The MTA JV basketball Lions started the season on a high note. After a tough pre-season loss to SAR, MTA was looking forward to its opening night vs. Heschel on Wednesday, November 6. After an early first round in last year’s playoffs, MTA knew they had to be better. With sophomores Donny Book, Yehuda Emerson and Abie Schwartz entering the starting lineup along with sophomores Shua Alexander and Dani Wolk, MTA seemed unbeatable. Led by leading scorer Book with 21 points, MTA defeated Heschel with a final score of 39-37.

In the first half, MTA started off slow, but after a 3-pointer by Ezra Halpert and two and ones by Book, the Lions jumped out in front. Before the second half huddle, MTA’s coaches told the team “We have to be better. Smarter passes and smarter defense,” and that’s exactly what they did in the second half. Wolk started to get hot with many incredible passes to Book, who put in his layups with ease. Emerson and Book were pulling in rebounds for the Lions and then started the fast break with Schwartz and Alexander. It was a good win for the Lions and it will only get better as the season goes on.