When Heschel sees Frisch Captain Andrew Langer #23 coming, they should bar the door—with double locks. After torching the Heat for 41 in the Rubenstein Tournament in December, Langer picked up right where he left off and dropped 28 (playing only three quarters) on Heschel to lead the Cougar blitz over the number 2 seed from the Manhattan Division.

From the opening tap, this one was never in doubt. Sophomore Captains Langer, Noah Schechter, and Mayer Scharlat smothered the Heat in the back court, and with the help of the starting frontcourt of Zack Cohen (2 points) and Isaac Weinstock (a sweet baseline jumper for 2 and a ball-splattering block), Frisch closed out the first quarter up 20-4.

The second quarter saw more of the same, with Sophomore C Gideon Benchabbat getting in the act with a patented charge and Freshman G Isaac Laifer turning up the pressure with 4 points and 2 steals in the period. Heschel, to its credit, did not back down, and made a push that was rebuffed by the Cougars, who went into the locker room up 39-14.

Langer opened the third quarter with 8 straight points and that was that. A 14-5 Frisch run led to a 59-21 lead at the close of three quarters.

The fourth quarter saw every Cougar get on the court and finish the game on a strong note, sealing the 76-37 victory that vaults Frisch into the semifinals.

Langer’s 28 (3 steals, 3 assists) were complemented by Scharlat’s 10 points (5 steals and 5 assists), Schechter’s 4 points (2 steals and 2 assists) and an energetic Laifer’s 6 points (4 steals and 2 assists). Sophomores Scott Levine and Captain John Seidel also netted 6 each, while Freshman G Josh Dukas chipped in with 5.

The JV Cougars (20-1; 10-1) await news of their semifinal opponent, which may depend on tie-breakers and a coin flip between teams in the Eastern Conference.