Yavneh defeated Balch Springs Christian School 53-32 Monday evening. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 15-2.
One thing is for sure- David Naxon does not like to lose. An angry “Scintillating Senior” tore up Balch Springs for 30 points on 12/14 shooting as Yavneh cruised to get right back on the winning wagon. He did it in just 12 minutes. Every time the score got relatively close down the stretch, Naxon would quickly hop off the bench. Almost as speedy, a duo of cameramen would man their machinery on a dead sprint. Balch Springs was never able to get going. Scoring just 2 points in the first quarter, the smaller Balch team could not keep up on the scoreboard. The Bulldogs were not exactly lighting up the scoreboard either. They led 22-11 at the half. Yavneh’s 44% shooting beat their opposition’s 27% but turnovers kept the game close. 11 of Yavneh’s 21 turnovers came in the first half as they could not hold onto the ball. With the game semi-close at the half, Naxon had a stellar third quarter for the second straight game. He shot out of a cannon to start the second half, scoring 12 points in less than 3 minutes. The Bulldogs built a 36-17 lead and the game was a distant memory. The lead would shrink to 40-26 with only 5:55 to play but the starters re-entered the game to put it away once again. Unlike last game, the only last minute drama on this night was a gorgeous Shimi Wolk drop step post move that could easily have been mistaken for an Akiva Wolk delivery at half size and quarter speed. It was nevertheless the most dominant move of the Freshman’s career, and quite possibly a sign of things to come. Yavneh (15-2) will play dangerous THESA tomorrow night. The game represents a trap in so much as Yavneh is focusing much attention on Thursday’s game at Oakridge. Even worse, THESA is a much improved team over the gritty bunch that took the Bulldogs to the final minutes last season. If Naxon can continue to play entire games like his last two third quarters’ and get a little help from his friends, then THESA or anybody else should be no problem for the Bulldogs.
The Kennel Report is written by Zack Pollack
Special thanks to Coach Chris Walker and Asriel “ASWAT” Agronin for clutch assistance in a time of need to spare the Yavneh basketball program any fall-off in 100% accuracy in statistics and reporting during the opening two minutes+ of tonight’s game. Words cannot describe my appreciation for you two.