Yavneh defeated Lucas Christian 53-29 Thursday evening. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 11-1.
If the two knocks on the ’07-’08 Yavneh team are a reliance on their leading scorer and a lack of being tested on the road, then Thursday night went a ways in indicating that this might indeed be a special team. Senior David Naxon struggled all night in still tallying a game-high 24 points and the Bulldogs overcame an unfriendly environment to earn at least a share of the best start in team history. Naxon needed a little help from his friends Thursday and he got it. Junior William Zalstein had by far his best game of the season in recording 10 assists, 8 rebounds, and 7 steals. The Bulldogs started quickly as they rushed out to a 15-6 first quarter lead. Both teams played sluggishly with multiple early turnovers. Lucas was able to get some great looks at the basket but both teams would miss easy inside opportunities all night. Yavneh would extend the lead all the way to 21-6 partway through the second quarter. Naxon was able to dominate a short sub-section of the game to boost the lead. Lucas Christian would bounce back with a 15-4 run of their own, however, to get back in the game. Those inside looks started to fall for Lucas’ Spurgin and his teammates. With Naxon struggling and on the bench towards the end of the first half, Senior Brad Alhadef and Freshman Elan Kogutt stepped up to combine for 14 first half points and spring the lead back to 11 at the half. The 7-0 Yavneh run to end the half served as the end to a game that was never again close. Again, Yavneh had trouble keeping an opponent off the offensive glass but settled down in the second half. The lead grew to 21 in the third quarter and the game turned quite ugly. Yavneh missed multiple break-away layups but took complete control in the early fourth quarter. With the lead at 51-23, Naxon took a hard foul as he attempted to finish on a fast break. He popped up, sank three of four free throws (technical included), and wisely called it a night. The 9/20 shooting performance was surely his poorest of the season but still managed to achieve another double-double (10 rebounds). Alhadef finished with 12 points to carry the rest of the scoring load for Yavneh. Zalstein’s performance was refreshing as he played 26 solid minutes and was able to distribute effectively. Spurgin led Lucas Christian with 13 points.
Yavneh (11-1) will play Dallas Academy Tuesday night before taking a couple weeks off for the break. The Bulldogs handled Dallas Academy just last week in the teams’ first meeting of the season.
The Kennel Report is written by Zack Pollack
CHASING HISTORY
This year’s 2007-2008 yavneh bulldogs are now just 1 win away from the best start in yavneh history. They are chasing the 2000-2001 team led by the likes of noam scott, sam fine, david Abrams, and sophomores itzy ribald, gavi wolk, and joseph belleli. They lost their second game after starting 11-1.
At 11-1, the 2007-2008 bulldogs play dallas academy next Tuesday evening.
On December 7, 2000, 11-1 Yavneh lost a heartbreaker to Mesquite High School’s JV 59-58. David Abrams missed on a big free throw in the final seconds and Joseph Belleli’s halfcourt desperation heave fell off the iron at the buzzer. The loss wasted a 43 point performance from Itzy Ribald, including 6/10 three pointers. The 11-1 record was the best standing start in Yavneh history until this season. The 07-08 will look to break that record Tuesday.