Yavneh defeated Irving THE Highlands 75-34 Tuesday night. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 24-3 (9-0).
Despite 5/16 free throw shooting and 19 turnovers, Mason Schwaber’s Double-Double combined with double-figure scoring from Tyler Winton and Tom Oster were enough to run the Blazers off their home floor Tuesday. That floor, home to so many district tilts between the Blazers and the Bulldogs since rejoining TAPPS, saw the final contest between the two teams on a district level for at least the next three years. And for the fans of Irving, Texas that may not produce all that many tears after the Red-and-Black exploded for 28 points in the first period alone in this contest. Fresh off a wellness retreat weekend at the Texas State Capitol, Tyler C Winton came back shot out of a cannon. A quick pair of steals produced a 4-0 lead with some help from wingman classmate Jonah Eber. Another pilfer went to Ben Rael and back to Winton for more points while Eber and a third member of the class Mason Schwaber hooked up to dissect the Highlands pressure defense. While Winton found Junior transfer Jason Prager a short time later in transition for a 10-3 lead, it was his ridiculous 4 thefts in less than three minutes that absolutely stole the show. Eber had no problem getting in on the action to burglarize the Blazers on another occasion and produce a 14-3 SuperBowl-esque margin. A 5th steal made McBuckets seem more like McHijack as he found Schwaber for this back-end finish. It was an absolute turnover convention for the Blazers just miles from the DFW Airport for any tourists that wanted to get a photo opp. 13 giveaways were the final tally in the first period alone while Winton racked up the 5 steals as well as 5 assists in a thrilling nearly eight minutes of action. The last thing the home team needed was the Noah Ohayon Comeback Tour but that is exactly what they got to end the opening stanza. Eber set up a dazzling Pick-and-RollHayon finish that will be used at summer camps later this year as a tutorial. Junior Elisha Klein produced another Ohayon gem finish on a great out-of-bounds feed before the quarter had expired for a 28-11 edge. As it was, Yavneh was off and rolling its way to a 9th district victory in as many tries this season but don’t tell that to Jonah Eber. Going to the Way-Back Machine, the Senior do-everything all-world player fired up Freshman memories with a ThrEber spectacular. The line drive missile from a wing destination nearly took off the entire basket as it scorched its way into the cup. Eber followed suit with an offensive rebound and an assist to Ohayon for a second-chance monster score for a third bucket. Tom Oster’s electrifying night was just beginning with a pick-pocket swipe and dazzling finish at the rim for one of only three second-period Blazer turnovers (had 13 in the opening period) Reece Parker added a mid-range hit for 46-17 and Avery Levy followed the shot of a very close family member to make it a half-century of offense for the Bulldogs in Half Numero Uno. The 50-21 edge on the scoreboard were bolstered by a 20% shooting advantage from the field and the 16 forced turnovers.
The Seniors picked up right where they left off after halftime as Winton snagged a pair of offensive rebounds and found Eber for a feed to Schwaber for a quick basket. No play more exemplified this night or season for that trio of team captains surging to the finish of their high school careers. Eber stole another pass and found Prager, who OH By the Way, finished a perfect 4/4 night and once again quietly did whatever it took for this team to succeed. Hillel Baynash was the author of a Parker text book jump-stop finish for more points. The Oster three point drought didn’t just end in this highly significant third period but instead served as an absolute engulfment. Irving’s University of Alabama contingency were screaming Roll Tide as the Junior drilled a triple from the corner and then one from further south on the arc, each shot contacting barely anything but the bottom of the net. With the outcome of this game simply a running clock formality as it progressed in a briskly moving second half, one play that will go on the season highlight reel occurred to start the final stanza. With the score already 68-27, Ohayon connected with Junior Nik Krasovitsky who rifled a majestic pass to Oster for the 70th point of the game for the Bulldogs. The quick exchanges exemplified the passing that this team has boasted this season and this one was one of its finest. The fourth quarter run of Reece Maxwell Parker isn’t just back—-it is once again a culture. His legendary AND-ONE finish (with one of the coveted 5 made free throws) was accompanied by a charge take that only the Senior Quad-captain can group together like a perfect floral arrangement. While not an aesthetic work of art as an entire body of work, this game had energy, turnovers, missed free throws, more missed free throws, and a host of great performances. Mason Schwaber led the way with a 16 point/12 rebound Double-Double. Tyler Winton added 11 points with 6 steals and 5 assists. Tom Oster found his way into double-figures on 4/6 shooting as he seems to have found a nice rhythm in this game. Jonah Eber, Noah Ohayon, and Jason Prager, and Reece Parker all narrowly avoided double-figure scoring while combining for 32 points. Eber also notched 7 rebounds/6 assists, Ohayon scored 8 significant points with 4 rebounds, and Prager was unscathed from the field on a perfect night.
Yavneh (24-3) has just 3 district games remaining but finds themselves still only a game ahead of Texoma for first place. And the next two games are against the upper-echelon of District 2, including a rematch wayyyy out in Sherman, Texas next week that will likely decide the fate of this district. Up next, however, is a chance at redemption against Lakehill after a come-from-behind underwhelming escape act in the first meeting last week.
The Kennel Report, now in its 16th season, is written by…
Zack Pollack +XF M&M
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