On Saturday night, June 18, the semi-finals were held at the Jewish Center of Teaneck and Ben Porat Yosef. After three of the four quarterfinal games went into overtime the week before, the fans came ready for more hard-fought, competitive games.
At the Jewish Center, Embroidme took an early lead on two quick three’s from Eli Sudwerts. Ikey Gutlove hit the second of two free throws to tie the game at 23 with five seconds to play in the first half. Embroidme coach Dani Bendheim called timeout and drew up a beautiful play that was executed to perfection, setting his son, Charlie Bendheim (team high 20 points), up for a jump shot that gave Embroidme a 25-23 lead going into the half. The second half was back and forth with neither team able to widen the gap by more than three baskets, but as the clock expired on regulation both teams were tied at 51. Overtime was dominated by the Sharsheret boys, juniors Shmuel Bak and Stevie Paul lead the way with 23 points apiece and Sharsheret advanced to play another day.
Meanwhile at Ben Porat Yosef, B-I-L Office Furniture was facing THESHPIELMANS.COM team. THESHPIELMANS.COM was still riding an emotional overtime win over the heavily favored Akari Therapeutics Plc team the week before, and came out with a balanced attack (six of their nine players scoring in the first half). Yosef Damski lead B-I-L with 16 points in the half and when the first half ended, the score was 24-24. In the second half, B-I-L’s Dovi Koenigsberg paced his team with eight points, but on the strength of two threes from Pesach Abrahams the scoreboard showed 45-45 when the buzzer sounded. In overtime, Abrahams nailed another late three, but B-I-L’s Hudy Weiss answered back with a three of his own. The game was tied at 49 and another overtime looked eminent, until Nechemiah Gross was fouled and hit two foul shots with one second on the clock to seal the game and the victory for B-I-L.
Less than 24 hours later, the two teams met back at Ben Porat Yosef for the championship game. B-I-L came out firing on all cylinders, despite the absence of coach Stan Potash. Yosef Damski had another strong first half scoring 13 points, while Dovi (aka Russell Westbrook) Koenigsberg was dishing and swishing scoring eight points, while finding countless teammates en route to the hoop. Sharsheret coach Nachi Paul was looking for championship number three on the day (two of his teams won in YYL earlier), but his team was having a hard time getting the ball to fall through the net. After countless Sharsheret in and outs and unfriendly rolls, B-I-L looked like they were going to break the string of overtime games as they took a 37-19 lead into the half. The second half was more of the same. Sharsheret’s Stevie Paul lead all scorers with 20 points, but the balanced scoring of Nechemiah Gross and Dovi Koenigsberg proved to be too much to handle as they cruised to a 66-41 victory. After the game, Dovi Koenigsberg picked up his second consecutive MGBL High School MVP award.
MGBL would like to take this opportunity to thank the boys and girls for playing their hearts out this season, the volunteer coaches for their hard work and guidance, the parents and fans cheering the kids on, the local yeshivot for being so accommodating and our team sponsors for all their support: Nina Eizikovitz-Links Residential, StateStreetSmiles.com, Bergen Veterinary Hospital, Sheer Simcha, Embroidme, Columbia Cardiology, Stefanie Diamond Photography, Washington Avenue Pediatrics, Rockwell Management, Sharsheret, The Famous Abba, Sharing Seats, Teaneck Doghouse, Kosher Fit, Camp Regesh, Malka Abrahams Links Residential, Balanced Body Rehabilitation, Oil Tank Services, Immortal Portals, Center for Dermatology, Net@Work, Tilem & Associates, @alislabel Ali’s Label Skirts, Camp Mesorah, NDC Drug, Freed Oil, Five Star Caterers, The Purple Bow, Cliffside Jewelers, Triumph Hotels, Teaneck Speech & Language Center, Chopstix, Judaica House, Grand & Essex, Congregation Keter Torah, Congregation Rinat Yisrael, Bellcar Electric, Congregation Ahavath Torah, Meridian Capital Group, Richards Manufacturing, Redwood Funding, Knoll Orthodontics, Teaneck Councilmen Katz and Schwartz, Tree Point Play, Clifton Pediatric Dental Care, Columbiadoctors.org, Glatt Express & Lazy Bean Café, HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley, KinderSmiles, Coolkippahs, Palisade Partners, The Jewish Link of New Jersey, Confie, Duff & Phelps, Bellcar Electric, EW Berger, Wolverines, Farmers Insurance of Bergenfield/Zimm Agency, Tri Realty, Rothenberg Law Firm, The Jedi Knights, The Jewce, i-Shine Teaneck, Chosen Healthcare, Three Pillars Recruiting, FM Home Loans, Triumph Hotels, Deb El Food Products, Teaneck Speech & Language Center, Dougies BBQ, Ted Supply, Keller Williams NYC, Camp Shalom, Arnold Schoen MD, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Kosher Experience, Frankowitz Orthodontics, Goldman Orthodontics, Approved Funding, Bergen Broncos, Herzfeld Strong, Akari Therapeutics Plc, THESHPIELMANS.COM – # 1 toy on planet!, B-I-L Office Furniture, The Benchwarmers and the Lincoln Equities Group MGBL girls season seven registration is now open. Please visit www.mgbl.org. Have a wonderful summer.
