Yavneh defeated Mc Kinney Christian 48-36 Tuesday evening. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 3-2.
About the only thing that can save a team that turns the ball over to their opponent 17 times is when that opponent gives that same ball right back 30 times. Sophomore scoring sensation Elan Kogutt led all scorers for the fifth straight game with 22 more points, and Yavneh survived a lackluster effort to continue a winning season. The slow pace of the game made each turnover all the more costly. Yavneh came out firing from three point land, with Miles Pulitzer and Reid Cohen delivering early for a 9-2 lead. Both teams turned the ball over right from the start, combining for 14 in the opening frame. The Bulldogs held a 9-8 lead despite horrific 3/13 shooting. Mc Kinney actually ended the quarter on a 6-0 run but Freshman Ben Romaner broke that early in the second with a smooth baseline jumper. Senior Captain William Zalstein actually provided the most drama of the first half with two free throws in the final 20 seconds. The pair broke an 0-9 free throw start to the season for Zalstein, moving him within 78 percentage points of Toronto Raptors guard Jose Calderon. Yavneh led 20-13 at the half but it was one ugly 16 minutes. Neither team shot 34%, combined for 25 turnovers, and missed 5 free throws. Kogutt was slowed in that first half, but still managed to finish with 10 points. Just like the first meeting, Mc Kinney battled back in the second half. Another 6-0 run to start the half featured the visitors feasting on three more Yavneh turnovers. Finally, though, Kogutt decided it was time to make an appearance. He scored four quick points on a nifty layup and was the recipient of a sweet Zalstein pass off a steal. With that offense, the Bulldogs turned up the pressure. Zalstein made three critical steals and helped to build a 30-19 lead off the decisive 10-0 pressurized run. Capping the rally was Freshman Jake Greif leaving sea level to grab a monstrous offensive rebound. With classmate Reid Cohen’s second three pointer, this one the dagger that put the game out of reach, Yavneh led 33-19 late in the third quarter. Kogutt started to take over the game in the final period as the Mc Kinney turnovers just got too numerous to overcome. The only run they made was immediately silenced as Zalstein slipped to the basket for a 35-27 lead. The Senior guard played his second straight solid game, collecting six steals, notching four assists and being ultra-aggressive to the basket. Its nice to win a game in which you struggle sometimes, like catching a break.
Yavneh (3-2) plays at Thomas Jefferson Public High School next Tuesday night. While they have had much recent success against that particular public school, it is always necessary to get up for a trip into a hostile environment.
The Kennel Report, now in its fifth season, is written by…
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