Dragon Dispatch: Winter Season Wrap Up
Defined by Teamwork and Positivity, Varsity Basketball Season Finishes Up Strong!
Both of our Varsity Basketball teams wrapped up their seasons recently! For their final game, our Varsity Boys team traveled to take on Gaynor, the number 1 seed in the AIPSL B Division Bracket. Speyer won the opening tip and started the game by pinging the ball around on offense. Gaynor picked up their defensive intensity, swarming the Dragons each time they touched the ball. Speyer was quick on their feet and pivoted to move the ball to avoid getting trapped, yet the Dragons went into the half down 24-7.
During the second half, Speyer played with energy and kept their heads up. The Dragons attacked the hole on offense and created great looks around the rim. On defense, Speyer was pressuring the ball and forcing deflections. As the half went on, Speyer gained more confidence, knocking down a few three-pointers and making contested shots. When the final whistle sounded, Speyer was defeated 53-26.
This was the fourth season in a row that the Varsity Boys Basketball team has made the playoffs! We are so proud of all of our players, who worked hard each practice and grew as a team throughout the season. We also want to thank Coach Stith for all of his hard work too!
Unfortunately, the last game for our Varsity Girls Basketball team was cancelled. We are so proud of them — the girls came to practice each week ready to develop their skills and learn the game of basketball. At each game, the team displayed amazing attitudes and showed stellar sportsmanship. Huge shout-out to all of our players and we also want to thank both Coach Segal and Coach Eismont for a terrific season!
Highlighted by Teamwork and Positivity, JV Basketball Season Comes to a Close!
Our Speyer JV Girls showed incredible determination and heart in their final game, a match-up against The School at Columbia. Facing an aggressive and fast-paced team, Speyer held firm despite trailing 2-0 after the first quarter and 6-0 at halftime. Rather than letting the score shake their confidence, the girls came out in the third quarter with renewed energy, tightening their defense and pushing hard on offense to close the gap to 8-4. Throughout the game, they maintained outstanding sportsmanship, even as several fouls were called and a few players bravely worked through minor injuries and setbacks.
In the final stretch, Speyer continued to battle with grit and teamwork yet the game ended with a 9-4 loss. Most importantly, our Dragons never once lost their team spirit. Their resilience, positivity, and support for one another truly defined the game — and the entire season! The girls practiced hard, grew as a team, and developed their basketball skills! Huge thanks to Coach Koralewski for an awesome season!
Speyer JV Boys also faced off against a talented School at Columbia team for their final game. From the opening whistle, Speyer showed the ability to dribble while being pressured and made some great passes. Despite this, School at Columbia's height made it challenging for Speyer to generate these opportunities. As the game progressed, Speyer settled down and started to move the ball quickly, connecting on a few of their shots. On defense, Speyer did an excellent job guarding their person and attacking the offensive glass. Yet, as the final whistle blew, Speyer was defeated.
Throughout the season, the JV Boys team came to practice ready to work hard and develop their skills. While the results were not always in our favor, the team had a terrific attitude and with each passing game, the students improved and always looked for positives — and we also want to thank Coach Renato for another terrific season! GO DRAGONS!
