The JEC varsity Thunder was hungry for its first Yeshiva League win in the 2021-22 campaign. Having slugged to a 24-22 loss to open at MTA, only to be followed by competitive games against SAR and Frisch (despite a 34-point performance by Yosef Heller), the Thunder needed to get back into the playoff hunt with a Sunday night win against the Rambam Ravens of Lawrence.

The Thunder was ready for the high flying Ravens from the opening tip and used ferocious defense and timely scoring to take a 24-10 lead into the locker room at half time.

In the second half, building on stellar defense, JEC went on a 23 point run, and finished the night with a resounding 61-23 win. This is the second time this season JEC held a Yeshiva League team to under 25 points, for a game.

Leading the JEC effort were senior PG and captain Akiva Hess, with 16 points. Hess has shot 13-15 from the foul line in his last two games.

Hess was accompanied by junior small forward Yosef Heller, who contributed 16 points of his own. To exemplify just how balanced the Thunder’s scoring was, Michael Cornick, just off the injured list, had nine points, two blocks and eight rebounds. Shooting guards Elisha Jooyandeh and Evan Krul (four assists) each added seven points, while Yehuda Speyer added six points.

Crucial to JEC’s success was the dominant glass cleaning of Akiva Sapieka, who snared 22 rebounds.

JEC is now 2-3 overall, 1-3 in play, and has neighborhood rival Kushner coming up on Saturday night.

By Coach Avi Borenstein