Yavneh defeated Lucas Christian School 52-29 Monday evening to improve the Bulldogs record to 5-4.
What a difference 50 hours makes? After allowing an opponent to shoot over 73% for an entire game Saturday night, the Bulldogs clamped down against a marginally less athletic and efficient team to the tune of 29%. It was that defensive prowess of Yavneh teams’ past that won so many games over the years finally rearing its head for the 06/07 group. The game began as sluggishly as Yavneh finished their previous two games, having been thoroughly dominated in both. It took almost half of the first quarter for Junior Bradley Alhadef to start the scoring with two points while getting fouled. An apparent lack of athleticism on the part of Lucas Christian prompted Yavneh to go to the fast-paced running game that they have displayed at times during the last two seasons. However, Yavneh could not hit their shots and allowed Lucas some easy opportunities of their own in the process. The Bulldogs trailed 12-10 after a quarter, shooting just 25%. Trailing 16-12 just 2 minutes into the second quarter, Sophomore William Zalstein turned over the ball by over-dribbling as he has an extreme tendency to do. During his freshman year, Zalstein (“The Jedi Knight”) was trained in the art of becoming a productive and safe point guard. Eight games into this season, Zalstein has struggled with the turnover bug. In fact, during the loss at Parish last Wednesday, he turned the ball over 9 times. This time, with a losing streak that was pacing to continue, Zalstein would not be allowed to participate in the holiday gift-giving season on this night. He was sent to the locker room for the last 6 minutes of the half. Having made the immediate decision to switch back to a half-court playing style to come from behind, the Bulldogs engineered a run that may be the turning point of their season when all is said and done. Bradley Alhadef sparked the run with a pair of three pointers with normally reliable Erez Krengel having an off-night. The Bulldogs shored up their defense and allowed very little at the other end. Luck was on Yavneh’s side as well with Alhadef and Freshman Josh Karnett both accidentally banking in three pointers during the run. In all, the 17-0 run in four and a half minutes was the biggest single scoring run of Yavneh’s season to date. The Bulldogs led 31-18 at the half and would cruise from there. The sequestered Zalstein was back to start the second half in Yavneh’s version of “Return of the Jedi”. The punishment worked as Zalstein posted three brilliant third quarter assists along with a great defensive play and even a track hurdle of the opposition’s bench. Meanwhile, Lucas Christian managed just 6 points in the third quarter, trailing 43-20 at one point with 2:36 left. A 45-24 lead after three quarters led to a solid 20+ point win at 52-49. Alhadef exploded for 16 points and 8 rebounds in leading the way for the Bulldogs. Additionally, Erez Krengel scored 12 on a night where the ball went only halfway through the hoop on several occasions and Sam Pulitzer posted a solid 9 point, 10 rebound performance. Also of note, the two teams combined for 7 of 21 from the free throw line with Yavneh missing 10 of those free throws. Several of Yavneh’s three pointers (4) failed to hit any part of the net, rim, or backboard. So, only time will tell whether this game was a springboard for Yavneh’s season.
The Bulldogs (5-4) will get a huge home test tomorrow evening against 5A public school Adamson that will go a long way towards determining this. Adamson and Yavneh have played some great games over the years but they have all been won by Adamson.
The Kennel Report is written by Zack Pollack