Yavneh defeated HSAA South 56-46 Tuesday night. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 22-8.
Jordan Prescott scored 13 points in 21 minutes and Yavneh showed few if any signs of sluggishness coming off a 13 day layoff in once again handling HSAA South. Almost identical to the first meeting between the two teams, HSAA got off to an early 4-0 lead only to see the Bulldogs explode with a run that would put the game away. A 10-4 first period had Yavneh in the lead but it could have been so much more. Despite the 10 straight points to finish the opening stanza, the Bulldogs had missed six layups including a couple that involved no defensive resistance. Those misses finally found the basket as the second period began thanks to Sophomore firecracker Adam Karnett. A pair of smooth drives to the basket capped by an over-the-head finish preceded a long distance delivery from Prescott for a 19-6 lead. The game was already getting out of hand when HSAA got the not so great idea to try and play man-to-man defense. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong guard tandem to employ that strategy against. Backdoor cutting specialist Sam Kleinman and Rookie Ori Guttman teamed up on a trio of electric defense carving platters. First, Guttman found Kleinman who dished to classmate Adam Steinbrecher for a one-timer hockey-style. The Three Amigos would hook up again in almost identical fashion but not before Guttman somehow found Kleinman in the one available spot that he could put the pass. That remarkable Princeton-style offensive explosion by the youth movement busted the game wide open at 31-12 for halftime. The Bulldogs were controlling the game by out shooting HSAA 51-27%, out-rebounding them 19-9, and dishing out 14 assists. The icing on the cake was only 2 Yavneh turnovers which has been the key to victories all season long.
Prescott soared out of the locker room with two straight triples for a 39-12 advantage. While resting many of the regular players, HSAA caught fire mainly because the Bulldogs started turning the ball over. An extended 21-4 run for HSAA still left them 10 points short to end the third period. Yavneh’s post magic would respond to the challenge. The starting unit began the final quarter with a concerted effort to get shots in the paint. In fact, on the very first possession they attempted five shots within a foot of the basket area. While none of them went in, it was clear that the game would be salted away inside. Prescott found Jake Greif on a nice feed, and repeated that the following trip to Itai Guttman on the other side of the lane. A third Prescott pass found Guttman for a tough three-point play finish and a 52-40 lead. HSAA never seriously threatened again. Nine players played double-digit minutes and nine players scored. Leading the way was Prescott with 13 points and 8 assists. Karnett had a perfect night from both the field and the free throw line in adding 10 points of his own. Itai Guttman scored 9 points to go along with his massive 13 rebound night.
Yavneh (22-8) did another great job of beating a team they had already solved earlier in the season. HSAA made several adjustments this time around but did not figure on the precision of that guard unit against their man defense. Next up, however, the Bulldogs will have a chance Monday to avenge a loss to HSAA North-B. As the season progresses and winds down toward Sarachek 2012 all signs point to a strengthening team by the day and week. A series of questions still remain: Can Prescott perfect the balance between scoring and distributing to rally enough threat for the national scale? Can the Post trio produce enough to draw serious attention by the defenses? Will the guard depth be able to play effectively, aggressively, yet mistake-free and wear down opponents in New York at the end of March?
ONLY TIME WILL TELL!!!!
The Kennel Report, now in its eighth season, is written by…
Zack Pollack M&M
TL-BW