AS THE SHOT CLOCK HITS ZERO: VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL SENIOR NIGHT

by Geneva Chang (Grade 11)

Earlier this week, five seniors–Worthing Bailey, Sonia Hsiao, Tiffany Hou, Cindia Liu, and Rena Lin– reached the end of their journey on the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team, stepping off their home court with one last friendly match against our teachers here at KAS. The team played hard, and though we ended up losing by a few points, it was a sentimental conclusion to this season. 

Last season, we said goodbye to our only senior, Renee Huang. We missed her, but the overall dynamics and chemistry of the team remained. Now, as we prepare to send five seniors off, though, we know there is going to be turbulence moving forward as a team.

There will be new players, and we will continue to grow, but losing five players–mainly starters– at a time would be difficult for any team, especially since many of the seniors have been on the team for 3-4 years. As our team heads to the AISA tournament in Seoul this weekend, I hope we can fulfill a memorable ending for our remarkably talented and hardworking seniors. 

When I joined basketball my freshman year, our Junior Varsity team didn’t win a lot, but we had a ton of fun just playing together. It’s also what first built my friendship with Worthing Bailey. Since then, we’ve played two more seasons on the Varsity team together, and I feel safe knowing our team has her to defend our basket on the court.

Worthing Bailey plays with an intensity that matches each opponent she faces; she often goes up against centers taller and bigger than her, but her determination and focus allow her to still consistently secure rebounds and play strong defense. Her steely expressions and aggressive playing may scare opposing teams, but once in a while, her smile comes out–whether when apologizing for knocking someone over or seeing a teammate score–, and we all see the sweet angel inside that I know so well. 

“It’s been good. It’s a good way to make friends with people in different grades," Worthing said. She also reflected that our team has to work on mentality and maintain consistent energy throughout the games, “We always have less energy going into the 3rd quarter. It’s important that we go into games with confidence.” She concluded talking about the “strong school spirit” that has marked her sports experience over the past few years, and wished the team the best of luck next year. 

You might know Sonia Hsiao better from her time on the soccer or volleyball teams, and though this is the first time she’s played basketball since freshman year, her speed and agility still deem her an extremely valuable asset to the team. She is the first one back on every fast break, ready to receive the ball and make the layup, earning her the nickname “little Turbo” from Coach Jasmine.

She plays with an intriguing ferocity I wouldn’t have expected based on her funny and outgoing personality off the court, and her jump shots always touch nothing but net. She always matches my energy when we’re on the bench together, our cheering and clapping much more animated than anybody else’s, and we all aspire to someday hustle back as efficiently as she does. 

Tiffany Hou, is one of the most versatile players on the team. She switches constantly between playing power forward and center during games, focusing on catching rebounds and making them. Yet, when opponent teams start pressing, she always runs back up to the top to assist her teammates, dribbling with ease and making good passes. She is also incredibly consistent, building up our score with drives and actively playing strong defense, not afraid to hold her ground against opposing players.

She might seem intimidating at times, but that goes for every athlete once they concentrate on the game, tuning out all other sounds and distractions. As a senior, she has led our team to see growth and improvement, pushing us to give our all, even if sometimes the score isn’t where we’d like it to be. As Coach Jasmine puts it, Tiffany is the “big mama” of the team, and she will be missed next season. 

Cindia Liu is not a player you should underestimate. You might hear her laughing with her friends during practice, but once she is on the court in a game, she becomes an intimidating force. When she defends, she manages to focus on the player and the ball simultaneously, which is how she easily blocks opposing shots and layups.

Coach Jasmine called her our team’s “Ice Queen”–and no, it’s not because she’s always asking for the ice spray–, which just goes to show her familiarity and comfort with the game, built from hours and years of consistent practice.

Her four years on the Varsity team have given her solid experience, enabling her to become the resilient, consistent, and intense athlete that she is today. As she charges down the court, effortlessly dribbling the ball like it’s second nature, we have faith that she will make a firm pass or a good shot, because that’s the reliable teammate that she is. 

Finally Rena Lin might not be the loudest or the most talkative but she is always laser-focused during games, looking for openings to drive or maybe even shoot a three. During practice, whether she’s attempting no-look passes or quietly hating the suicides, you can always tell that she loves to play.

Her free throws are scarily accurate, even in games where she seems to have almost no energy left. We will always remember the time Rena blocked three shots in the fourth quarter of the game against MAK, and also the time she scored a three in the last few seconds that won us our first game of the season against ICA.

In the best ways possible, Rena manages to surprise the coaches and us–and sometimes, I think, herself–spontaneously, proving her to be the talented athlete that she is. 

Authors note: After watching and playing with these seniors the past two seasons, they are the backbone of our team. It is rare to have this many seniors on a sports team, but their performance on the court has truly been an inspiration. Without them next year, our team will enter a rebuilding season, especially as we say goodbye to two of our power forwards and our beloved center. That said, seniors, we will miss having you guys at practice and playing with you.