For the second time in a week the Bruriah Lightning B League basketball team walked away from a game against SKA with a win. A week ago the Lightning sealed a stunning win on the road at SKA with a fast break by senior Talya Markowitz and a three-pointer by sophomore Avigayil Kahn. Facing its opponent from last year’s championship, Lightning swelled its lead to as many as 19, before celebrating a final 41-30 victory to improve to 5-0.

Still smarting after walking away from the 2017 championship empty handed, the Lightning made the two plus-hour trip to SKA worth it by scoring first. Led by captains Markowitz, Rina Finkelstein and Aliza Kurtz (all seniors), the Lightning has also seen action against Shaare Torah, Shulamith (LI), Magen David and Ilan. The Lightning captains, who also start, are joined by Sarena Wiederkehr (senior) and Aliza Rothenberg (sophomore) to round out the starting lineup. After a few one-point lead changes, the score held at 5-4 until the Lightning took full command of the game. Racheli Lipner (senior), Avital Wiener (junior) and Kahn (sophomore) provided scoring off the bench. SKA switched its defense and included a box-and-one for a short time before calling it off and reverting to its 2-3. SKA pulled to within six before Kahn and Markowitz applied the extra cushion.

The Lightning weren’t good hosts when SKA visited for a chance to take home a win. Though SKA scored first, the Lightning built an 11-point lead in the first quarter that eventually dwindled. With starter Rina Finkelstein on the bench in foul trouble, SKA took a one-point lead in the middle of the second quarter before surrendering it for good shortly before halftime. Sophomores Aliza Rothberg and Judith Wechter provided a lift on offense and Wiederkehr and Lily Lightman made key defensive plays. The Lighting’s 33-24 win helped them secure first place in the standings and head into the Chanukah break at 6-0.