By Moses Leos III

In four total games played in the 2014 Hays CISD Classic tournament, the Doncaster Secondary College girls’ basketball team won a grand total of zero games. 

Of those four losses, only one was within 30 points – a game the team had to forfeit 2-0 as they were stuck in abysmal IH-35 traffic. But the demeanor surrounding the team’s experience was far from the norm. 

Instead of frowns and sulks, there were smiles and laughs. Animosity toward opponents was replaced with intrigue and sportsmanship. 

For the Doncaster teams, both the girls and boys squads, the Hays tournament was the start of a three-week basketball tour across the continental United States. 

It’s an experience that was well worth the over 8,000 miles traveled from Melbourne, Australia, all done for the love of the game.

“It’s such a great opportunity, once in a lifetime,” Doncaster girls basketball player Victoria Bollands said. “It’s such a different culture. Both [Australia and America] are western countries, but both are different cultures. Even just the different ways of playing [basketball]. You see the different kinds of styles; it’s incredible.” 

Doncaster, a high school located just outside of Melbourne, began contacting Hays High about participating in the tournament last spring. The school reached out by email to Hays Rebel head girls basketball coach Danny Preuss and assistant boys basketball coach Jason Farrell. 

Preuss said the deal to have Doncaster participate had “been in the works for a while.” But originally, Doncaster was meant to only bring one team. 

“They wanted to bring a boys team, and I said, how about a girls team, too?” Preuss said. “It all worked out.” 

With all the plans set in place, Doncaster set off for Texas on December 2. An 18-hour flight awaited them, with the team arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport at 1:30 p.m. on December 3; it was 3 a.m. Melbourne time to the players.  

After a much needed rest, the teams then packed into vans and departed Dallas at 5 a.m. on December 4. The teams were driven by coaches the four hours from Dallas to Austin and then Buda. 

It was done with one notable caveat – the coaches were driving on the right side of the road, a total change from Australia, where the flow of traffic is on the left side. 

But traffic issues and jet lag couldn’t quell the teams’ desire to hit the court. 

The girls team immersed themselves in the American culture of basketball once on the floor. Several immediate differences were notable. Bollands saw the uniformity, from the way American teams warm up, to the uniforms, where “quite a few [teams] have matching shoes.” 

Doncaster guard Ruby Evans noted the American team’s passion for the game, and that “they don’t fool around.” 

But for Bollands, the big difference was the bond among players on the American teams. She said many Australian basketball players play in club leagues, but don’t often play on the same team unless in school. 

In addition, head girls basketball coach Belinda McGee said funding for high school athletics is vastly different. She said many players fund their passion to play the game.

“We only have a few sport schools that have basketball and tennis,” McGee said. “But it’s not the same level of funding that you have here in the States.” 

And while there were lumps in the road, the Aussies were received by fans and teams alike. It culminated in the girls finale against St. Dominic Savio Friday. Chants of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” from the Smithson Valley girls basketball team filled Graham Gym after every Doncaster bucket.

“That was amazing. We didn’t expect that at all. It was encouraging,” Bolland said. “We wanted to win that game just for them. It was supportive and nice of them.” 

Equally interested in meeting the team, and being gracious hosts, were the Hays Lady Rebels, which faced off against Doncaster on Friday. While Preuss focused on the game, he also understood the teams’ desire to interact with new friends. 

Once on the court, Preuss said the team played “spirited,” keeping up with Hays in the first frame. While the Lady Rebels outlasted Doncaster in the end, Preuss said the game was a “good experience” for the squad.

“It was different. The girls wanted to talk to [the players], they wanted to hear them talk,” Preuss said. “The thing about those girls, this was for the love of the game. They love basketball. It was fun.” 

But not lost on the Doncaster athletes was the opportunity to travel abroad to play the game they love. 

“At our age, we’re still teenagers, we’re still in school,” Evans said. “We get this opportunity to get this chance some people don’t even dream of.”