Sunset 40-35

Yavneh defeated Sunset Public High School 40-35 Tuesday night. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 8-3.

Streaking towards December, Yavneh is catching all the breaks at just the right time. Despite leaving another 12 points on the free throw line, the Bulldogs scratched out another tooth and nail seesaw contest behind Sophomore Josh Lynn’s go-ahead three pointer with 3:37 to play. The victory finally breaks a 3-game losing streak to Sunset dating back to 2007 and makes it 5 wins in a row for the New Look Bulldogs.

Sunset met Freshman Adam Karnett early in the first period on the short end of a nice-looking jump stop move to put the Bulldogs in front first 2-0. However, Yavneh’s cold shooting from the field and still suffering from Free Throw Brickitis (FTB) surged Sunset into the lead at 9-5 after eight minutes. Following Monday’s opponent passing drill via the rim, Sunset followed suit by grabbing the first 5 of their 14 offensive rebounds in the first quarter of play.

The deficit grew to 13-7 just minutes into the second stanza but Yavneh enjoyed watching a mid-game opponent drought instead on this night. The Bulldogs executed a deliberate 7-0 run over six minutes of the second period to methodically chip back into the game by halftime. Elan Kogutt and Jordan Prescott once again shined against the man-to-man defense of a team clearly too athletic for their own good. Each player executed pinpoint backdoor passes to the other during that key run and Prescott added the corner triple for the lead. The 16-15 lead at the half belonged to the home team despite getting more than doubled on the glass and being outshot 35%-23%.

The game teetered back and forth throughout the third quarter. While the Bulldogs were relying on Kogutt and Prescott playing their best team basketball of the season, particularly with each other, Sunset continued to get three opportunities to score per trip. It was almost unfair that Yavneh had to score on their one shot per possession while their opponents benefited from no less than two shots per possession true to the Thanksgiving spirit. It was hard to tell at times if the crowd was more relieved with a Yavneh defensive rebound or a made free throw, each of which were rarities this week.

Still leading 26-25, Junior Kevin Sulski hit Kogutt with another great pass to start the final period. Then, when Freshman Itai Guttman scooped up a pass and deposited the basketball off glass from straight-away, the Bulldogs had their biggest lead of 30-25. True to the resilient form this week has brought, though, Sunset reeled off the next 5 points to tie. Unbelievably, 2 of those 5 points were actually a made first attempt by Sunset, however unnecessary that was. Just like Monday, a late tie had Yavneh’s winning streak in serious peril. To the rescue, however, appeared Sophomore three point specialist Josh Lynn. The hysteria that followed allowed Freshman Adam Karnett to pick-pocket a Sunset guard, turn on the jets, and get right to the basket. The Bulldogs would not trail again despite 6 more missed free throws down the stretch. The key play in maintaining the lead was clearly a great find of Kogutt by Junior Jake Greif for a sealing layup out of the pressure defense.

Kogutt led all scorers with 16 points and 5 assists, while Prescott finished with 11 points. The Bulldogs benefited from poor opponent three point shooting for the second straight night (3/24 combined) and once again survived 12 more missed free throws (33 last 2 games) and 14 more offensive rebounds allowed (35 last 2 games).

Yavneh (8-3) will once again have to raise its level vs HSAA on Monday to continue their winning streak. HSAA is another team that has won multiple games in a row against the Bulldogs, and they have feasted on the very weaknesses that have threatened to dismount Yavneh in the last couple of games.

The Kennel Report, now in its seventh season, is written by…

Zack Pollack M&M

MWJR? 3-9