March Madness started early in JEC league championship play. Last Wednesday night’s first round playoff against Manhattan Day School went from a healthy lead to a nail-biter, with the game almost tied in the fourth quarter, but JEC ultimately came through with the win and a final score of 43-37.

Coach Yehuda Heller, JEC and TABC alum, is enjoying his second successful run with this team. Heller is held in high esteem by the players, the parents and the administration. “Our whole is greater than the sum of our parts,” said Heller. “The guys constantly ask themselves if they are covering their position and doing the best they can for our team in the moment.” Heller likes to keep it simple and prefers to focus on, “…great ball movement and rotations. I try to help them understand the game rather than just playing a position, because when they are on the floor and the clock is running: anything could happen. If they are (mentally) prepared and independently understand the fundamentals of positioning on defense and exploiting the weaknesses on offense: they will make the right decisions.”

And apparently they do. Gavi Walzman shares his approach: “Stay calm, work together as a unit, don’t get mad at one another.” For Asher Goldberg it means, “Playing at our own pace and controlling the tempo of the game. We trust in each other. Our priority is obviously to win the championship, but whether it’s a sloppy or amazing game—hitting our shots or not, win or lose—in the end if we gave it all we had and never gave up, that’s like a win for us.” Reuven Rozezadeh reinforced this philosophy, “Play our own game at our own pace and never give up…” That’s what will “win the ship!” Yakir Adams adds, “Always keep pushing, keep working and don’t stop. Always move forward.”

Heller’s take on his team? “The biggest nachas is when I don’t say a word, and they just run beautiful basketball, team basketball.”

By Ellie Wolf

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