The TABC varsity basketball team traveled to Riverdale Saturday night, December 7, to take on the SAR Sting, looking to make it eight wins in a row in Yeshiva League play. The Storm were heavy favorites heading into the game, but SAR was determined to keep it close. With a six-point lead at halftime, and a 10-point lead at the end of three quarters, it looked like the Sting might pull off the upset. But nothing can stop the Storm, who have mastered the art of the comeback in 2019. Junior Noam Kinderlehrer was a huge spark off the bench in the fourth quarter, and along with Zevi Samet, catapulted the Storm, going on an 8-0 run and bringing TABC to within two. SAR did everything they could to cling to their lead but were unable to seal the deal. Instead of electing to foul and force SAR to the free throw line, TABC played patient, tight defense and got two big steals from seniors Yehuda Mirwis and Yoni Mann. Mirwis cut the deficit to one and Mann gave the Storm the lead for good with nine seconds left. SAR had a chance to force the game into OT with 5.1 seconds remaining, but TABC didn’t give them any clean looks, and the Storm escaped the Bronx with a 49-47 win.
The varsity Storm hosted the Frisch Cougars in a much-hyped matchup on Monday night in front of a packed house. Frisch raced to an early 15-9 lead as the Storm had trouble defending against former teammate Shmuli Coates in the post and allowed him to hit several open 3s in the corner. Frisch continued to pad their lead in the second quarter, but all the Storm needed was one run to turn the tables. Down 19-13, the Storm closed out the half on a 12-3 run to go up three at halftime, thanks in large part to sharp shooting from junior Kinderlehrer and senior Ari Kaminetzky. It took both teams a while to get going in the second half. The first points weren’t scored until three and a half minutes in when junior Samet knocked down a big trey in the corner to build on TABC’s lead. Frisch had chances to retake the game in the third quarter and shift the momentum, but senior Yehuda Mirwis was key on the defensive glass and made a huge basket off a nice feed from senior Yoni Mann before time expired. Frisch was unable to find a way its way back into the game, attempting desperation shots to no avail. Mirwis, Mann and Kaminetzky continued to dominate and senior Yonatan Kaye made some big plays in the paint down the stretch. TABC went on to a 55-40 victory in what was arguably their best win of the season so far and a complete team performance. TABC remains the only undefeated team in the league at 9-0.
By Yeshiva League Pass
