Yavneh defeated Rosehill Christian School of Tomball, Texas 50-35 Saturday night in THE TAPPS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. The win improves the Bulldogs season record to 31-3, solidifies the first on-court State Championship for any Jewish school in the United States, and ends the amazing TAPPS/Texas basketball careers of a Senior class that has left an everlasting legacy to Yavneh and well beyond.
YAVNEH HAS WON THE 2020 TEXAS TAPPS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP….It would be too simple and not remotely do the greatest night in Jewish high school basketball history justice…In plain sight, Jonah Eber and Mason Schwaber notched majestic DOUBLE-DOUBLES on the biggest of stages, the Bulldogs carved up the vaunted 1-3-1 zone defense of Rosehill Christian, and willed their way to a 16-3 domination on the offensive glass. It was a formula that was nothing new for this deep team who won 31 different but eerily similar ways en route to this timeless moment. But that was basketball and only a vehicle for what the final moments of February 2020 brought to the Yavneh community, the world of Jewish basketball, and all that this win belongs to. The blood, sweat, and tears; teaching moments, heartbreak, and jubilation; life lessons, fun, and cultural education: THIS WAS A CELEBRATION OF YAVNEH BASKETBALL…and it was in Judaic Entertainment Primetime for anyone with a smart device or a transport mechanism that could get even close to Waco, Texas to savor, smile, and blush with pride. To the builders, coaches, players, ambassadors, families, supporters, and friends—THIS ONE WAS FOR YOU, COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT YOU, AND WILL FOREVER BE A REMINDER OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FUTURE GENERATIONS HAVE ON THE COURT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY OFF THE COURT Guided by the idea of GET THE REBOUND, a phrase with many life lessons so often used by Annette Wolk z”l, this team heeded the words of their Third Grade teacher and program Matriarch throughout their post-season journey. Speaking of the literal portion of that message, this group recognized the formula to win Yavneh basketball games that goes back well into the 1990s: play defense, win the turnover game, and ALWAYS GET THE REBOUND. The 35-21 margin in this game on the boards, accentuated by a 16-3 number on the offensive glass alone, will be the lasting impression that Rosehill Christian will have when they consider what went wrong in this basketball game. But the bounce back, persistence, and resilience of this team would in fact be tested one more time before it paraded its way to the title it wanted so badly to commemorate a 4-year run that deserved so much more than any disappointment in West, Texas. Caleb Ceasar drilled a three pointer to start the game, Yavneh played passively against an intimidating 1-3-1 zone defense, and continued their season-long trend of poor free throw shooting to begin this heavyweight basketball contest. Trailing 5-1, anyone who knows anything about Yavneh and Jewish High School basketball had to be thinking HERE WE GO AGAIN. After all, this program is amazingly great at getting to the pinnacle before learning a gut-wrenching yet life-lesson filled defeat to motivate itself for the next season, game, or chapter. But the emotion of this team with the fire, passion, and perfection of the moment is always viewed in 3D. Sophomore Ben Rael, who those that see simply as The Fifth Starter and be dazed and confused in 2 years when he has left his mark in full, always has the answer. 3D’s corner triple, a co-specialty to his charge-taking ability, kickstarted the 10-0 run that would seize control of the game and the State Championship. At the flip of that beautiful baseline delivery worth triplicate, the Red-and-Black never looked back. Jason Prager fed Jonah Eber for a bully-ball special which seemed to ignite the inside presence that would be impossible for the Eagles to contain from here on out. Eber and Mason Schwaber passed to each other by way of the rim for the first multi-offensive rebound score of the night and Tyler C Winton found Prager at the wing for a trifecta that capped 10 straight points for an 11-5 lead. Rosehill became agitated and frustrated with their play and allowed the Bulldogs to essentially hold for the last shot over nearly 3 minutes (see Denton Calvary Playoffs 3rd Quarter 2019 Area Playoff game for reference) at the tail end of the opening period. This one ended with an Eber finish off glass to secure a 13-7 edge after one quarter of play. The game was very even except for the 4-0 turnover differential in favor of Yavneh yet the 6-point lead was not achieved with remotely close to the best effort that the Bulldogs could muster up. The second quarter, however, saw opportunities cash in for a team growing with confidence minute by minute. Second three pointers by Prager and by Rael (of course from the corner) proved to be just enough shooting while Schwaber was playing his own game under the rim. A two-offensive rebound AND NONE had the Eagles wondering if they would ever secure an actual rebound to gain possession of the ball. Eber added his own follow and a pair of sparkling free throws to push the lead to 11 points while securing a 27-18 halftime advantage. A +10 on the board and 9 forced turnovers to go along with 4/13 three point shooting was enough to separate and there would be letting up….not on this special night.
