Yavneh defeated Berman Hebrew Academy of Maryland 45-40 Sunday evening in a Tier 2 semifinal at the Red Sarachek Yeshiva University Tournament in New York. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 19-11.
Yavneh is back!! For the first time since their epic double overtime defeat to MTA in 2002, Yavneh will once again play for the Tier 2 trophy at the Sarachek Tournament. Senior Elan Kogutt tallied 24 breathtaking points and Freshman Adam Karnett came back from the hospital to jimmer a game sealing layup as the Bulldogs held on by the skin of their teeth for the second straight game.
The aggressive Jordan Prescott that had been missing for the first two games of the tournament found the right subway stop on this night right away. His offensive tenacity early along with 2 Jake Greif blocked shots in the opening four minutes set the tone at 6-2. The teams struggled for the entire first period with an 8-8 score the result. Neither team shot 30% and combined to go 0/8 from three point land. Each team had success inside but certainly not beyond that. The Bulldogs built their lead back to 14-10 early in the second quarter behind the strength of three offensive plays. Junior Kevin Sulski gunned a spiral deep pass that Karnett somehow found a way to track down and convert for a layup. Prescott then had everybody fooled with a pinpoint assist to Freshman Itai Guttman that was disguised as an airball over the rim. Sulski followed that action with a crafty scoop shot but a late Berman three pointer kept Yavneh’s lead at just 16-15 for halftime. The game could not have been closer. Shooting was 27-25% Berman, rebounds were dead even, and the teams had combined for an arrogantly awful 1/14 from beyond the three point line.
Neither team could separate in the third period. Yavneh remained in control but only by a slim margin. The Bulldogs were able to rest some key players and still get great production out of the bench. Junior Ben Romaner made a super defensive play and the Bulldogs stayed in front on two free throws by Senior Zev Klein. Klein showed off the world’s most convincing pump fake off a mad scramble in which Guttman reminded us he is truly The Frenetic Freshman. His behind the toe pass surprised even The Itai Fan Club’s el presidente. Through all the dramatics, though, Berman took their first lead since 2-0 on a steady diet of post moves from their center. Although trailing by a single point heading to the final stanza, Yavneh was in a good position foul wise and figured to shoot a good amount of free throws down the stretch. Sulski tied the game on the first fourth period free throw, and Yavneh regained the lead with Kogutt’s patented steal from halfcourt and lefty finish. In the blink of an eye, Kogutt had regained his Sarachek magic. The Bulldogs picked the perfect time to unleash their halfcourt trap on the very next possession as Berman rushed a three pointer which ignited a runout basket and the game-high 5 point lead. Berman was teetering on the brink when they found an answer to jump right back into the game. They fed the big guy time and again, resulting in multiple trips to the free throw line. While Berman was sinking freebies, Kogutt was working for the weekend at the other end. Prescott found him off an inbounds pass for a jumper but with 1:26 to play Berman maintained a 37-36 advantage. Kogutt answered with his Dr. J lefty sweep for the lead at 38-37. When Berman could not convert on the other end, Karnett scored the finish of the day with a gorgeous reverse layup using the rim as a safe haven for the 40-37 lead that put the Bulldogs in control with 58.3 seconds left. Greif and Prescott secured key rebounds up by 3 points to protect the lead but Yavneh survived some scary moments at the end when their four point lead was trimmed to a single point. Karnett, who had delivered the separating basket, was called for breathing too heavily on Berman’s three point shooter. While all three free throws went down, Kogutt barely grazed any net on his two made free throws to push the lead to three points and make any comeback efforts desperate for Berman with 11.3 seconds remaining. A game-tying three pointer was off line for Berman allowing the Bulldogs to enjoy the final seconds with a multi-posession lead. This time, Karnett was so far off the shooter nearly outside the gym area that even his family history of late game fouling did not disrupt the final buzzer from its destination.
For a second straight game the defense had ruled for the Bulldogs. Kogutt dominated in the second half to lead all scorers with 24 points. Prescott followed with 9 points but gladly played lead distributor with 5 enormous assists. Karnett had only 4 points but they were two of the most exciting plays of the season for Yavneh. His last basket was the help Kogutt needed to punch a ticket to the Tier 2 Finals Monday. Greif played his best career defensive game with 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks but so many trips causing frustration for the Berman frontcourt.
Yavneh (19-11) will play one final game for the Tier 2 championship. The game is huge on a number of levels. The opportunity to win a Tier 2 title at YU as a steppingstone for next season is at the forefront. Additionally, a 20-win season is on the line at the very same time. Finally, Kogutt will have the opportunity for revenge against the team that ended his own brother’s career in dramatic fashion at the buzzer in a Tier 3 championship game. This will be the first official meeting between Yavneh and Hillel Miami since that game. Will the three Bulldog seniors go out as champions?
Monday afternoon will tell!!
The Kennel Report, now in its seventh season, is written by…
Zack Pollack M&M
MWJR? 3-26