Lady Lions’ are 2024 Jamboree Champions!
March 14, 2024
The AIS-Salzburg girls basketball team came together this past weekend to play their best basketball of the season at the right time, going 4-0 at the tournament and claiming their second basketball Jamboree championship in 3 years. To make the championship victory even sweeter, the girls defeated their season nemesis in the final game: the International Christian School of Vienna Eagles. The teams had two intense matches earlier this season which saw both go into overtime—one of which went into double overtime.
“In the last game against the Eagles, we showed incredible perseverance,” said team captain and tournament-leading scorer, Nastia B. “Despite being behind at half time, we managed to raise our energy level and push back.”
Photo: Despite receiving a lot of extra attention from opposing teams, Nastia B. still managed to lead the tournament in scoring with 56 points in 4 games.
Push back the Lions did, as Victoria “Scrappy” A. and Barb A. were assigned the task of double-teaming the star player #3 from the Eagles who was on fire in the first half. Chanti S. also deserves credit for shutting down #3, often replacing Scrappy to ensure full energy was always directed to the task.
“Number three came to play and everything she put up in the first half was going in,” said Coach Burns. “But once I put Scrappy and Barb on her, it was game over.”
In fact, #3 only scored 3 points in the second half, largely due to Scappy, who got her nickname early on this year for bringing a much-needed physical intensity to the team.
“I just want to say that this team has been one of the best teams and will always remain in my memory,” said Scrappy after the dramatic final game.
Photo: Number 4 from AIS-Salzburg, Victoria “Scrappy” A., keeps an eye on the top scorer from the ICSV Eagles.
The Lions’ defence as a whole was excellent, holding ICSV to zero points in the final quarter to secure the 26-22 victory and the championship. With Nastia B. defending the rim in a triangle with the other two defenders, the Eagles’ offence came to a screeching halt.
Coach Burns was ecstatic after the game: “I am so proud of how the girls came together as a team. There was good ball movement on offence, we minimized our turnovers, and our intensity and effort on defence in the final match were off the charts! Our team just wanted it more.”
“The girls were fierce and fabulous,” said Mrs. Kasberger, who cheered on both Lions’ teams on Saturday. “As for the boys, I don’t think I’ve seen them play as hard as they did the last two games – they should be proud of themselves.”
Photos: Ms. Baehler, Mr. Lichty, Ms. Cerone, and Mrs. Kasberger (top), cheer on the Lions. Leo the Lion (Yehor C.) and the girls’ basketball team (bottom) cheer on the boys’ team.
Unfortunately, the boys’ team was unable to find much chemistry in this final tournament. After losing the Friday opener to QSI Bratislava, followed by a close 18-21 loss to eventual champions, the Vienna International School, their hopes of making the trophy round were squashed. In their final two games, coaches DeWitt and Nuess played many of the younger players on the bench, who brought good energy, propelling the team to their first win over Danube International School, 28-21.
“The boys have improved a lot throughout the whole season,” said a disappointed Coach DeWitt after the tournament. “We have a tremendous amount of talent at the school. If we can learn to keep our emotions under control, we are going to have a lot of success.”
Despite not achieving their goal of winning the tournament, the boys supported the girls’ team in their final match vs. ICSV as they cheered relentlessly throughout the match.
“I have not seen our boys’ team support the girls’ team that enthusiastically in my 20 years coming to this tournament,” said Mrs. Kasberger of the community spirit exhibited by the boys’ team.
Congratulations to Nastia B. and Milo B. for being voted to the all-tournament teams by the coaches and players of the tournament.