Yavneh defeated Lakehill Prep 84-27 Thursday night. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 20-2 (3-0). This was also the 17th consecutive victory for the team.
Being down to 7 healthy players was no issue for the Yavneh train as it plowed through Lakehill Thursday on the back of a career-high 30 point night for Senior Daniel Chernikov. In the most thorough start to finish contest of the season, the Bulldogs dismantled their third district opponent using advantages in size, speed, athleticism, and grit. Above all else, Lakehill felt as if it were playing basketball in a Disney movie where the people from another planet were 8 times the size. Chernikov scored his first pair of baskets on second chance points, among the 13 offensive rebounds for the game almost all resulting in immediate stick backs. Griffin Levine sped along the baseline for a yo-yo fade-away finish on the opposite side and then scored in transition with a foul for an 11-1 start. In fact, a series of back-to back-to back AND ONEs courtesy of Levine, Chernikov, and Pierce Bell turned a 7 point lead into 16 point rout within just three offensive possessions. Forced turnovers and finishes with contact fueled the Bulldog domination in a first period for the ages. With one final Chernikov steal that assisted Jonah Eber for a 21-1 score, the first period came to a close. A 47-0 shooting percentage edge along with 12 forced turnovers, 5/5 from the free throw line, and 9 Chernikov points all added up to one giant statement. It took Lakehill until the 3:47 mark of the second period to record an actual made field goal, a three pointer at that. While that trimmed the margin to 29-5, there was no relief on the interior from the giant Yavneh posts. Meanwhile, it was the night of a lifetime for DC21 as everything was working: the inside game, the mid-range game, the rebounding, and even the passing game. A pinpoint pass to fellow post Micah Romaner made for a 33-5 score and moments later yet another three point play finish at the rim off a nice lob pass from Eber finished his amazing half of basketball. In all, Chernikov scored more points (25) in that one half of play than any other full game before. The 44-10 halftime advantage for the Bulldogs came courtesy of a +44% field goal number, a +20 rebound differential, and of course the 11/12 epic performance from Daniel Chernikov.
With the game certainly not in doubt, Yavneh’s biggest challenge was juggling the inexplicable foul issues that plagued a team with just the 7 players. Levine put his snazzy passing ability on full display with two nifty assists for 4 more Chernikov points early in the third quarter. A slippery pass in the lane and then a great lead pass netted a 55-16 lead and 30 points for the Senior post. Lakehill was simply over matched in this contest from buzzer to buzzer in what may not be their last experience of the like in loaded District 3 of TAPPS 3A. Jonah Eber tried out the inaugural AND AIR NONE on one strong drive to the bucket late in the third period while Grayson Levine assisted himself off the back of a Lakehill player to earn a pair of free throws. Sophomore Eli Minsky was everywhere in the last 12 minutes, grabbing 10 rebounds and assisting on 5 baskets as well. Minsky found Eber in the corner for a third period ending triple that essentially capped the night at 73-25. The final stanza flew by but the bus had already been warmed and ready after a convincing third district victory. Daniel Chernikov finished and led the world on this night with the 30 points on 13/16 shooting with 9 rebounds. Griffin Levine added 19 points to go along with 8 assists and Jonah Eber also netted 13 points with 5 assists. Micah Romaner just missed a double-double with 9 points and a game-high 13 rebounds while Eli Minsky’s 10 career best rebounds and 5 assists paved the way for greatness.
Yavneh (20-2) made a 7-player roster feel like 100 but will have to sustain this high level amidst adversity in a district where there are no stay-cations. A murderous road week awaits the Bulldogs with trips to the Highlands and mighty Heritage Christian on the immediate horizon. In one week’s time Yavneh will essentially have seen and played the entire district, having a much clearer picture of what it will take to finish at the top. As of now, however, it will take a mighty effort to knock off a team that has now won a clean 17 games straight.
The Kennel Report, now in its 13th season, is written by…
Zack Pollack CTDC M&M
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