Last Sunday’s Girls JV Basketball Championship was a highly anticipated match up between Frisch and Ma’ayanot. Both teams were coming off of a 9-1 season record, each having lost a hard fought close game to the other in the regular season. Now, with the championship on the line, it was time for the tiebreaker. This past Sunday, March 3, the TABC gym was packed, the energy was high and fans were ready for an intense matchup.
Both teams started out strong, coming out determined to win—the Ma’ayanot Rapids taking an early lead, with the Frisch Cougars staying within just a few points. After Ma’ayanot took an early 4-nothing lead, Erin Sheps brought Frisch into the game off a steal and fast break layup, followed by great teamwork from other starters Riki Amos, Tali Fried, Laya Rosenberg and Noa Schulder. Towards the end of the 1st quarter the score was tied 6-6 but ultimately the quarter ended with a score of 14-8, Ma’ayanot leading. Fortunately for Frisch, Coach Rebecca Hawk turned to the Frisch bench bringing out Jordana Green, Ariella Piotnica and Gabriella Butler who kept the Cougars in the game. Gabriella made clutch 3 pointers throughout the entire game, ultimately winning MVP.
Although Frisch was playing phenomenal defense and had strong rebounders, not all of their shots were falling during the first half, and Frisch went into the locker room at half time losing to Ma’ayanot by 7 points with a score of 26-19.
In the second half, Frisch came out even more determined than before. The Cougars seemed to want the win more than the Rapids as they gained momentum and chipped away at the lead, but the Rapids would not let up. Throughout the second half, Schulder made crucial plays and played tough defense while Amos and Green continued to grab rebounds, block shots and make great defensive stops. Rosenberg ran the offense with her commanding ball handling and Piotnica’s quick thinking and sharp passes helped the team get past the pressure and create scoring opportunities. Fried and Sheps continued to rack up points with fast break layups and Butler consistently scored crucial 3s and fundamental foul shots, firing up both the bench and the packed gym. With both teams drawing substantial fouls, the game remained tight throughout.
Early in the 4th quarter the Cougars led the Rapids 32-31 with the lead constantly shifting between the two teams. While Fried fouled out for Frisch early in the quarter, it was Dresdner, Weiss, Halpert, Kirschenbaum, Eizikovitz and Skoczylas who kept the Rapids in the game. Fortunately the Cougars stayed relentless, and when Skoczylas and Eizikovitz fouled out for the Rapids, the Cougars capitalized on the opportunity, breaking open the game and pushing their lead further.
In the end the Frisch Cougars came out victorious, securing a hard-fought win with a final score of 44-41. Both teams battled relentlessly throughout, but it was the Cougars who managed to push through in the final moments, taking the win in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last second. Congratulations to the Frisch Girls JV Basketball team on their 4th consecutive championship, and congratulations to Gabriella Butler on being named MVP.
