Being part of our school’s under-19 basketball team and competing in the ISSO tournament in Hyderabad was an incredible experience. We lost the first two matches, but we won the third one, which lifted our spirits. The tournament gave me the chance to develop my skills, work as part of a team, and learn from both victories and losses.

LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
Through this tournament, I recognized my strengths in teamwork and staying calm under pressure during matches. However, I also saw areas where I could improve, such as my shooting accuracy, which I will focus on in future practice sessions. There are some other techniques which I can improve upon such as giving screens and making accurate cuts.

LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills
The matches were challenging, especially against stronger teams such as Shri Ram, but they pushed me to improve my defensive skills. Playing at a competitive level helped me learn new strategies and ways to handle tough situations on the court. The experience and effort is more important and valuable than the result.

LO4 – Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience
Preparing for the tournament required weeks of practice and dedication. Even after losing the first two matches, our team stayed motivated to give our best in the third game. This perseverance helped us end the tournament on a positive note with a win. Also, I showed commitment such as regularly waking up early every day during the tournament and also persistently practicing in school before the tournament.

LO5 – Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively
Basketball is a team sport, and this tournament emphasised how important it is to work together. Our team communicated well on and off the court, and supported each other during tough moments. This collaboration helped us stay united, even when results didn’t go as planned. We had to compliment each other strengths and weaknesses. For instance, some of us were good at rebounding and some of us were good at taking fast-break layups. So we utilised such opportunities to score some extra baskets during the game. Players in our team were constantly substituted – giving each one of us a chance to play and collaborate with others.