Yavneh defeated Sunset Public High School 62-61 Monday night in overtime. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 6-4.
Sunset must have watched an instructional video hosted by the Shalhevet big man prior to their 34 foul performance Monday night. Senior Jordan Prescott scored the final two of his game-high 27 points with 2.1 seconds left in overtime as Yavneh escaped with a much needed victory. While both offenses started slowly Sunset had already compiled 6 team fouls in less than six minutes of play. In fact, the Bulldogs were into the first half foul bonus with 58.3 seconds left in the opening stanza. A seesaw period saw Sunset hold a 12-11 lead but both teams had much to worry about. Yavneh was a paltry 1/8 from the field but connected on 9/10 free throws. Only Prescott and Adam Karnett scored, which is becoming an all too familiar sight early and throughout games. Karnett was volume shooting on this night and his acrobatic layup late in the second period set the stage for a cold blooded Josh Lynn triple that netted the biggest lead for either team to that point at 24-20. The Bulldogs held a 30-25 lead at the break while being outshot 43-28% and turning the ball over 7 times. The lone victory was the free throw contest Yavneh was holding at the Sunset basket. 15/20 charity shots allowed the Prescott/Karnett combo to net 23 points.
For whatever reason the Bulldogs seem to lose focus coming out of the locker room at halftime game after game. This time a 7-0 Sunset run ensued in less than two minutes to start the third quarter. Karnett and Lynn teamed up once again to halt the run with a layup and subsequent three pointer. Senior Kevin Sulski put the finishing touches on a 13-6 run to finish the third period with a big time follow. As Prescott rejected and rebounded a Sunset attempt the Bulldogs were one mini-run from icing the game. Sunset continued to foul at a cheetah-like pace, even fouling out 2 of their 53 or so players before the start of the fourth quarter. Karnett’s glide to the rim netted a 47-38 strangle-hold with 5:12 to play for Yavneh. Against Beren it was the late turnovers that rocked the Bulldogs world; tonight it was Sunset #11 Carlos Huerta. The lefty shooter drained shot after shot down the stretch, chipping away at the lead with every passing possession. Karnett found Ben Romaner for Yavneh’s lone basket from a post player for the night but Huerta responded with a three ball. Another mid-range jumper followed and then another. With the lead just 54-53 and 1:34 to go, Lynn recorded a potential game saving rebound leading to a Prescott lefty closing statement at the rim. Huerta, however, was not finished. One final long distance special tied the game at 56-56 and just 23.6 seconds remaining in regulation. After a Bulldog turnover Sunset had a chance for the win but barely missed a buzzer beating halfcourt shot off the ceiling. Despite a Prescott to Sulski opening connection at the rim, Sunset grabbed a 3 point cushion with the next two baskets in succession. Karnett found Prescott to slice the lead to a single point and the door was open for the Bulldogs when Senior Jake Greif took his fourth charge of the game. That led to an empty possession but Sunset could not convert on their free throw chance that followed, and Yavneh had one last chance with 12.3 seconds on the clock down 61-60. Prescott took the ball right to the basket almost identical to his game winner at Emery in November 2010. Once again the ball found the bottom of the net and 2.1 seconds later the Bulldogs could finally take a couple days off.
The numbers were staggering. Making nine more free throws than field goals is definitely not the norm but it was just enough to get the job done on a rainy night in Dallas, Texas. Prescott and Karnett led the way with 27 and 18 points respectively, and the Lynn/Sulski support combo chipped in 13 points that were all needed. The 4 Greif charges taken were another necessity, especially losing many trips on the Bulldogs’ own 19 turnovers. Yavneh (6-4) will be off for a week after playing 8 games in the last 7 days. Lutheran will be waiting, trying to avenge a blowout loss to the Bulldogs a season ago.
The Kennel Report, now in its eighth season, is written by…
Zack Pollack M&M
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