All in attendance will remember the date, Monday night, April 7, 2014 as a great night for basketball. While most of the basketball world had its eyes glued to the Huskies 6-point victory over the Wildcats, a more thrilling championship game was being played at the Frisch High School in Paramus.
The Generators controlled the opening tip and looked to “big man” David Gellis early and often. Gellis, Coby Kinzelberg, and Eli Gilad led the Generators up-tempo, run-and-gun attack, scoring the team’s first 25 points.
The Generators took a comfortable 8 point lead into the half, but the Jewish Link came to play. Even though they were outsized, Yonah Hook and Noam Troodler attacked the boards with reckless abandon often pulling down rebounds over the much taller Generators.
Midway through the third period, the Link team was down 31-21 as “Coach K” called a time out. The Link came out of the huddle with renewed confidence and energy. Shai Friedman and Noam Kinderlehrer put on a defensive clinic, denying the Generators dribble penetration and forcing multiple turnovers. Gabi Antosofsky shot the lights out and led the Link to a 14-0 run.
The rest of the game was back and forth with many lead changes and the fans of both teams on the edges of their seats cheering the boys on. Kinzelberg hit two huge free throws to take the game into overtime. With seconds to go in the second overtime, the Generators came down the court trailing by one point. Gellis scored on a put back to give the Generators the lead as they held off a last-second shot for the victory. Coby Kinzelberg led all scorers with 25 points and took home MVP honors.
The game was an epic battle, a wonderful end to an amazing season as the boys played their hearts out. Dov Elefant told the JLBC that this was “one of the best finals we’ve ever had.”
Registration for MGBL High School is now open; spots are filling fast, so go to MGBL.org to sign up.