Yavneh defeated Thomas Jefferson 62-57 in overtime Monday evening. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 9-1.
31 minutes and 59 seconds were unbelievably not enough to decide a second nail-biting contest over Thomas Jefferson but the Bulldogs gathered themselves when it was most needed, particularly their two star players, and used the extra 241 seconds to keep on rolling. It was a good thing Yavneh played a four minute overtime because it took them that much time to score at the outset. Senior Captain Miles Pulitzer scored only two field goals but they were both absolutely huge. He opened his team’s scoring mercifully over 4 minutes into the opening period. That ignited a 10-3 Bulldog run that erased a 4-0 deficit and put the home team in the lead after a quarter of play. While Yavneh’s lead would grow to six points in the first half, scoring sensation Elan Kogutt still could not get on track. Meanwhile, TJ speedster Jajuan Thomas was getting his groove on. Yavneh could not pull away and fell into a quagmire of a 19-19 tie at halftime. Neither team shot well but the Bulldogs shot a season low 30% for the half. Kogutt managed 7 points but did it on 3/11 shooting. Both teams were in need of a major energy boost but TJ was wary of an upcoming patented Yavneh run like the one that victimized them in the first meeting. Instead, it was Thomas of Thomas Jefferson that caught fire. Proving he didn’t need Jefferson, the quick off guard delivered a 12 point third quarter performance that left the home squad searching for answers. Several three pointers and a host of Yavneh open floor turnovers later, TJ suddenly lead by double digits at 38-27. Like a flyswatter in a never-ending hornets nest, Sophomore Jake Greif blocked 4 shots but even they could not hold off a team that outscored their previous two quarters in one 8 minute period. An 11 point lead stared the Bulldogs in the face as the final regulation period began but this team had been there before. Now, at home, the Bulldogs showed the confidence of a group that treats second half double digit deficits like a daily rite of passage. Once again, Greif triggered the run with his final blocked shot. From there, Sophomore Jordan Prescott scored six straight on two different types of three point plays, both traditional and non. In a flash, the Bulldogs had struck back and trailed only 42-40. The Comeback Kids had again climbed the mountain, tying the game twice at 42-42 and 44-44 on two “Yavnesque” backdoor cuts. As dumbfounded as Austin Hill Country looked in the previous game, TJ watched Prescott cut to the tie on a nice feed from Kogutt and then also in reverse as Prescott himself found Kogutt. It was almost as if with that pass he had handed the magic back to #23. Kogutt would struggle no more on this night but TJ did not disappear into the night as so many Bulldog comeback victims have to this point. In fact, TJ held the lead at 46-45 with 3:08 to play before missing two critical free throws. Those misses allowed Pulitzer to take center stage with his second gigantic field goal, a weaving finish through traffic for a 47-46 advantage. Kogutt ripped a rebound from the hands of two opposing players next time down the court and set his team up nicely after making two free throws for a 49-46 lead. With only 1:27 remaining, an unlikely three point prayer by TJ’s Victor Saldano was answered and the game was knotted at 49-49. The teams traded baskets in the next half-minute, and as Prescott’s corner three pointer sailed right of the cup at the buzzer, the first Yavneh overtime game of the season was a reality. The Bulldogs flat dominated the extra session. Kogutt, now fully into the game, made a layup and stole a pass for a bucket sandwiched between a pair of huge Greif free throws off of two even bigger traffic rebounds. All at once, a minute into overtime saw Yavneh in control 57-51. Although certainly not for the entire game, Kogutt and Prescott did come alive together down the stretch scoring 26 and 20 points respectively. With Pulitzer’s two defining field goals, Greif and Romaner’s 8 rebounds apiece, and solid defense when it mattered from Reid Cohen and Josh Karnett, Yavneh had once again fended off a ferocious TJ rally just in the nick of time. Also of note, Senior Joe Lerer missed his second straight game with an injured thumb.
Yavneh (9-1) has no time to celebrate with Balch Springs Academy in town Tuesday.
The Kennel Report, now in its sixth season, is written by…
Zack Pollack M&M
LF 5-4