In a fast-paced game throughout, The Jewish Link of New Jersey defeated Chai Lifeline 68-60 at Yeshivat Noam. In the early going, the Chai Lifeline team coached by Yehoshua Zirman came out shooting, led by Jonathan and Jason Bick’s 16 and 13 first half points, respectively. Yoni Berg added four (six for game), Yoni Zirman three (seven for game) and Coby Zwebner two (seven for game). The Jewish Link countered with Yoni Mann’s 10 first-half points as well as six from Ezra Baron, five from Sam Bendheim, four from Joseph Mann and two from Avraham Glatter. At the half, Chai Lifeline led 37-29, but after the break, it was a different game. The Jewish Link came out with a swarming defense that led to many fast break baskets and limited the good looks for the Chai Lifeline team. Despite the efforts of the Bick brothers and a few late 3-pointers by Jonathan Bick and Coby Zwebner, the Jewish Link team, led by Yoni Mann, was too much to handle. Baron added eight more and Glatter four more, in the second half, while Yoni Mann went on a Steph Curry run and scored 29 in the half (game high 39 points) to will his team to victory.

Meanwhile at Ma’ayanot the Confie team came out shooting, hitting 13 3-pointers enroute to a 80-37 victory, paced by Yoni Rothberg’s seven treys (23 points) and Yona Tarzik’s three treys (17 points). In the nightcap, team Maadan displayed tremendous ball movement, with five players scoring double digits lead by Eli Sudwert’s 15 and Ikey Gutlove’s 14 points. After the game we asked Maadan point guard Ikey Gutlove, “What is the key to the teams unselfishness on the court?” Gutlove told us, “Coach Ostrin definitely deserves most of the credit, but when the top player on the team looks to pass first, it makes everyone else do the same. Alex could score 30 points on any night, but he is always looking for open teammates and it makes us want to do the same.”

The playoffs begin next weekend with the first-two rounds being played Saturday and Sunday nights. Good luck to all the teams.

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