As the 2015-16 YMSAA season takes a pause for winter break, it is a good time to look back at the action up until now and forward to the playoff races that will resume after the break. The boys’ eighth grade YMSSA basketball season has been exciting from day one. From the victories to the upsets the season was enjoyed by all: fans, players and coaches. Although every team played its best, only the top eight will advance to the playoffs.
In Division 3, the JEC Thunder clinched its division early and with an impressive 9-1 record and are guaranteed either the number two or three spot in the playoffs. The Thunder’s only loss came when it finished on the short side of a 49-51 game with the JFS Jaguars. The Hillel Heat are the number two team in Division 3, and with its 4-4 record the Heat will have to win one, maybe both, of its remaining games to make the playoffs.
Division 2 has been paced by the perfect 10-0 Ramaz Rams all season. Not only did the Rams clinch the division, but it will also be the number one seeded team in the playoffs. Manhattan Day School, 6-3, is the second-place team in Division 2, and will finish no worse than the number five seed in the playoffs. MDS still has one more game to play against a talented ASHAR squad.
Division 1 is believed by most to be the most competitive, the five teams have been beating each other up all season and will probably send four of the five teams to the playoffs. The Yeshivat Noam Knights are currently sitting on top of the division with a 7-1 mark. The Knights have been playing great ball all season, led by breakout sharpshooter Ari Kaminetsky, lightning quick point guard Yoni Mann and the 6-3 man in the middle Billy Krause. This Noam team has made it to the championship game each of the past two seasons but are yet to bring it home. One of its remaining two games are against the two time champions from Moriah. The Knights beat Moriah 68-60 when the teams met earlier this season, and hope to do it again when they face off again in the last game of the regular season on February 8. The Yavneh Academy Redhawks are also having a remarkable season with a 6-2 record and brand-new state-of-the-art gym. The Redhawks have weathered an injury that sidelined All-Star point guard Max Zakheim for a couple of games. The team rallied behind new Coach Selevan and terrific play from Akiva Feit at the point, 5-11 center Amichai Citron, sharpshooters Danny Weinberger and Eitan Dukas. Not only did the Redhawks defeat the two-time champs, they also handed the Noam Knights its lone loss. The third place RYNJ Jaguars are having their best season yet. Unlike the rest of their division, the Jags are finally healthy. In sixth grade this squad played the majority of their games without center Shmuli Coates and swingman Yonatan Kaye. Last year the team lost point guard Ikey Gutlove for most of the season. The 5-4 Jaguars have one game left against Bicultural Day School. In a season that has seen RYNJ split with Moriah and Yavneh (even though their English teacher doubted them), the Jaguars are proving that they belong in the playoffs. Making doubters into believers, the Jaguar nation is growing by the day. The two-time defending champion Moriah team is having an off year, as its 4-3 mark indicates. No doubt, they will finish strong and look to fight for their third consecutive championship, led by superstar point guard Rafi Lewis, sharpshooting Ethan Schechter, post player Isaac Horowitz and the return of center Gaby Katz (believed by many to be the most dominant player in the league).
With so many tremendous teams this year’s YMSSA eighth grade boys’ playoffs will be one to remember.
By Ikey Gutlove
