(Ma’ayanot Sports) The Rapids varsity basketball team flew down to Miami Beach to attend the Captain Hyman Galbut Tournament at Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach last week. Eleven other schools and programs were invited, including SAR, Flatbush, Hustle & Heart and Central from the NY/NJ metropolitan area, as well as Ida Crown (Chicago), Katz School (Boca), Mizrachi (Cleveland), Shalhevet (LA), YULAGHS (LA), Margolin (Memphis) and Hebrew Academy (HA) of Miami.
The teams were divided into four regions, with Ma’ayanot joining Flatbush and HA in the Royal Division. After flying down Wednesday (and enjoying the warm weather immediately) the Rapids took on the home team of HA in their opening game. After a slow start by both teams, the visiting Rapids pulled off the victory with a final score of: 33-24, led by scoring from Leah Weiss with 14 points.
In the night matchup, the Rapids played Flatbush, and won decidedly with a final score of 51-46 led again by Leah Weiss with 25 points.
Winning the region allowed the Rapids to have a bye in the first round of the playoffs, and faced SAR in the quarterfinals. SAR and Ma’ayanot met twice in league play, and the Rapids were able to claim victory in both of those games. After an incredible game, led by Weiss with 15, junior Hannah Bromberg with 11 points and senior captain, Tali Klein with eight points, the Rapids pulled off a victory in overtime to head to the semi-finals on Saturday night. The final score was 44-40.
Seniors Yael Bodoff, Mayan Kapustin, juniors Ella Ashendorf and Sarah Motechin participated in the 3 point shooting contest and Hot Shot contest. Bodoff advanced to the second round.
All of the teams had the chance to enjoy meals together, as well as daven and learn, as all of the players enjoyed a spirited Shabbat. The shabbaton was full of camp-like ruach where players mingled and made new friends singing zemirot and cheering on chairs with other teams with help from NCSY leaders and the Hebrew Academy’s student activities administration.
Saturday night continued with a matchup between the Rapids and Hustle & Heart (the number 1 seed). Unfortunately, a few minutes into the game, senior captain Tali Klein was hurt on a foul, and was unable to play the rest of the tournament. With the star center out of the game, the Rapids fought hard to stay with a talented team, but unfortunately lost by a score of 48-33 led by junior Sarah Motechin with 15 points, and Weiss with eight points.
The final game for the Rapids was against YULAGHS. While the Rapids took an early lead, foul trouble by the players forced two of the starters out of the game, and YULAGHS held on for the win. Weiss had 24 points, Motechin had 12 points and junior Aliza Poloner had six points. Final score 54-47.
The Rapids ended the tournament with a 4th place finish and a 3-2 record. Leah Weiss was named All-Tournament representing Ma’ayanot.
