In a game that went to wire, the Glatt Express & Lazy Bean Café team defeated Toppan Merrill 26-24. The Glatt Express team came out hot while Toppan was ice cold to start the game. Glatt Express took a commanding 18-0 lead in what everyone in attendance thought would be a blow out. But the Toppan team would not quit, and they fought back to close the gap to 18-14. At that point the teams traded some baskets and the Toppan team closed within two late in the game. With just seconds left, Glatt Express inbounded the ball, but it was stolen near the foul line. With time still on the clock, Toppan was able to get off the shot that would have forced overtime, but the shot was just off the mark and Glatt Express held on for the win. Benjamin Galla scored eight, Zachary Nelson and Moshe Oshinsky each had six and Ari Forgash, Noam Berlin and Eli Mazin each had two for Glatt Express. Toppan was led by Dovid Rothwach’s 12, Netanel Weinberger’s six, Shalom Zimmer’s four and Noam Rosenthal’s two.
In another nail biter, EJ’s Place narrowly defeated Camp Shalom 49-48. This game was a back and forth affair. Early on EJ’s Place took the lead on a strong first half from Shai Bickel’s 22 of his game high 34 points. Camp Shalom kept it close enough with balanced scoring from Mendel Szokovski, Shane Feit, Mikey Gamms, Ezra Yagoda, Menachem Miller and Shuey Glass. In the third period, it was Gamms turn to take over, scoring 12 of his team high 20 points to give Camp Shalom a five point lead heading to the final quarter. Once again, Bickel took control even as Szokovski, Shane Feit and Gamms did their best to counter each basket by EJ’s. Ilan Katler added 10; Aharon Isenberg, three; and Akiva Koller, two for EJ’s Place while Feit and Szokovski each had nine, Miller, four; Yagoda, three; Yehuda Savetsky, two; and Shuey Glass, one for Camp Shalom.