Yavneh defeated Phoenix Charter School 72-24 Wednesday evening to improve the Bulldogs record to 11-6.
Almost 3 weeks off did nothing to rattle the Bulldogs’ win streak, which is now at a season-high six games. Unlike last season’s post-break game when Lakehill pounded Yavneh, the Bulldogs were focused and sharp in controlling a game from start to finish. Along the way, they avoided the pitfalls of rust from the break as well as the possibility of looking ahead to tomorrow evening gigantic tilt with DISD 5A power A. Maceo Smith. Junior star David Naxon was back in the lineup for the first time since the season’s third game, showing no lingering effects from the injury that sidelined him for nearly two months. Naxon led all players with 23 points and 11 rebounds in his 13-minute return but will face a much more physical test Thursday. He wasted no time welcoming himself back, scoring the game’s first 5 points. Staked to an early 7-0 and 12-2 lead, Yavneh imposed their will on the smaller and less athletic Phoenix squad. Naxon settled down after some first quarter jitters to put the game away in the early second quarter. The Bulldogs, usually on the short end of the rebounding battle, gulped 40 rebounds to just 9 for Phoenix Charter, including 23-1 on the offensive glass. The best shot Phoenix took all night may have been Eric Haralson’s ferocious hip-check that sent Yavneh guard William Zalstein into the padded wall. However, Zalstein would get off the floor to collect 4 assists and 3 steals to charge Yavneh’s second quarter run. The lead was 31-7 at halftime and would only grow in the second half. All 10 Bulldog players in attendance played double digit minutes and scored, proving that this truly is the deepest Yavneh team ever. Bradley Alhadef and Sam Pulitzer also contributed double-digit scoring games for Yavneh, while Charlie Saginaw followed up his breakout game with a 9 point, 9 rebound effort. Saginaw continues to be an offensive rebounding weapon with 7 more Wednesday night. The Freshman trio of Karnett, Lerer, and Miles Pulitzer ate up most of the fourth quarter with easy baskets off nifty passing to keep the margin intact by game’s end.
Yavneh (11-6) has arguably entered one of its most important 11 day stretches ever with the big public school game Thursday, the Yavneh Jersey Retirement Ceremony next Thursday immediately preceding a game vs. Mc Kinney Christian, and of course the following Saturday night NCAA basketball game featuring ex-Yavneh greats Itzy Ribald and Gavi Wolk’s Yeshiva Maccabees at the University of Dallas in Irving.
Yavneh’s game vs. A. Maceo Smith will begin at 7pm Dallas time Thursday night.
The Kennel Report is written by Zack Pollack