The TABC Storm won its first-ever basketball championship with a JV victory over the HAFTR Hawks last week. As students, parents and coaches filed into the Heschel gym in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, few felt the importance of the game that was about to be played as much as TABC head coach Oz Cross. Coaches Cross and Jonathan Packer joined the coaching staff three years ago to help change the culture and bring the basketball program to the next level. After a heartbreaking JV loss in last year’s championship, the team was ready to prove the doubters wrong and bring home the long-awaited championship title. The players came back this season and worked even harder, and Coach Cross wanted that work to pay off with a championship win. Though they were faced with much adversity over the course of the season the team fought through it and found themselves once again on the brink of a championship. With spots limited in the smaller Heschel gym, TABC fans still managed to bring their usual energy and spirit as they supported their classmates from the sidelines.
TABC entered the championship game following a pair of hard-fought playoff victories over higher ranked teams. In their semifinal game, the team faced off against the top-seeded Frisch Cougars. With tremendous 3 point shooting, the Storm came out ahead, beating the Cougars 66-53.
The Hawks, led by sophomore star Matthew Jedwab, opened up with an early lead, but TABC freshman Liam Levy responded with some explosive scoring to even up the score. A short departure by the speedy sophomore Yoni Mann allowed HAFTR to finish the quarter strong, up 10-6. In the second, the aggressiveness and strength of sophomore Yitzy Weiss helped him face up against the larger HAFTR team as he held down the fort in the post on both sides of the court. This, combined with some more phenomenal play from the speedy duo of Mann and freshman standout Levy, allowed TABC to dominate the quarter and enter the locker room with a six-point lead. After the break, TABC continued to ride their momentum from the first half, expanding their lead to 13, but HAFTR would fight back, going on a run of their own. A late 3 pointer by Levy and a last-second layup from Mann would salvage the lead for TABC, as they entered the fourth quarter up seven. The last quarter saw a final push from the Hawks, as a HAFTR and-one brought the game within one possession with four minutes to go. However, TABC would not let up, resecuring a strong lead as the clock wound down. Good free throw shooting, especially from sophomore guard Yehuda Mirwis, helped TABC hold on for the championship victory.
As the buzzer sounded, the Storm faithful stormed the court to celebrate the victory. Feelings of relief and pride were felt throughout the gym as the players lifted up the trophy in celebration of TABC’s first basketball championship.
Mann, who finished with 22 points, was awarded MVP. His explosiveness and ability to score off the dribble made it quite a challenge for opposing teams to slow him down all season long. Levy stepped up, with the freshman going up against taller and more experienced players with ease, and scoring 15 points. Weiss and Mirwis each had nine, but their contributions were felt on the court beyond their scoring totals. Though a quiet night for sophomore Ari Kaminetzky, his leadership and great shooting throughout the season helped propel TABC on its playoff run.
Overall, the well-balanced group of players really stepped up towards the end of the season and fought hard for their championship. Coach Cross credits the win to the hard work of his players, but also the tone and expectations set by the entire basketball program, explaining that, “The varsity team has set a standard that these young players have lived up to in terms of preparation. The sophomores lost a tough game in the championship last year, and from the first day of practice, coach Packer and I let it be known that we will settle for nothing less than a championship this year.” With the leadership of these outstanding coaches, TABC basketball has become a strong contender at both the JV and varsity levels, and the teams look to continue to improve upon this recent success and make TABC a force to be reckoned with every year.
By Eli Rifkind
