Kim Young-ok’s Powerful Presence All across the Court

The Woori Bank Hansae got back into the lead, winning four games in a row.

On January 17, the Woori Bank won a 2005 Women’s Korea Basketball League home game with the Shinhan Sbirds by 72-64 at Hoban Gym in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do. The Woori Bank registered five wins and two defeats, returning to the joint first within a day with the Samsung Life Bichumi, which had no game on that day.

After four defeats since the start of the leaque, the Shinhan steeply soured, scoring three wins in a row. But due to the lost game of that day, the team slid from the joint third to the sole fifth, registering three wins and five defeats.

The Woori Bank had 14 less rebounds than its opponent by 24-38, but “superspeed guard” Kim Young-ok scored 21 points, becoming the best scorer of the entire game (five three-point shots, nine assists, six rebounds) and Kelly Miller, a mercenary guard, added 20 points to the team. The amazing combination of the two players accounted for 41 points out of 72, more than half of the total, leading the team to victory.

The Woori Bank reportedly sensed its victory in the last quarter with about two minutes left. The Woori Bank was maintaining its close lead by 61-59 with four minutes left before the end and then Miller managed to approach the basket and cast successful free throws, widening the score gap by 66-59. Afterwards, the Woori Bank gave up a free throw to Jin Mee-Jeong of the Shinhan but again fled for a victory by 68-60 with Kim Young-ok throwing a nice lay-up two minutes and seven seconds before the ending buzzer.

Shinhan’s “twin tower” of Travesa Gant (20 scores, 16 rebounds) and Kang Ji-suk (18 scores, 7 rebounds) fought hard but Shinhan’s 15 fouls which is twice as many as Woori’s seven, proved an obstacle.

Chang Jeon jeon@donga.com