Lubbock Christian High School defeated Yavneh 66-39 Friday morning in a TAPPS 3A Bi-district playoff game. The loss wraps the Bulldogs record at 21-12.
Playing their 4th basketball game in just a total of 109 hours on a 9am Friday morning in Lubbock, Texas, Yavneh simply ran out of gas. The same looks that found refuge in the hoop Monday and Tuesday night flew every which way and the magical 49 or less points allowed was merely a pipe dream Friday. 15/50 from the field while being out-rebounded 37-17 was no match for a #1 seeded/state 4th ranked Lubbock Christian team that would shoot 70% from the floor in the first period en route to 56% for the game. For 4 minutes at the start, however, the Bulldogs were able to exchange punches with LCS. Noah Rubinstein began the game with his first of 3 steals and Steve Levine finished in transition off another steal by Griffin Levine to deadlock the game at 2-2. Daniel Chernikov finished at the rim for a Yavneh lead of 4-2 but after that came a barrage of three point magic from Lubbock Christian. The Bulldogs were scoring courtesy of three consecutive Griffin Levine assists but every two points for the Red and Black was matched by a first period triple by the home team. While the G Levine was lending a helping hand, the Senior Levine was in the zone early with three finishes of his own. The last of those buckets tied the game at 8-8 but a 12-1 LCS run to end the first period was the first of several body blows that Yavneh endured. 70% shooting by Lubbock Christian including 4/5 from long distance. The shooting percentage accounted for some of a 9-2 rebounding advantage as well but the Bulldogs spotty defensive rebounding was deadly against a front line that included 6’6 and 6’5. The bright spot for Yavneh was a zero turnover first period but that changed quickly with a pair of giveaways to begin the second quarter. The LCS run reached 13-1 at 21-9 before the Bulldogs were able to fight back with 5 straight points. Steve Levine drilled a jumper and David Steinbrecher plowed over a defender for the second game in a row to AND 1 his way to cutting into the deficit. At 21-14 Yavneh was surely back in the game and getting what sea legs they had left under them. If they could just have stemmed the tide of the last 3:08 until halftime and maybe shaved off another basket they would have been ready for a second half battle. Instead, the Bulldogs went back into an offensive funk and the missed box-outs to boot. In that decisive 3:08 Yavneh missed close-in, mid-range, and deep attempts while Lubbock Christian scored 12 straight points to stun the road team at halftime to the tune of 33-14. The numbers were staggering with LCS shooting 54 to Yavneh’s 22%, the Bulldogs were 0/8 from beyond the arc while the opposition shot 5/10, and a 23-10 rebounding disadvantage with 5 second chance baskets explained the story.
The prospect of having to dig out from nearly a 20 point lead for the second straight time in this difficult week was daunting and Yavneh finally was showing signs of running out of gas. Chernikov finished at the basket but a 10-3 Lubbock Christian run over the first 4:11 of the second half had the Bulldogs down to 21% shooting for the game and trailing in the only category that mattered 43-17. Steve Levine played pick and roll with Chernikov, who finished plus a foul to creep within 21 points. During this encouraging stretch, Rubinstein had two awesome moves to the basket producing 4 points including a triple pivot lefty step through that had the city of Lubbock requesting autographs. Unfortunately, though, Yavneh could not sustain any substantial push. Chernikov finished off another nice pick-and-roll, and Griffin Levine scored on a pull-up triple. A Bulldog mini run saw Griffin score again as Jonathan Ochstein soared high in the air for an offensive rebound/assist to make it happen. As time ticked away on the careers of 5 Yavneh Seniors, all 5 got a chance to play together one last time in the final minutes. Steve Levine’s final career assist came to classmate Sammy Weyser with 1:31 to play but this playoff matchup belonged to the Eagles of Lubbock Christian. Steve Levine scored 12 points and dished 4 assists in his final game while Daniel Chernikov added 9 points. Griffin Levine chipped in 6 points to go along with the early 3 assists while both David Steinbrecher and Noah Rubinstein tallied 5 points each.
