broussard is in her first year on the team, and is arguably the least experience player on the team. Playing in the post position, Casey has made great strides this year in learning the plays, getting playing time on the court and gaining more experience with situational work.

Casey's attitude has been excellent throughout the season and, in the limited time that she sees on the court, she shows a good deal of motivation to play as hard as she can. The coaches are thrilled with her development throughout the season and look forward to continuing to work with her as the season winds down and in the years to come.