Yavneh defeated Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC) 54-39 in the SEMIFINALS of the The Joseph and Florence Weiner Memorial Tournament in Baltimore, Maryland Friday. The Bulldogs season record now stands at 12-2.
YAVNEH IS BACK IN THE FINALS IN BALTIMORE. For the second straight year the Bulldogs have run the table ahead of the tournament championship with an impeccable 6-0 record in 3 days. The pace and combination defenses have been too much for each of the 5 other teams to handle to this point and the pressure of an elimination semifinal was no difference for HANC. The Red and Black blitzed the methodical NY basketball team right from the opening tap. Daniel Chernikov tipped to Zach Epstein for a field goal literally 2.3 seconds into the tilt. That basket alone was monumental with all the scoring issues Yavneh has been experiencing in the first four minute of halves all tournament long. Chernikov and Griffin Levine quickly added field goals instantly for a 6-0 advantage with the game just 80 seconds old. That offensive output was 6 times the combined output in the first 3 minutes of the last 6 halves combined. Levine attacked the baseline for 8-0 and Micah Romaner finished at the hoop for an even 10-0 start with less than 3 minutes elapsed. Noah Rubinstein assisted on 3 early field goals as Yavneh could do no wrong at either end in the opening 4 minutes. Epstein bottomed a wing triple as well but HANC had gotten the message that it would not be their day when Chernikov picked off a pass and soon after finished at the rim off a razzle-dazzle behind the back flip from Levine for 16-2. Levine later sliced to the hoop for a 20-2 margin en route to the 22-4 first period score that completely shell shocked a team that had just an hour earlier taken the Bulldogs to overtime. 76% shooting was a far cry from the 9 and 11% that had become commonplace early in these games. Rubinstein’s pinpoint passing continued to be a factor as he hit Romaner on the run for a 25-8 advantage and the lead reached 20 points moments later when an active Epstein scored in transition off a nice Romaner dish. HANC did a much better job handling the pressure in the second period but the damage had been done early. 31-17 was the Bulldog lead at the half behind 11 forced turnovers that all were converted into points. The contrast of styles and intensity of the game combined with the lack of depth for HANC spelled disaster, having to play a sixth through 9th quarter within a short 4 hour time span.
The game had been decided in the opening minutes with a 20-2 bludgeoning but it was a credit to Yavneh that every time HANC showed any life at all someone stepped up with a big play. Rubinstein scored the first 3 points of the second half but it was his passing that stole the show on this afternoon. 2 more of his 7 assists combined with a tip follow from Chernikov restored a 20-point lead midway through the third period. Those pair of Seniors hooked up on multiple occasions down the stretch and any minor threats from HANC were shut down just as quickly whether it was a Rubinstein nice step-through post finish, a Griffin Levine dead eye pull-up triple, or a Jonah ThrEber cold knock down from the left side. The lead never dropped to single digits at any point after 10-0 early on and this was exactly the statement game the Bulldogs needed most to get much needed rest for Saturday night’s championship affair. Griffin Levine led the way with another 16 points but Daniel Chernikov’s ginormous double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds to go along with a career high 6 blocks was the ultimate difference maker. Zach Epstein added 9 points and Noah Rubinstein played a solid 7 point/7 assist game to pace the campaign.
Yavneh (12-2) is back into the Finals for a third time where they will look to avenge 2013 and 2015 heart-breakers on the Hurwitz Gym floor. Another East Coast half-court team stands in the way of a much needed accomplishment for the Bulldogs as Ramaz will be shooting to even the score from a comeback effort that fell just short on Wednesday to start the tournament. If the Bulldogs can continue playing at this pace and force their style on Ramaz Saturday night could indeed be an epic night in Yavneh basketball lore. Will Yavneh be able to get the pace of the game where they want it or will they be forced to play on Ramaz’s terms with another game in the 40s and lower? Will Saturday Night FINALLY be the night where the Bulldogs bring home the hardware in a national tournament? Can this team officially put their stamp on the basketball world as a force to be reckoned with?
ONLY TIME WILL TELL!!!
The Kennel Report, now in its 13th season, is written by…
Zack Pollack M&M
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