Following TABC’s impressive 60-30 victory over JEC, the Storm varsity basketball team remains among the strong competitors in the Western division. With division standings that are extremely tight, TABC has a chance to gain some ground on the schools ahead of them; HESCHEL (6-0), KUSHNER (6-1), SAR (5-1), and FRISCH (6-2).
Western Division Standings:
HESCHEL (6-0)
KUSHNER (6-1)
SAR (5-1)
FRISCH (6-2)
TABC (5-2)
MTA (3-2)
RAMAZ (3-3)
JEC (0-6)
MAOR (0-8)
HILLEL (0-8)
HESCHEL continues to show their dominance throughout the season. Lead by seniors Jeremy Speira and Harlen Reiss, they won both the Memphis Invitational Tournament and the Scott Satran Memorial Tournament, and have yet to lose a game this year. After going undefeated last year but falling to make it to the championships they will sure be tough to beat this year as well.
KUSHNER has really surprised the division this year. The Cobras, lead by Sam Raab and Sam Bernstein, are 6-1 after defeating MAOR twice along with victories over JEC, SSLI, SHAARE TORAH, and HILLEL. Although all their wins have come against teams toward the end of their division, KUSHNER still looks strong this year.
SAR again is towards the top of the standings. Dovie Marcus and Daniel Witzosky are leading the Sting and so far a 5-1 record with the only loss coming by a 3 point deficit to HESCHEL show the strength this team is presenting. They have twi taken victories over FLATBUSH, MTA, MAOR, and HILLEL.
FRISCH is also a very competitive team in the division. They have two big division wins against TABC and RAMAZ along with wins over DRS, JEC, HILLEL, and MAOR. Lead by seniors Isaac Leifer and Josh Dukas, the Cougars have already won the Steve Globerman Memorial Tournament and are looking to repeat what this team did two years ago: Win the Championship.
TABC obviously wishes to stay within the top half of the division, but to do so they must win the games which are most important: they must come out victorious against the teams who are ahead of them. With as talented a roster we have, it would be a particular shame to lose the big divisional games.
MTA (3-2) and RAMAZ (3-3) are each cruising along, flip-flopping back and forth for that higher seed.
For JEC, MAOR, and HILLEL the year has not been kind to them. Each still searching for their first win of the season, they may have dug a hole too far to climb out of this far into the season. JEC is mostly looking forward to next year with a starting lineup consisting only of juniors, trying to get them a lead in the Varsity basketball experience. MAOR is letting their leader, Moshe Halawani dominate the stat sheet. They feed him the ball and allow his strength to produce 20 point games. HILLEL has been lead by Isaac Beda. Despite the poor start, Beda has produced a 44, and 38 point game. It is clear if they want to win, they need to use Beda strategically.