Yavneh defeated The Covenant School of Dallas 60-42 Monday night. The win bolsters the Bulldogs record to 22-3 (5-1).
The sky was falling for just about 95 hours in the Yavneh basketball world. After they could not shoot, pass, defend, score, protect the ball, rebound, or just about anything else in Rockwall Thursday, the Bulldogs quickly bounced back Monday. Coming off a hugely astonishing contest when looked at in the context of how well they had been playing the previous 18 games consecutively, Yavneh continued their mastery of Covenant right from the opening tap. Junior sensation Griffin Levine, who would have a career night and his 13th 20+ point game of the season, was in total control early and often. Levine danced to the rim for the game’s first basket and stormed down the left side for a creative finish off a Noah Rubinstein steal merely seconds later for 4-0. Rubinstein assisted him once more on a wing triple to account for the first 7 points and a 7-2 electric start to the game. A determined Micah Romaner followed his own shot with a strong put-back to stretch the lead even further and then super-sub Pierce Bell went to work for a second wave that Covenant seemed unready for. Bell scored 5 quick points off assists from Levine and Rubinstein in the form of a corner three ball followed by a window paint special for a 14-2 advantage. The lead would grow to 20-4 behind Zach Epstein’s trifecta from straight away and yet another Levine scoop and score down the sideline. Covenant would trim the margin to 22-9 by the end of the first period but once again the Bulldogs had hit their neighbors from down the street square in the mouth to begin a district contest. 60% shooting and forcing 7 turnovers was a mere continuation of the first meeting with Yavneh completely flipping last game’s early struggles. Covenant would battle back to within 12 points but the lead would get no lower than 9 points the entire rest of the half. Freshman Jonah Eber literally took away a basketball, dished to Levine, and received it back for as close to a right-hand right side finish that can be simulated. The one serious threat Covenant mounted in the first 16 minutes was quickly met with an answer from Daniel Chernikov rolling to the basket off a nice feed from Rubinstein. A twisting Levine drive for points 15 and 16 netted the Bulldogs a 31-20 halftime lead that probably should have been more. After 22 first quarter points, the offense stalled behind poorer shot selection, 4 out of 6 missed free throws, and an offensive rebound dinner and show put on by Covenant. Yavneh did force 14 turnovers which safely kept the game in double digits but the game was very much in doubt.
Following a nice out-of-bounds play from Rubinstein to Levine, Covenant staged a potential season-saving rally. A 10-2 surge from the visitors behind three point mastery and an offensive rebound clinic of the highest degree left the Bulldogs on the brink of disaster. A 35-32 game could have been even a point closer had Noah Jones not failed to convert the free throw on a three point play. They had made a valiant run at Yavneh on a court that has not seen a defeat for the home team in nearly a year. However, Griffin Levine built on the tiniest bit of momentum from that missed free throw with a rim running bucket that immediately kicked the lead back to 5 points. The Bulldogs were able to dig deep over the next 3 possessions and utilize the scoring trio of Levine, Rubinstein, and Bell for 6 points with ease. The attention that Levine was drawing freed up so much on the interior and the Yavneh passing game had built the lead right back to 9 points by the end of the third period. The game looked to be safe when Bell collected a big offensive rebound and drove right to the basket for two points and a 47-36 advantage. Covenant would respond once more with 4 straight points to cut the deficit to 47-40 with 5:45 to play. The next 10 points and 13 of the final 15 points, however, belonged to the Bulldogs. Chernikov gathered a steal created by Bell to hit Griffin Levine on a fly pattern for 49-40. In a critical defensive juncture, Yavneh pressured Covenant into a pair of consecutive turnovers which most importantly kept possession of the ball with the Bulldogs for 3 sequences in a row. Covenant had to play way too much defense in a game situation that called for them to score from behind, an unreasonable law of physics that they were unable to overcome. Jonah ThrEber nailed the dagger three pointer from the left wing that pushed an insurmountable lead to 54-40. Moments later a double dagger was delivered by Sophomore Eli Minsky from the left corner which officially eliminated all pipe dream hope for Covenant on this particular night. Griffin Levine led all scorers with a career-high 28 points to go along with 6 steals and 5 assists. Pierce Bell added 9 points and Daniel Chernikov posted 7 points to complement his 11 rebound night in the painted area. On a night where the Bulldogs sensational passing attack once again led the charge, Noah Rubinstein was the chief of all assists with 8 helping hands.
Yavneh (22-3) is now a full 2 games ahead in the loss column of anyone else for second place in the district. Still very much in control of its own destiny in terms of matters pertaining to winning the district, the Bulldogs now look forward to their first ever meeting with THE Cristo Rey, District 3’s newest kid on the block. With the sweep over Big Three powerhouse Covenant, the Red-and-Black can start the stretch run of district play with half of their games behind them. They can also dismiss the media frenzy that had this team written off after one poor performance. It is one tough magic trick to accidentally win 18 games in succession and Yavneh has once again proved that, while they might not have a David Copperfield on the roster, they do have 9 basketball players back on the road to the TAPPS 3A Final Four.
The Kennel Report, now in its 13th season, is written by…
Zack Pollack CTDC M&M
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