The Tier 2 Grand Finale of the 2017 Swish for Sderot Annual Eighth Grade Yeshiva Day School Boys Basketball Tournament took place on Sunday Dec. 3 at TABC.
The format for the grand finale was comprised of all the schools in Tier 2 competing in a mini day long, single elimination basketball tournament. The day consisted of five extremely competitive contests and a display of great sportsmanship by all.
The first game of the day featured Yeshiva Har Torah (YHT) v. Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC). The game got off to a slow start with both teams getting comfortable with their game plans. HANC started to pull away late in the first half and held a 20-11 halftime lead. Uriel Kohanim led YHT with all 11 points at the half, while Ben Mottahedeh led HANC with 12 points. In the second half, HANC built a 32-17 lead and seemed to be cruising towards an easy victory. But YHT went on a 10-0 run and closed to within 32-27 with just over a minute remaining in the game. HANC then put away the game, making their foul shots, and secured a 35-27 victory, moving on to the semifinals. Leading scorer for YHT was Uriel Kohanim with 17 points and leading scorer for HANC was Ben Mottahedeh with 19 points.
The next opening round game featured Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) v. Rabbi Pesach Rayman Yeshiva (RPRY). This game was a back and forth contest with both teams trading baskets and YCQ holding a 23-21 halftime lead. The second half continued to be close until YCQ started to pull ahead and won by a final score of 41-33 to move into the semifinals. Leading scorer for RPRY was Evan Krul with 12 points and leading scorer for YCQ was Yosef Lubeck with 13 points.
The first semifinal pitted HANC v. Manhattan Day School (MDS). The first half was a defensive battle with MDS holding a slight advantage of 15-13. The teams continued to battle in the second half and MDS finally started to pull away with seven minutes left, leading by a score of 24-18. HANC would not be deterred. They hit two threes to close within 24-23 with under five minutes left. MDS continued to apply the pressure and was leading 28-27 with under three minutes to go. The teams traded possessions until Ari Ivry nailed a three point field goal to put HANC up 30-28. MDS hit one foul shot to close within one. MDS had one last possession but their desperation shot at the buzzer missed, and HANC was victorious with an upset victory over MDS, sending them into the championship game to face the winner of HALB v. YCQ. Leading scorers for MDS were Cohen and Sprigel with eight points each and leading scorer for HANC was Ivry with 16 points.
The second semifinal had YCQ v. top seed HALB. The first half was evenly matched as both teams traded baskets with one another with HALB holding a 22-17 halftime lead. In the second half, HALB’s pressure resulted in fast breaks which YCQ could not recover, and HALB sailed into the championship game with a 43-30 victory. Leading scorer for YCQ was Yosef Lubeck with 10 points and for HALB, Sokol had 15 points.
The championship game between HANC and HALB was a rematch of a preliminary contest played earlier in the tournament. The first half was a low scoring affair with HALB racing out to an early 13-6 lead. HANC then went on a 6-1 run to close out the first half and trailed by a score of 14-12. HALB started the second half with an 8-0 run and held a 34-24 lead with just five minutes to go. HANC continued to battle but HALB proved way too strong and they secured the championship by a final score of 40-27. Leading a balanced scoring for HALB was Yoni Aspir and Assaf Perl with eight points each. HANC was led by Matthew Hoch with six points.
Each participating school in the tournament selected an All Star Player who received a special Swish for Sderot All Star Trophy: YHT Uriel Kohanim, RPRY Azariah Foger, MDS Moshe Spirgel, YCQ Yosef Lubeck, HANC Ari Ivry.
Following the championship game, each member of the winning team receiving a championship trophy. In addition, the Swish for Sderot MVP trophy went to Assaf Perl of HALB. HALB also received a Team Championship Trophy that they will proudly display in school
This successful event was the culmination of many weeks of planning and preliminary games played throughout the tri-state region. The goal of the tournament was to raise awareness about the community and Hesder Yeshiva of Sderot, to raise much needed funds and give the eighth grade basketball teams the opportunity to participate in a highly competitive basketball tournament.
As stated by Judah and Carol Rhine, tournament coordinators and directors of American Friends of Sderot, “There was a great display of achdus throughout the day, especially when the teams gathered together to daven Mincha earlier in the day, and Maariv just before the championship game. Many thanks to all the parents, administrators and friends who came and enjoyed an action packed day, along with a sense of purpose in supporting American Friends of Sderot.”
By JLNJ Sports Desk
