(Yeshiva League Pass) In a pivotal seeding showdown, the JEC Thunder traveled to Deal to face the Hillel Heat in a game with significant playoff implications. Both teams were looking to secure a home playoff game—or even a coveted first-round bye—making this matchup critical as the season enters its final stretch.
The first quarter set the tone for an intense battle, with both teams trading baskets in a back-and-forth affair. JEC’s Noam Gottlieb and Aharon Rozehzadeh each put up seven points, countering strong performances by Hillel’s Franco and Mizrahi, who scored seven and eight points respectively. The opening frame ended with JEC trailing by a single point, 15-14.
The second quarter saw JEC find its rhythm, fueled by Rozehzadeh’s relentless attack in the paint, including several highlight-reel and-ones. By halftime, Rozehzadeh had tallied an impressive 17 points. JEC’s bench also came alive, with Yonaton Feit knocking down two 3-pointers, Aaron Feurberg adding another and Avraham Bobrow hitting a buzzer-beating triple to send the Thunder into the locker room with a 37-30 lead.
JEC maintained control of the tempo in the third quarter, stretching their lead to double digits before Hillel mounted a late push to cut the deficit to seven heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter was a nail-biter as Hillel hit timely shots to trim JEC’s lead to just three points with under a minute remaining. However, the Thunder’s defense held strong in crunch time, coming up with two critical stops to seal a hard-fought victory.
Aharon Rozehzadeh delivered a dominant performance for JEC, finishing with a game-high 31 points and 15 rebounds. Hillel’s offense was led by Zekaria, Franco and Mizrahi, all of whom finished in double figures.
With the win, JEC improves to 6-2 on the season, positioning themselves well in the playoff race. Next up is a crucial matchup against the Ramaz Rams, another team vying for a first-round bye. The stakes remain high as the Thunder look to solidify their standing and carry momentum into the postseason.
Final Score: JEC 53, Hillel 50
