Michelle Chandler knew from the start of the Korea girls basketball season she would struggle with last year’s point guard Sarah Eades having transferred to Seoul American.

So, the Daegu American coach turned to a forward, Jamie Cheniault, for a solution — and the sophomore has responded with flying colors.

Cheniault has averaged 14.5 points in the past two games, both victories for the Warriors. The most recent victory came Friday, 52-30 at Yongsan International-Seoul, where Cheniault had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 steals.

“We knew that point guard was going to be a problem this year,” Chandler said. “But I knew I could use Jamie in different spots. She scored 17 points running the point.”

In her time in a Warriors uniform, Cheniault has been the laid-back, quiet type, Chandler said. “But she’s deceivingly fast and deceivingly quick. When she turns it on with the ball, she’s hard to stop.”

Cheniault was joined by freshman Kristina Bergman and junior Ashley Smith in the double-figure scoring and rebound columns. Bergman had 10 points and 13 rebounds to go with 10 steals, while Smith had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“We only have one senior. I’m keeping most everybody,” Chandler said. “I’m hopeful for next year. We’re moving in the right direction.”

Coupled with a 47-25 victory Wednesday over Korea International, the Warriors (5-4) moved over .500 for the first time this season. After losing their first four games, Daegu has won five straight — a most unusual winning streak, since the first three victories and the last two were separated by the Christmas break.

“Trying to get them back into the game stuff” was the toughest part about scraping off the rust, Chandler said. The Warriors had two home games scheduled Jan. 11 and 12, but bad weather forced opponents Korea Kent Foreign and International Christian-Uijongbu to stay home.

Senior guard Moore better, back in Cougars’ lineup

After sitting for nearly a year with a torn knee ligament, senior point guard Dawn Moore has returned to the lineup for the Osan American girls basketball team and already has contributed.

Moore posted a near triple-double — 12 points, seven rebounds and eight steals — in her first game back, a 43-37 overtime loss to Seoul Foreign on Jan. 9.

In four games since her return, Moore has averaged nine points and the Cougars have improved to 9-4, the latest victory 43-20 Friday over International Christian-Pyongtaek.

“She’s still being a little careful,” coach Bruce Barker said of the knee, injured Feb. 22 in a Far East Class A tournament playoff game against Matthew C. Perry. Moore’s return “makes it a lot easier for the rest of us.”

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