A SWISH GOODBYE: V-BOYS BASKETBALL SENIOR NIGHT

by Noah Lindsay (Grade 12)

On Tuesday, the 20th of January, the spotlight was set on three players during the KAS Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team’s match against I-shou International School: Spencer Lee, Arthur Ting, and Casper Lee. With this match being the last home game of their incredibly eventful high school basketball careers, these three gave it their all and reminded everyone why and how they got so far, as well as putting up a very solid matchup against the opposing team and securing a winning score of 48-23.

Though I’ve only seen a limited amount of this team’s matches in the past, watching this match made me regret not coming to see them every chance I had. The chemistry was undeniable, as everyone fit into the grander picture of a collective unit that moved fast, unpredictably, and with purpose. The three seniors were starting, and the second that ball landed in their hands, their familiarity with it and the deep nuance of their style was blatantly obvious.

Senior Captain, Power Forward/Center, #8 Casper Lee commanded the ball around like he was its boss and it answered to him. He moved with precision, using his body and keen sense of spacing to assist his teammates and consistently position himself in the right place to make those needed shots. It’s obvious he’s the backbone of the team, picking up the slack and charging up and down the court like his physics grade depends on it, even if it does often render him frequently injured.

The vibe of the playstyle/role he played was reminiscent of a hard-working dad getting up early in the morning to lay bricks so his kids could go to a good school. Tactful, bold, and effective without all the bells and whistles.

Senior Captain, Shooting Guard, #5 Spencer Lee is the human embodiment of “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. Incredibly dynamic and fast, he places his teammates like pieces on a chessboard precisely where they need to be to make the play.

He is without a doubt the shot-caller, and is completely in the moment and does everything in his power to get his team that victory. When he made a three-pointer during this match (which he’s known to do frequently), the entire crowd erupted into a roar of excitement - an energy level only comparable to that of Spencer himself at any given moment he’s on the court. He is, as his teammate Aiden Chen (the really tall one) puts it, the team mom, constantly caring for and protecting his fellow teammates, while also buying them Macu when they win.

Point Guard, #4 Arthur Ting is a blast to watch play, even if it does seem like he’s there because the team gives him community service hours to do so. He has incredible handles and glides up and down the court like an ice-skater. If Spencer and Casper are the mother and father, Arthur is like the nonchalant son. He makes shots so smooth that it insults the enemy team, and moves through their defenses with impeccable ease. Despite his demeanor, he’s clearly very passionate about the sport and the team, constantly passing and positioning himself

in meticulous ways. His defense challenges even the best players, and though his role in the team isn’t as in-your-face apparent, he is as I would put it, the giant invisible helping hand; an undeniably refined, stylish, and sturdy link in the chain that is the KAS Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team.

The real poetry in motion was seeing these players complement not only each other, but the younger players on the team, who moved with an incredible amount of poise and skill. Though some might not be as refined as the seniors yet, every single one of them that I saw play displayed an impressive amount of promise, effort, athletic ability, and are going to, without a doubt, take good care of the team once the seniors are no longer there.

Coach Gerber’s Speeches:

This is where the night got sentimental. Despite being some of the hardest-working and stoic people in the entire school, the members know how to show one another appreciation and respect. While giving away the snacks, posters, and flowers as the KAS athletic department always does for graduating senior athletes, Coach Gerber gave a heart-warming speech to each senior. The highlights were, for me, him calling Arthur the Timothy Chalamet of the team.

(Arthur personally doesn’t see it), reminiscing about times when he taught Spencer in the second grade, where Spencer would always argue with his classmates, and finally praising Casper’s rebounding, saying “he makes rebounding look like an art”, and then circling back to poke light-hearted fun at Casper’s ever-returning back problems. Working closely with the seniors for such a long time, it’s clear that Coach Gerber has developed a soft spot for them - not just as players - but as people. To know their personalities and how that bleeds into or translates into how they play into the court is integral to utilize every last bit of potential out of them, which Mr. Gerber has done phenomenally.

As a KASPER exclusive, each of the three seniors shared a personal anecdote pertaining to their experience at Senior Night and being on the team in general. Here’s what each of them had to say:

Casper Lee:

“To be honest, this basketball season has been very difficult. Anyone who’s been watching our games knows the skill gap is huge compared to previous years. Although this was one of our few victories, it was the happiest one I‘ve ever won. Looking at my teammates who are the same age as me, and the younger players who will be senior next year, I feel really gratified and look forward to their future growth. If u want a more 67 quote: One of the worst and best performances I’ve ever seen Spencer have in a game. Got blocked 5 times but still eager to score. Very impressive.”

Arthur Ting:

“Senior Night made me realize how lucky I was to be part of this team. The support from teammates and coaches was unreal. Grateful I got to finish it with a W.”

Spencer Lee:

*It is worth it to note the word “like” was omitted 13 times throughout this quote, but other “Spencerisms” were kept in. “I had so much support, I had so much love, and I had so many opportunities to be the captain of this team. And I felt like being the captain of this team gave me so much leadership as well. I feel like Casper felt the same way, but leadership is a big role for team sports especially, because, you know, if you don't have team chemistry, you don't have team spirit in general, you're not going to be successful at all. And I felt like that was a big role for me, and I felt like that gave me a lot of pressure. But either way, it made me a better person, and it made me a better player, and it made me a better captain all in general."

"It just made me a better person. Yeah, you know what I mean? Like, I just felt like being a senior, being a captain, and also on senior night, I feel like I had so much support. I had so many friends coming over, and I appreciate Noah, I appreciate Jasper, I appreciate Nicholas, man, I appreciate Tiffany - I just appreciate everyone coming to my game. I just felt like so much love. I can't really explain how much love I got from that game. Like, I can't really explain how much people cared about that game. It's a different feeling, and I will always remember that. I just felt like I had the best time with the Senior Night."

"Finishing my basketball career was really tough because I worked so hard for this specific sport. I worked 8 years of my frickin’ damn life just to play in varsity. Like, I started in what? The sixth grade? No, it was the fifth grade. I started playing basketball in the fifth grade seriously. And then like, I was just like, bro like just playing basketball because I was passionate about it and then it just hit hard when I was a senior playing my last game in KAS because all that I worked for is done, bro. It is, lowkey, a little emotional like I literally almost cried for that game man. But yeah I just like, I worked hard for the sport, and it just sucks I’m not going to play it organized

anymore.”

Authors note: I consider myself incredibly lucky to be given the opportunity to write this article about some of the most athletic, funny, and genuine people I know. Hearing them talk about their struggles being on the court, yet powering through and performing at such a high caliber is insanely inspiring. In their element, these people become unrecognizable vehicles of precision and strength, simultaneously strategizing and performing at great standards for an insane amount of time. Their performances during Senior Night were displays of their relentless effort, and though they still have the mountain which is AISA to conquer next weekend, once they put

their basketball shoes away and stop attending KAS team practices, their legacies, their places, and their roles will be left vacant and remembered in the KAS Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team.