Yavneh defeated Houston’s Beren Academy 46-23 Friday afternoon in the first semifinal of The Dr. Robert Baruch Teaching Tolerance Tournament. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 2-0 for the third straight season.
For the eighth time in nine tries all-time, Yavneh had no problem with the Beren Academy Stars from Houston. After going 3+ minutes without scoring to open the game, the Bulldogs settled in and coasted to the finish. Those opening three minutes included multiple Yavneh turnovers and a non-injury related bench appearance for Senior sensation David Naxon. However, when Naxon hopped back off the bench, the score was 8-0 in a blink of an eye. Naxon scored all 8 of his points in that short 4 minute stretch that followed, including a ferocious dunk off a backboard pass from fellow Senior Brad Alhadef. Beren committed 14 first quarter turnovers en route to a 16-0 start and a 19-2 opening frame. Yavneh also out-shot their counterparts 47% to 11%. That would be all the Bulldogs needed from their starters on this day, getting the bench valuable minutes early in the season. Sophomore Josh Karnett scored 8 quick points in building the lead to 29-4 just four minutes into the second quarter. The half ended at 29-8 with the Bulldogs controlling the scoreboard, rebounding, and overall field goal shooting percentage. Five minutes into the third quarter, the reappearance of Shimi Wolk took place. After going almost five years between statistics in a fill-in role while a 4th grader, Wolk recorded a turnover and a rebound in his first 30 seconds of game action. Wolk would end the game with his first career basket to close the scoring. Fellow Freshman Nadav Osterreicher also scored his first points as a Bulldog shortly after setting a record for quickest shot attempt in a first appearance (1.4 seconds). Karnett led all scorers with a career-high 12 points.
Yavneh (2-0) will play the winner of a later game between RMHA of Denver and Mc Kinney Christian in the final round most likely Saturday evening. An RMHA victory would mean a tournament final TRI-MATCH after two previous Bulldogs tournament final victories over the Colorado school.
The Kennel Report is written by Zack Pollack.