Basketball Teams Start Strong
The basketball season is off to a promising start at AIS.
The Varsity boys won three consecutive games heading into the holidays, culminating in an exciting double overtime victory over Fellowship Christian Academy on December 15. Dedicated basketball supporter Catalina Scott said, "Our boys played so well and so hard. At the end of the game, our opponents were stunned- they couldn't believe they'd been beaten. We just wore them out." Led by a strong group of juniors, including starters Manuel Grünenfelder, Max Hunt, Matan Katz, Christian Mustroph, Arnaud Pages, and Mohamed Tarawally, Coach Quentin Moore has big plans for his team.
The Varsity girls won a tense and exciting victory over Mt. Zion on December 9. Lead by Coach Darius Scott, the team held on to a razor thin lead going into the last minute of play by relying on the strong play of starters Ana de Olano (sophomore), Claire Giblin (junior), Ashley Pennington-McGraw (senior), Lucy Pettitt-Schieber (junior) and Madison Scott (freshman).
The potential of the Junior Varsity girls is apparent to coach and fans alike. Coach Gregg Albright, the athletics director, pointed out that "they are getting better every day and coming into their own as a team." Coach Scott, who played professionally as a Harlem Globetrotter, is also coaching these girls and has identified a strong starting lineup in Ariana Fabian, Leah Hampton, Torryn Jennings-Hill, Chika John, and Kelsey Sanborn.
The Junior Varsity boys saw some very tough competition at the beginning of the season but expect their dedication and hard work to come through for them in the new year. Under the direction of Coach Freddy Parker, the boys are pulling together and enjoying the game. The team has benefited from the contributions of its players.
The A team (Middle School) girls are a solid group of players under the leadership of Coach Michelle Hibbert. Their season has just begun and the team has already logged a win, with Lindsey Sanborn scoring 22 points. The skill and enthusiasm of the team bodes well for girls' basketball in the coming years.
The A team boys are a strong team, too, with bright potential for the season and beyond. Coach Nathaniel Ben Haiem is enjoying working with this bunch of motivated, quick and skillful players. Their only game so far was a close loss to Green Forest, one of the toughest opponents they'll face this season. Coach Albright is expecting great things from the team.
The season is in full swing now. Don't miss out on the action—go to www.aischool.org/athletics to check the schedule, then come out and support your teams!
Season tickets are still available for $25 and individual tickets are on sale at the door for $5 (adults) and $2 (students). Go Eagles!