As the Yeshiva Middle Schools Sports Association tips off for its sixth season, let’s take a few minutes to outline our projections for the seasons ahead. Last season both the seventh and eighth grade championship games showcased the Yeshivat Noam Knights vs the SAR Sting. Will we be treated to the same matchups this year, or will another school get a crack at the YMSSA championship?
This years eighth grade is paced by the same two teams that met in last year’s championship games. The SAR Sting is lead by the dynamic duo of reigning MVP Akiva Schanzer and big man Benny Neuwirth. This one-two punch has dominated the league at every level so far, including last years perfect seventh grade season capped of by a 58-54 thriller over Yeshivat Noam in the year’s championship game.
The Yeshivat Noam Knights will be looking to defend their reign as the YMSSA eighth grade champs. The Knights might have the most balanced team in the league with a full arsenal of offensive weapons in the likes of Rafi Suss, Moshe Keiser and play-maker Ikey Herman.
By virtue of a coin toss the Yavneh Academy RedHawks captured third place as seventh graders with a 5-5 record, but look to make some noise with the development of scoring machine Alex Zakheim and Isaac Schiffman.
The RYNJ Jaguars finished with an identical 5-5 record and are looking to shock the league by adding the school’s first ever boys basketball league championship banner to the rafters. The Jaguars will be further motivated by the momentum created by the Jaguars hockey team’s championship last year and have dedicated this season to the memory of their beloved principal, Rabbi Dovid Kaminetsky a”h.
Moriah will not be slept on either and are looking to avenge a disappointing 2-7 record last year. A league insider told the JLNJ, “Moriah forward Michael Green is much improved and poised to take the league by storm.”
Yeshivat Ben Porat Yosef is in a rebuilding year but the twin towers of Lopkin make them a force to be reckoned with.
Last year’s match up of only division one teams by no means insures the same result this year. One has to look no further than two years ago when the Ramaz Rams came from division two to turn back the RYNJ Jaguars, and eventually the SAR Sting, to capture the championship. If the season ended today, the JEC Thunder would be the favorites, as the only team with a victory on the young season. As Adolph Rupp of Kentucky said back in 1965, “That’s why we play the game to see who’ll win.” You can follow all of the YMSSA action at http://ymssa.com/
By JLNJ Sportsdesk
