January 6, 2015 was a memorable day for the eighth grade RYNJ Jaguars. It was their first home game in their newly renovated gym. The team was hosting a talented Noam Knights squad, both teams had championship aspirations. Midway thru the second quarter Jaguars point guard Ikey Gutlove landed awkwardly, breaking his wrist and deflating RYNJ’s championship dreams. Last Wednesday night, exactly twelve months later, on the same court, the same Jaguar team, trying to fight their way into the playoffs, hosted the Moriah two-time defending champs.
All in attendance of this 2016 game predicted a hard fought game, but the champions were the unanimous favorites to walk away with their fifth victory of the season. In a first quarter that featured tremendous defense on both ends of the court, RYNJ found itself down two, 8-6, when the buzzer sounded.
Quarter number two saw more of the same fierce defense. Both teams traded possessions but kept the score close. In the final minutes of the half, Moriah’s star center, 6-foot-3 Gabi Katz, rolled his ankle and left the game. As Katz looked on from the bench, the teams kept going back and forth. The scoreboard showed Moriah up 14-12 going into the half.
The second half featured terrific shooting by Moriah’s Ethan Schechter, David Cohen, Zack Horowitz and Rafi Lewis. RYNJ did not give up, led by the playmaking abilities of Ikey Gutlove; the tenacious defense of Yonah Hook; Azaria Ben-Nun cleaning up the boards; and the sure shooting of Yonatan Kaye and Shmulie Coates.
With the score tied at 29, and seconds left, Moriah’s Horowitz stole the inbounds pass and fired up a shot from in front of his team bench. The shot did not fall and the game was headed for overtime.
As time was expiring in the extra frame, the Jaguars found themselves down one point. Coach Gutlove called time out to draw up a play. After faking the ball to Ikey Gutlove, Coates spotted a gap in the Moriah press. He pushed the ball up court got the defense in the air and unselfishly dished the ball to Kaye on the baseline. Kaye sealed the deal. RYNJ emerged victorious 36-35.
