Hoops in the Land of Yao Ming

In my hometown of Whitefish, MT, schools compete in basketball during the frigid winter months from December to March. This makes sense in an environment where being outside for extended periods of time could lead to hypothermia. However, here in Kunming, The Spring City, our winter temperatures resemble those more like a Montana autumn. However, we do not receive all the moisture Montana faces during the Fall. Add this type of weather to the fact that most schools do not have comfortable, indoor gymnasiums, and one might understand why basketball is more of a Fall/Winter activity here in China.

Recently, the KIA girls' and boys' basketball teams competed in an all-city tournament. It took place during the Thanksgiving weekend and the week that followed. While neither team fared all that well, both teams put up some valiant efforts, the boys team losing one game on a last-second free throw and another in overtime. As I watched, it reminded me of my coaching days, standing on the sideline, watching for glimmers of brilliance rather than worrying about the scoreline. The athletes always care more about the final outcome, and I do not want anyone to think that I did not care, but when I saw that epiphany of understanding, when something clicked, that moment makes coaching worth every ounce of sweat poured out.
Above, Louisa, a freshman, finds herself surrounded by athletes from the host school, Kunming Number 10 Middle School. "Zhong Xue," or Middle School is the term given to schools we would refer to as Senior High. With "Da Xue," or Big School, refering to college/university, middle best represents the heirarchy of ages within the Chinese education system. Our girls dropped this game. However, as is the case in most tournaments in the States, a school will not usually host a tournament unless they stand a fairly good chance of winning it. Number 10 Middle School outclassed much of the competition at this event, including our undermanned girls squad.
Audrey, one of only two seniors on the team, actually prefers running (track and cross-country). However, being a fairly gifted athlete, she uses basketball to stay in shape and to break up the monotany of the school day. Audrey comes from Texas and will be graduating from KIA this Spring. I call her the Texas Princess, and while I can tell she does not particularly care for the term, like true royalty, she takes the moniker with a smile and does not let it affect her warm personality.
Calling Chile (and the States, sort of) home, Stephanie represents the junior class on the girls' team. Her first sport, being from South America, is soccer. However, like Audrey, Stephanie uses basketball to stay in shape and to provide a social outlet during the busy academic day. Here, Stephanie drives down the left side of the lane toward the hoop versus Number 10 Middle School. While Stephanie and her sisters (Michelle, who graduated last year, and Camilla, who is in 8th grade) would be considered small, they all compete very large, almost as if no one told them that they should not be able to push around their larger opponents. Quick with a soft smile, Stephanie hides her fierceness behind a little smirk.

While our girls played some nice games, our boys were certainly more competitive. With the schools new Athletic Director, Dave Ericson, as coach, the Knights (our schools mascot) forced everyone of their opponents to respect our ethnic diversity. After spending a week in Thailand with parathyphoid, Mr. Ericson molded these boys into a cohesive unit that competed with everyone. Above, Merwin "The Malyasian Wonder" steals a defensive rebound. Our team was physically shorter than all their opponents, but they made up for it with tenacity and quick hands.

Alex and Josh, two of three seniors on the team hustle back on defense. Alex has many nicknames, most refering to some video game, but I call him Sonic the Hedge Hog. Much like the video game character of the same name, Alex performs everything on the court in fast-forward. While he does have a tendancy toward ankle injuries, he also competes with a strong heart, allowing him to play through large amounts of pain. Josh, who began the year as the team manager, actually prefers tennis. However, his competitive nature cannot keep him off the court. Along with his athletic abilities, Josh was a finalist in KIA's Science Fair as well.

While sports here look much the same as in the States, the administrative end is much different. As the only international school in Kunming, we do not have close affiliations with any of the Chinese schools. Therefore, scheduling games can be a bit tricky. Add this to the fact that high school is the most difficult time in the educational lives of Chinese students and sometimes it is a wonder that our school can find games at all. However, watching these student athletes brought me back to my joy of athletics, and while I personally did not coach, the games reminded me of what I miss. Hopefully, we can start a true soccer program this Spring.