While the snow was melting outside of Yeshivat Ben Porat Yosef, the playoff action was heating up in the gym. This year’s seventh/eighth grade matchup featured some familiar faces on the side line, a rematch of last year’s championship with Coaches Gutlove and Herrmann (LYNLY Insurance) opposing Coaches Rothschild and Gerson (Oil Tank Services). The two teams had already met twice this season and both times Oil Tank Services came out on top, handing LYNLY their only two losses of the season. Determined not to have a repeat performance, LYNLY got off to a quick start as Sarah Motechin nailed two jumpers in the first few minutes, while the Oil Tank Services team was having a hard time getting the ball to fall. At the end of the first half, LYNLY was holding what looked like a commanding 15-3 lead. In the second half, Oil Tank’s star Eva Rothschild got a couple of shots to fall as she finished the game with a team high five points, but LYNLY, lead by Paige Ratner’s game high six points, was more than they could overcome and LYNLY cruised to a 25-12 victory.
In the third/fourth grade game, Camp Shalom defeated Nina Eizikovitz-Links Residential 32-28. Camp Shalom came out strong and played a great first half. They played tenacious defense and went into the half with an 18-7 lead. Nina Eizikovitz-Links Residential was led by Gabrielle Hoffer’s five points with Frieda Richman adding two. Camp Shalom was led by Adina Haselkorn’s 12 points with Tova Rotblat adding four and Kyra Wallach adding two. The second half started with the teams trading baskets. Haselkorn added eight more for Camp Shalom but Nina Eizikovitz-Links Residential got balanced scoring. Hoffer scored four, Richman two and two each from Adina Margulies and Kailey Novoseller. At the ends of the third, Camp Shalom led 26-17. In the final period Nina Eizikovitz-Links Residential made a run cutting the lead to just four points behind five more from Hoffer (team leading 14 points for game), two more from Richman (six for game) and four points from Shayna Eizikovitz. But game MVP and leading scorer, Adina Haselkorn, proved to be too much adding six more for a total of 26 points in leading Camp Shalom to the title.
Congrats to all of the teams on a great games and terrific season. If you missed these games and are itching for more MGBL action, fret not. We will be taking a week off for chanukah and will resume the following week with the fifth/sixth grade semi-finals and championships, followed by the kickoff of the much anticipated boys league. Spots are filling up in the boys league, if you have not registered your son to play yet, please do so ASAP @ mgbl.org. Spots will be filled on a first come first serve basis and divisions will close out. There are still several team sponsorship opportunities available, for the boys league as well. A great way to publicize your business or just support the cause (MGBL is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. Tax ID# 46-0602483). Every week teams will be featured right here in the Jewish Link of New Jersey. To sponsor or if you have any questions please email [email protected].
