Yavneh defeated Sunset Public High School 60-38 Tuesday night. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 6-2. Click on the link above for game statistics.
Whether you go to a 5A Dallas public high school or a “community based school in a Modern Orthodox setting”, the Giving Season is clearly now in full effect. 45 combined gifts aka turnovers dominated a game Tuesday that Yavneh methodically pulled away to end their mini 2-game losing streak. Sunset’s 27 turnovers were more of the live variety leading directly to Bulldog points while the home team’s giveaways were less costly in the grand scheme of the game. Sunset did their best Thomas Jefferson/Oakridge/Avalon impression to start the game by using a missed field goal attempt to set themselves up nicely for a second chance basket for the game’s first points. Junior Noah Rubinstein evened the score with a coast to coast steal for a layup hopscotch finish. Griffin Levine would tie the score at 4-4 but the Bulldogs finally notched their first lead on another Rubinstein steal/layup, this time going right at the basket for a much more assertive finish and a 7-6 lead. Senior Captain Steve Levine finally got his first theft of the night on the very next possession and found Junior Liad Guttman for a lefty roller. Another Senior captain Jonathan Ochstein climbed the ladder for a mid-air steal only to find Steve Levine for a streaking layup. Rubinstein, not nearly used to seeing the game from the court this late in a first half in what seems like forever, beat both first half periods’ buzzer starting with a rebound that trampolined him to the basket for a three point play. 14-8 was the Yavneh lead after one period of play thanks to 7 steals and a 13% edge in field goal shooting. The second period was a slow drag with turnovers by both squads dominating the festivities. 3:48 into the period, Yavneh had only a pair of single free throws (2/4) before Guttman’s steal led to a Griffin Levine transition finish. Yavneh seemed to be pulling away when Steve Levine got yet another steal and finished with contact for a three-point play for a 21-12 advantage with 3:41 to play before halftime. Just in the nick of time, however, all the Bulldog defensive deficiencies rescued Sunset with a critical 10-2 outburst. Offensive rebound put-backs, wiiiide open three point looks, and the occasional uncontested layup quickly sliced the lead to a mere 23-22. Junior Daniel Chernikov picked a fabulous time to record his first paint points of the season to break the run, which spring-boarded his team to a quick half ending 6-0 response. Ochstein found Griffin Levine for a short flipper shot that found the bottom of the net and then one more Rubinstein steal for a lefty layup that counted just tenths of a second before the halftime horn. The Bulldogs feasted on 15 points off of 16 first half Sunset turnovers, enjoyed a 7-0 free throws made advantage (Sunset did not even attempt one), and led 29-22 at the break.
The lead was somewhat tenuous but Griffin Levine started the third period with a smooth jumper. He then found streaking Junior Zach Epstein for a corner triple and then both Levine and Epstein alternated floaters on the next couple possessions to build a 39-22 lead. Griffin’s finish included a charging knockdown of a defender who was subsequently called for a blocking foul which netted the additional point on a free throw. Sunset put together a much needed 9-0 run but Chernikov scored off an out of bounds pass from Steve Levine to quickly re-establish the 41-31 double digit lead to end the third period of play. Both of Chernikov’s baskets broke the two Sunset runs that threatened Yavneh on this night. The Bulldogs paraded to the free throw line to start the final stanza, connecting on 3/4 to maintain the advantage. Rubinstein’s up and down night took a positive turn once again in the early moments of the fourth quarter with a pair of finishes, including a majestic train ride through the lane, and a timely steal to help establish a 48-35 lead for Yavneh. The energy for the home team was picking up big time and Sunset was ready to fold up their tents. Ochstein tallied another in a long line of steals and got the ball back from Griffin Levine’s no look pass for a contorted backwards/sideways finish for 50-35. The lead reached 18 points on a Rubinstein steal to an Epstein transition finish coupled with a great Steve Levine dish to Rubinstein kick-started by a long rebound from one of many bricktastic Yavneh jumpers. The first 20 point lead came on a long-awaited Steve Levine triple assisted by the other Levine for a 58-38 edge with 2:15 remaining. A hoard of the 21 Bulldog steals came in the final period to make sure that there would be no late game DISD drama on this night. 7 fourth quarter stops in a row sealed the Sunset fate and gave much needed momentum to a team that had a rough 4 days all things considered. Noah Rubinstein led all scorers with a triptastic 19 points, 6 steals, and 5 rebounds. Griffin Levine pumped in 14 points to go along with 6 more big rebounds and 4 assists. Steve Levine also found his way to double figures with 10 points in addition to his 6 steals. Also of note, Jonathan Ochstein poured in 11 rebounds to finally put the Bulldogs on the + side in rebounding for a change at 36-27, including 12-4 on the offensive glass.
Yavneh (6-2) is back in the win column not a moment too soon. While there is much work to do still defensively, this team once again proved that their ability to turn teams over can single-handedly win some games. As they strive for consistency, an unforgiving week awaits the Bulldogs after the Thanksgiving holiday. A third crack at the Weiner Tournament in Baltimore MD has been much anticipated by this group and avenging a Finals appearance in overtime followed by a Semifinals appearance is very much in order. Will this team grow up on the fly and find the consistency over 4 days to challenge for a tournament championship? Will health and injury returns provide an instant injection of momentum to a team that is need of a missing ingredient to get over the hump? Will this group begin to write their legacy with a signature performance on the National stage?
ONLY TIME WILL TELL!!!
The Kennel Report, now in its twelfth season, is written by…
Zack Pollack M&M
TL-BW-SP-BR