On Saturday night, fans filed into the TABC Weather Center for a doubleheader featuring TABC’s junior varsity and varsity hockey teams against the Kushner Cobras. With just one loss for the JV Storm, they hoped to earn the opportunity to play for first place against Frisch in the last game of the regular season. However, TABC needed to go through a competitive Kushner team first. With a playoff atmosphere in the gym, the first period of the JV game ended knotted up at 0-0. Opportunities were available, but both teams failed to capitalize. When the second period began, TABC came out with a surge of energy, scoring four goals to go up 4-0 at the conclusion of the second period. TABC continued the pressure in the third period, ultimately tallying six goals on the night and capturing a victory. Sophomore goaltender Charles Gibber played great between the pipes, helping his team earn the opportunity to capture first place against the Frisch Cougars in the final game of the regular season.
Following the junior varsity’s crucial victory, it was the varsity Storm’s turn to seize the early lead that JV failed to attain. An early power play goal scored by Captain Efraim Tiger got the Storm going. His goal was the first of nine for TABC, and junior Eli Schiff managed to accomplish a rare four goal game. Goalies Avrumi Davis and Yoel Jacobson combined for the shutout. The win for TABC marked the second victory over Kushner on the season. In addition to the athletic success displayed by the Storm, every senior on both TABC and Kushner were honored for their hard work and sportsmanship throughout high school.
Both of TABC’s hockey teams displayed their potential to make a splash in the postseason, and continue the historic success for TABC hockey. TABC will have home games for their hockey teams in the postseason, as both teams hope to make a run at the championship on March 18.
TABC sports fans were treated to another double header on Sunday in the Weather Center. As TABC’s junior varsity and varsity basketball teams seek to make a run going into the playoffs, Sunday was a crucial step towards achieving the goal of playing in Yeshiva University on March 11. In a Sunday doubleheader, the TABC Storm faced the Heschel Heat in the Weather Center. The JV Storm got off to a hot start, pushing the ball up the court and playing at the tempo that Coach Oswald Cross loves to see. However, despite TABC’s consistency on the offensive end, the Storm’s lackadaisical defense provided Heschel the opportunity to stay neck and neck with the favored Storm. While TABC sophomore Yoni Mann carried the load early, the two teams traded baskets in the first half, and TABC went into the locker room leading by just six points. When the teams returned from the locker room and play resumed, Heschel converted open three-point attempts, ultimately snatching a slim lead. But, as the game progressed, the Storm were relentless and pulled away late in the fourth quarter. Ignited by sophomore Ari Kamimetzky’s and freshman Liam Levy’s crucial three-pointers, the Storm managed to hold on for the win, and secure a respectable 8-2 record on the regular season. The two teams will likely face each other in the first round of the playoffs, once again in the Weather Center.
Meanwhile, the varsity Storm prepared for a battle with the well-coached Heschel Heat. Having already lossed to Heschel earlier in the season, TABC needed a victory to clinch a home game in the playoffs. The game got off to a sluggish start offensively, as TABC led 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to seven points from junior Alex Ostrin. The defensive battle continued in the second quarter, resulting in a 17-8 lead for the Storm at halftime. When Heschel cut the lead to four points early in the third quarter, TABC used two timeouts to refocus. With several minutes remaining in the third quarter, juniors Jonathan Haberman and Avi Proctor made timely baskets to close out the quarter and expand TABC’s lead. TABC was able to retain the lead comfortably in the remaining minutes of the game, securing a 21 point victory and an 8-6 record on the regular season.
Sunday was a great day for Storm Nation, as both of TABC’s basketball teams are peaking at the right time heading into the postseason. Still hoping for their first basketball championship in school history, TABC is looking forward to beginning the road to the championship, starting with home playoff games for both junior varsity and varsity basketball. And with both JV and varsity hockey teams going into the playoffs with very strong positioning, each hope to find themselves at Lawrence Middle School on March 18.
By Akiva Hain