Those waiting for a let-down, complacency, or moment of distraction to allow Rosehill to crawl back in were mildly disappointed. Everyone on this Yavneh team was locked and loaded for their moment as the celebration began with solid play on the court for the final 16 minutes of the 3A TAPPS season. Rael’s seeing-eye pass to Winton set up the most McBuckets floater off the window that you can find on any film. Schwaber, who was so lethal in this post-season run at the rim with his nearly 6”9 trending towards beach body frame, remined everyone he is also a shooter with a gorgeous baseline jumper from the pass of Prager. Senior start Jacob Anderson, who was held well below his 25 point average at 11 points on 3/13 shooting, trimmed the 31-18 deficit to 10 points on his only three pointer of the game. But that was immediately followed by a Winton pick-pocket for points to stem the tide. The Eagles had one chance to put game pressure on the Bulldogs with a 4-0 run to trim the lead to 33-25 towards the precipice of the third period. And they almost got the ball back with a chance to make this game a mere two posessions when Schwaber punched at a ball ticketed for the glass windows off the court at spacious West High School. There was a Mason Schwaber that was lazy and never would have dreamed of lunging for that basketball. But not this Mount Mason and not remotely on this night!! The player oft accused of staying on buses, traveling to airports in cities that were not big tournament game destinations, and being on the court/not on the court, was sensational at nearly every big moment this year. And this punch at the ball, gather, and score for the 35-25 lead was the response for all-time. Eber scored a short time later on….on what else, another second chance special. Winton joined the party for another second chance, which accounted for a 15-1 obliterating margin on the offensive glass with still 8 minutes and change to play. In a beyond poetic ending to the third stanza, Eber assisted Schwaber for a 39-26 lead and also the 1000th point of the big man’s career. Eber, who just scored his 1000th in the Semis, had a smile the size of Texas while dishing to his buddy for his special moment. Also of note, that connection began the final period for the 1002nd and 1003rd points but who is counting?!!! The turnovers began to mount for Rosehill and the Bulldogs were continuing to run back the other way. Noah Ohayon, who discovered greatness in this post-season, scored on another power finish in the paint for a 43-26 lead off a Prager feed. Rael began the party and essentially finished it with a squinting layup in a tight window off a pass from loving cousin Eber and of course followed that up with his final Texas charge take of the year. As he screamed and flailed like an excited child on his 7th birthday, the 47-30 score gave him good justification as this team was NOT going to lose this game. The Seniors all got rousing ovations to end the game, none bigger than the one following the pulchritudinous rainbow free throw by Reece Parker. That 50th point capped the championship and started a jubilant celebration that lasted hours if not days, weeks, months, and years when all is said and done. While this win resonated and satisfied so many past players, alumni, supporters, and all who follow Jewish hoops around the world, it is almost surreal to think about what went on this building. A high school in the random suburb of Waco, Texas played host to two state championship games for TAPPS (1A and 3A), both played hours later to accommodate post-Shabbat game times, both involving Jewish schools, less than 200 feet apart in distance. This was truly a night to be celebrated on so many levels and will have far-reaching effects for generations to come. The two players doing the most celebrating on the offensive glass were the duo that really is hard to separate. Jonah Eber (14 points/11 rebounds) and Mason Schwaber (12 points/13 rebounds) were both named to the All-Tournament team, were both All-District First Team selections with All-State to be determined this upcoming Tuesday, and co-District MVPs for TAPPS 3A District 2. Ben Rael (2nd Team All-District) was sensational in this playoff run and his 8 points and his energy literally put teams on ice. Jason Prager (1st Team All-District and co-Newcomer of the Year) was an All-Tournament selection as well with two stellar Final 4 games. Tyler Winton (All-Tournament Team), once the most inconsistent player to walk a basketball court and play marginal defense while blowing kisses to the crowd, had a glorious district and state playoff run. His First-Team All-District and co-Defensive Player of the Year honors highlight a Senior year that only the experts could see coming for the charismatic Chairman of the Board. Also of note, Avery Levy was a Second-Team All-District selection while Reece Parker and Noah Ohayon each achieved Honorable Mention All-District honors.
Yavneh (31-3) has climbed the mountain and finally achieved what no Jewish school has done before….win a State’s championship on the court. They merely finished the job started by the countless team effort of years and years of heroes that have a enormous stake in what took place Saturday night. The efforts of so many that built this program should be lauded endlessly, and this run in TAPPS since re-entry 7 years ago has its specific group of builders that set up this night. As for this team, it has earned an 11-day recovery period before it concludes this magical season with an appearance at the Red Sarachek Yeshiva University Tournament in New York City. While their legacy is secured in permanent ink for all-time, the 4 Seniors will begin the process of passing the torch to future generations over the next 4 games. For now, TIME HAS TOLD and this basketball program and the greater Dallas Jewish community should be proud of their continued success. This program will continue to teach and develop the upstanding Jewish youth that is now leading the world at a grander scale. Championships are nice and an opportunity to celebrate the work that has been going on tireless for years but make NO MISTAKE: win, lose, or whatever the greater fight continues to be a positive one that will mold future leaders that will repay all that gave them these opportunities multiple times over.
The Kennel Report, now in its 16th season, is written by…
Zack Pollack +XF M&M
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