(Courtesy of Yavneh Sports) On Sunday, March 2nd, the Yavneh Redhawks 8th Grade Boys Basketball Team etched their names into Bergen County middle school sports history by securing their first ever boys basketball championship title in school history. Playing in front of a packed and energetic crowd at the Yeshivat Frisch High School gym in Paramus, New Jersey, the atmosphere was electric. Fans were ready to cheer, and their beloved Redhawk mascot- youngest in history- was on hand to rally the team as they matched up against the undefeated Hillel Heat.
Leading up to this game, Hillel rolled through the regular season undefeated at 10 – 0 and was the number one seed headed into the playoffs. They continued their undefeated streak with a win over RPRY in their quarterfinal matchup and then defeated the number four seed, RYNJ, in a tough semi-final matchup to get to the championship game.
The Yavneh Redhawks, fighting through some early injuries, also had a fantastic season at 9-1. Their only blemish being a 2 point loss to the undefeated BPY team. As the number three seed, they were victorious over ASHAR in their quarterfinal matchup and then faced the number two seed, BPY, in their semifinal matchup. After a close first half, the Redhawks were able to pull away from a very tough BPY team and avenge their only loss of the season to gain their position in the championship game.
After player introductions and the singing of the national anthems of Israel and the United States, the opening tipoff in this much anticipated matchup was underway. The championship game began with both Hillel and Yavneh exhibiting strong defensive play, each working to shake off early nerves. The scoreboard reflected the tight battle, as neither side managed to gain a significant edge. The first quarter finishes with Yavneh up 8-6.
The second quarter started with Yavneh getting out to a quick 14-8 lead but Hillel wasn’t going to let them run away with it. Hillel quickly came back with relentless defense and controlled offense leading to scoring from Isaac Braha, Alan Warshak, Danny Epstein and a big three from Joe Hannan at the buzzer to finish off the second quarter to keep the score close at 20-17, Yavneh with the lead.
At halftime, the teams retreated to their locker rooms to regroup. When they returned to the court, Yavneh Academy emerged with composure that brought them to the next level. They quickly gained momentum, pulling ahead with a commanding lead that would define the second half.
Leading the charge for Yavneh was Eitan Menasha, who dominated the boards and finished with an impressive 14 points and 27 rebounds. Ami Goldsmith was impressive from beyond the arc, nailing three three-pointers en route to his 13-point performance, which was instrumental in Yavneh’s offensive surge.
Ian Fineman played a vital role as well, contributing 11 points while skillfully controlling the tempo of the game. On the defensive end, Alex Goldschmidt hustled tirelessly, causing disruption and generating turnovers. Although he started slow on offense, he found his groove in the second half, finishing with eight points.
Reuven Rosenbaum, Yavneh’s floor general at point guard, displayed remarkable composure under pressure. His unselfish play gave the team a reliable teammate to dish the ball to, knowing he would then look for the next open player and set them up for success.
The energy from the bench was another highlight of the night, with every teammate engaged and invested in the success of the team. The crowd erupted when Ezra Spraragen entered the game and hit a three-pointer, sending waves of excitement through the gym and capping off a magical night for Yavneh Academy. This team defined what it means to be a team and support each other.
In the end, Yavneh Academy triumphed with a decisive 50-29 victory, marking a historic achievement. Congratulations to Coach Ushie Selevan and the entire team for an incredible season and a well-earned YMSSA 8th Grade Boys Basketball Championship win!
