Yavneh defeated Christian Home School Educators of Sulphur Springs (CHESS) 62-55 Tuesday night. The win wraps the Bulldogs record at 27-5.
Adam Karnett willed his team to a comeback victory with 19 points on SENIOR NIGHT Tuesday. Facing a 12-day layoff, the Bulldogs looked flat-out flat through much of the first half. Apparently the Yavneh turnover issues were not slowed by the inactivity, ready to roll literally off the opening tip. The crispness of a nine-game winning streak was just not there at either end of the court. CHESS was ready to take advantage and built an early 7-4 lead. The Bulldogs were free-styling their way into an even bigger hole of 14-6 as turnovers and forced shots played right into the visitors hands. Needing a spark, Junior David Rudomin rocketed off the bench to save the day. He created an easy layup opportunity for Itai Guttman and drilled a runner to minimize the damage for the Bulldogs at 16-10 after the opening stanza. Yavneh, who normally turns the ball over but forces more, only forced 1 first quarter turnover to their 6. The pace was slow and very much to the liking of CHESS, who could work their couple match ups over and over with great success. A quick 6-0 run to start the second quarter spiraled the Bulldogs even lower to a 22-10 deficit. Needing to change momentum, Karnett pick-pocketed a CHESS guard, found Ori Guttman streaking to the basket, and suddenly the pace of the game had shifted. A Sam Kleinman floater put the first game pressure on the road team, and Rudomin did the rest. A pair of perfect corner triples completed a masterful half of offensive basketball for Rudomin and surged the Bulldogs into contention. Karnett’s drive to the basket tied the game at 24-24, completing a 14-2 scoring spurt. The game was tied 26-26 for halftime despite 12 Yavneh turnovers, 2/8 three point shooting, and a pace for most of the half that favored CHESS. With David Rudomin accounting for 12 of the 26 points in some way or another, some of his friends figured to be the difference maker during the final 16 minutes.
As has been the case so many times this season, a third period run would be needed to seize control. Senior Josh Lynn found Itai Guttman as part of a 6-0 beginning to the second half. CHESS seemed to be crumbling as so many visitors had this season against the relentless Bulldog pressure. However, out of nowhere, they responded with a 7-0 run of their own. Yavneh was once again imploding with turnovers and ill-advised shots. Down by a single point at 37-36, the Bulldogs were more concerned with survival than a story-book ending to the career of their charismatic Senior guard. Then, all in one moment, they hit the Daily Double. Reprising his role of Josh “H” Lynn for one final encore performance, Lynn buried the same corner three ball that he had been doing for years. The shot not only re-captured the lead for his team but also served as the eventual game-winning shot. Yavneh Academy would not trail again. Adam Schor would follow with a tip-in and a free throw, and a pair of Lynn free throws with no time left in the third period boosted the advantage to 44-39. Adam Karnett took that as his cue to single-handedly put away the game. Scoring on back-to-back possessions starting the final period, assisting Rudomin on a third three pointer and becoming a CHESS nightmare on both sides of the court, Karnett had taken over yet another game. The pace had officially quickened to the point where CHESS was getting worn out. They had no problem catching up to the Bulldogs in the turnover department, including one pass that may have done some damage to the ceiling above the visiting stands. The game seemed to be in hand at 55-42 with 2:57 remaining. Yavneh, however, did not want to disappoint the big crowd with any lack of drama to finish the season. Having been dominated all night long on the boards, CHESS suddenly got almost every rebound to be had in the final three minutes. An 8-0 explosion made the score 55-50 with 52.8 seconds left almost miraculously. The miracles, aka horrible shot selection during that stretch, were almost enough to damper the season’s final game. Karnett instead was able to connect on 3/4 free throws over the next 25 seconds, securing the victory for the Bulldogs. In a strange final 11 seconds with the game in hand, Senior Max Schnitzer popped off the bench and the tripod for the very first time this season. Tying a record held by many, Schnitzer connected on a free throw to become the most accurate High School foul shooter in the history of basketball with no minimum attempts required (1/1). Karnett led the home team with 19 points, followed by Rudomin’s 13 points on 3/3 three point shooting. Itai Guttman just missed a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Josh Lynn scored 7 points in his Bulldog finale, giving him 291 points. Always a sharp-shooter, 76 of his 97 field goals were recorded outside the three point arc.
Yavneh (27-5) finished the season on a high 10 game winning streak. With the second-most wins in school history and the best winning percentage at 84.4%, 2013-2014 is already setting up to be a defining year for The Program. Returning all 5 regular starters and 11 out of the 12 core players, a nationally under-rated Bulldog team will have its opportunity to achieve greatness. Unlike the uncertainty ending a season ago, this roster is already loaded with multiple re-enforcements locked and loaded to boot. Adam Karnett’s 469 points from this season figures to grow as he becomes a rising Senior as tough to guard as anyone out there. Sam Kleinman shattered the Yavneh single-season assist record with 198 helpers and should be even better as he masters the point guard role as a Senior. David Rudomin continues to make plays and push the pace, and his best season is likely still to come. Jason Epstein saw his minutes increase this year and should continue to be a steadying force in the multi-guard attack. Adam Steinbrecher used his versatility to become a key contributor in so many games this year and could be the inside-outside threat that decides many key games in 2013-14. Itai Guttman has continued to develop in the post and is a hard-working summer away from being a truly dominant force in the paint on both offense and defense. The emergence of Adam Schor rounds out an electric incoming Senior class. Schor has shown an ability to score multiple points inside and block any shot that comes his way. With his first competitive summer in front of him, the potential for next season is enormous. As Ori Guttman enters the second half of his career, the mountains of potential have already started paying dividends. If he is able to add half court execution to his transition brilliance, the Bulldogs could be looking at their most dangerous swing-man ever over the course of the next two seasons. With both Guttman brothers, the line in the sand continues to get closer separating potential and the now. The world wants NOW. Meir Epstein continues to improve and could be a summer away from increasing his role. Grant Prengler showed flashes of greatness during his first season and should come back hungry to play an even bigger role both offensively and defensively. David Steinbrecher continues to grow into more than just a knock-down shooter and will start to be a major impact player as he enters his Sophomore season. The most exciting thing about 2013-14 could be the plethora of talent both within the program at the JV level and entering the school for the very first time. Headlined by posts Noah Weiss and Lee Gelksy, guards Steve Levine and Zak Schultz, and hybrid Jonathan Ochstein, there is a wealth of talent ready to sprout direct from the JV roster. Waiting in the wings as well are several Freshman guards that may be only a season away from being factors on the Varsity level as well as a swing-man or two. Finally, several incoming Freshmen figure to be factors before long including yet another Guttman and an additional Epstein.
With so many players in the mix, the 2013-14 roster has the makings of something truly special. A return trip to Memphis at the beginning of the season, a re-insertion into the Texas Private & Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state league, and another Sarachek run come March all extremely likely, several questions surround this group led by seven Seniors. Can the guards continue to play at the desired quick pace that bred so much success this season but somehow limit the turnovers? Can the double-post combo step up to the next level and become truly great? Can the guard depth continue to wear teams out on the State and National landscape as next season takes shape? Will Yavneh make a serious run at a State Title and Sarachek championship with THE Senior-laden team?
ONLY TIME WILL TELL!!!!!!!!!
The Kennel Report, concluding its ninth season, has been written by…
Zack Pollack M&M
TL-BW-SP-BR