For the quintet of outgoing Seniors, this game marked the final dribbles and shots for truly a class group that represented their team, school, and community in a fantastic way. David Steinbrecher, the only four-year Varsity letter man in the group, finished his career Friday with 553 points and 102 scintillating three pointers. The tri-captain, boasting a record of 104-35 when he was inked on the Yavneh roster, was a knock down shooter and someone opposing teams had to account for nearly every minute of his career. Big shot after big shot delivered during district play solidified Steinbrecher’s reputation but adding a lethal driving game to his repertoire brought the team to another level. Tri-Captain Steve Levine tallied 854 points, dished 326 assists (4th all time school history), and recorded 256 steals (5th all time) Levine’s ability to make an opposing player look completely foolish and just take the basketball like it was he who was originally in possession of it made him a legend. Steve’s offensive toolbox grew over the years and made him one of the premiere players in all of TAPPS 3A not to mention in all of Jewish basketball. Jonathan Ochstein, also a tri-captain, scored 381 points, pulled down 346 rebounds, and notched 100+ assists and steals in his career. Ochstein was known always as a shut down defender who could also stretch the floor. Having to guard the opponents’ best player night in and night out, Jonathan was also a huge catalyst during district play by leading the team in field goal percentage. Jacob Lampert played 4 years in the Yavneh basketball program, serving as a JV captain for a year plus, and without a doubt was the energy that drove this year’s squad. Lampert, always a fan favorite, could always be seen rallying the troops to extend a Bulldog run as well as turning the tide on a difficult stretch. Sammy Weyser played a pair of electric years on the JV, earning an MOP and being the scoring leader night after night. Weyser’s transition to Varsity showed off his great skills as a supporter that was always ready to provide energy on and off the court. Sammy was known for his fearless nature in attacking the basket and ALWAYS ending up with a floor-burn of some nature. Also of note, he holds the distinction of having the last field goal in this Senior class. This group achieved what is now back-to-back-to back TAPPS 3A playoff appearances, a second Baltimore Weiner Tournament Finals showing, and has left the Yavneh basketball program in excellent shape heading into a very favorable league realignment in 2016-17.
From finality to anticipation, Bulldog Nation continues to move forward in what could be the best chance the school has ever had at a state title. With the complexion of the district and the state changing at breakneck speeds, the 6 returning letter-men are all ready to mark their upperclassmen stamp. Having just become basketball Seniors, Noah Rubinstein, Zach Epstein, and Daniel Chernikov will all return for a third and final Varsity season. Rubinstein has shown an ability to play at all 5 positions effectively, being both an inside and outside scorer as well as a facilitator. Trriipp/Noah knows the game well, has a better understanding of what is required, and will look to combine some of his early season offensive explosions with the late season rebounding prowess he exhibited to become a player feared nationwide…and throughout Texas. Epstein stepped up his game and hit some huge shots this year when the team needed him the most. Zach’s defense continues to be strong, a definite need on this squad, and if he can master ball security during the off-season could be another in a great line of Bulldog shooting lead guards. Chernikov was once again the most reliable inside scoring the team had and was a difference maker whenever on the court. With an unstoppable mid-range game and a punishing array of put the ball in the basket techniques on the inside, the biggest things yet are expected to finish off his career. The question remains whether Daniel can stay out of foul trouble long enough to take his team to the promise land, and whether he can put it all together to become the dominating superstar that seems inevitable to most experts. The outgoing Sophomore class returns a trio of players who will be factors in their final 2 years. Griffin Levine started 31 games at point guard in his rookie season and grew into the position quite nicely. Levine’s ability to see the court and find teammates will continue to be a weapon going forward as he matures into a true floor leader. If Griffin can calmly and collectively add a more aggressive offensive game coupled with the ability to consistently knock down the outside jumpers, he will lead his team to new heights without question. Micah Romaner is on pace to become the next productive Yavneh post. In his first Varsity season, Romaner showed flashes of brilliance with an aggressive offensive game, strong rebounding presence, and a passing ability very rare for a post this young. Micah has a lot of work ahead of him to jump to that next level and become a go-to option but if he does the next 2 years could see dominance from that post position. Pierce Bell gives the Bulldogs an ability to stretch the floor with his inside-outside combo ability and pure energy. Bell could be an electric option for the team as he leaps into his Junior year with a fearless finishing mentality inside and a confident mid-range game. If Pierce can harness these abilities and himself. he will be a big part of what happens moving forward. Those 6 provide a strong foundation for the future and possibilities to join them are endless. Internally, the Junior Varsity could provide intensity from the guard position as well as some swing/post talent that would provide nightmarish matchup problems for many opponents. Combine that with an external pipeline that has produced no less than 1 Varsity player per year lately, and the talent pool could grow even further than expected. Also of note, the outgoing 8th grade class is arguably the best in 3 decades graduating a premier lefty ball handler that can score in bunches, quite possibly the best pure shooter in North America and that’s just his outside game, a Steph Curryesque off-guard that can put the ball in the basket with flash, and don’t get caught walking up the floor on a developing paint sheriff who’s range seemingly has no limit or a player that doesn’t even stay for most second halves.
Does this group of 6 returning players make the necessary adjustments in their games to accomplish goals that have just barely eluded their predecessors? Can they get back to the Finals in Baltimore and this time bring home a championship? Can they win a district title and keep the string alive of every graduating class having won at least one district title since rejoining TAPPS? Can they once again get back to a State Quarterfinal but this time win it and advance to the State Final 4…or beyond? Will they return to Sarachek and if so become the first Bulldog team to crack that Final 4 since 2003? How do the 3 Seniors with unlimited potential cement their legacy in 2016-17???
ONLY TIME WILL TELL!!!
The Kennel Report, concluding its twelfth season, has been written by…
Zack Pollack and Writers M&M
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