by Ilan Katz
After the top 4 seeds advanced to the semifinals, Yeshiva League Pass pulled off an upset, while B-Woods put on a clinic to set up another rendition of one of the games of the year.
Tier I
Quarterfinal
(3) Tommy’s Midrash Ballers 45, (6) Papa’s Fried Potatoes 43
Papa’s Fried Potatoes got out to a three-point halftime lead, and led for much of the game. But veteran leadership from Nat Assayag (15 points), Adam Motovich (12), and Coach Eli Benzaquen helped the Ballers hang tough. Assayag showed his all-around game, dominating the glass, and creating with his defense, while also making clutch shots. Moshe Goldring of the Fried Potatoes scored a game-high 20 points in the loss. The Ballers’ win ensured that all top 4 seeds would play in the semifinals.
Semifinals
(4) Yeshiva League Pass 65, (1) KHK/SZG Investments 53
Coming into the night, KHK had lost just one game all season, by two measly points. It just so happens that their season comes to an end at the hands of the same team that beat them the first time, Yeshiva League Pass. KHK came out with a defensive strategy intended to limit Moshe Heller, who torched them the first time. They went with a box-and-one defense, sticking Binyamin Kaminetzky on Heller. It worked to an extent, as Heller had 9 points (to go with 8 assists). But YLP got contributions from everyone else, none more that Moshe’s twin brother, Aharon. Aharon finished with 26 points and made the timely shots which propelled YLP into a comfortable lead. Free throws were a big difference-maker, as the winning team knocked down the vast majority of theirs while KHK struggled mightily from the charity stripe. Yisrael Feld led KHK with 20 points in the loss, as their fantastic season comes to an end.
(2) B-Woods 63, (3) Tommy’s Midrash Ballers 31
Tommy’s scored the first four points of the game, and it looked like B-Woods would be in for a fight. Instead, it ended up looking more like a clinic for the LA team. Behind the brilliant play of guard Zack Muller (22 points) and phenomenal shooting of Noam Meisels (18), B-Woods doubled up the Ballers and denied them a second straight trip to the title game. The usual stars for Tommy’s could not get going, and credit for that could be given to Muller and the rest of B-Woods.
With that, the stage is set for the Tier I championship game. Back in Week 6 of the regular season, Yeshiva League Pass and B-Woods were each 5-0, and our FM Home Loans Game of the Week did not disappoint. B-Woods built a 12-point halftime lead which extended to 17, but YLP made a ferocious comeback and ended up losing by two. This sets up to be a thrilling end to an excellent season, and you can catch the action on or Facebook page, AFI Israel Basketball League, this Saturday night.
Tier II
Championship Preview
(1)Shtark Sharks vs (2) Zalman’s Hot Dawgz
Both of these teams may secretly wish they made Tier I, but have to be excited at the prospect of playing for a championship this Saturday night. Shtark Sharks had a 1st round bye then beat Loketch Group by five in the semis, while Zalman’s got by both Nesiv Hatorah and Piasecnza to reach the title game. These teams did not meet in the regular season, but it should be a hotly contested matchup.
After the top 4 seeds advanced to the semifinals, Yeshiva League Pass pulled off an upset, while B-Woods put on a clinic to set up another rendition of one of the games of the year.
Tier I
Quarterfinal
(3) Tommy’s Midrash Ballers 45, (6) Papa’s Fried Potatoes 43
Papa’s Fried Potatoes got out to a three-point halftime lead, and led for much of the game. But veteran leadership from Nat Assayag (15 points), Adam Motovich (12), and Coach Eli Benzaquen helped the Ballers hang tough. Assayag showed his all-around game, dominating the glass, and creating with his defense, while also making clutch shots. Moshe Goldring of the Fried Potatoes scored a game-high 20 points in the loss. The Ballers’ win ensured that all top 4 seeds would play in the semifinals.
Semifinals
(4) Yeshiva League Pass 65, (1) KHK/SZG Investments 53
Coming into the night, KHK had lost just one game all season, by two measly points. It just so happens that their season comes to an end at the hands of the same team that beat them the first time, Yeshiva League Pass. KHK came out with a defensive strategy intended to limit Moshe Heller, who torched them the first time. They went with a box-and-one defense, sticking Binyamin Kaminetzky on Heller. It worked to an extent, as Heller had 9 points (to go with 8 assists). But YLP got contributions from everyone else, none more that Moshe’s twin brother, Aharon. Aharon finished with 26 points and made the timely shots which propelled YLP into a comfortable lead. Free throws were a big difference-maker, as the winning team knocked down the vast majority of theirs while KHK struggled mightily from the charity stripe. Yisrael Feld led KHK with 20 points in the loss, as their fantastic season comes to an end.
(2) B-Woods 63, (3) Tommy’s Midrash Ballers 31
Tommy’s scored the first four points of the game, and it looked like B-Woods would be in for a fight. Instead, it ended up looking more like a clinic for the LA team. Behind the brilliant play of guard Zack Muller (22 points) and phenomenal shooting of Noam Meisels (18), B-Woods doubled up the Ballers and denied them a second straight trip to the title game. The usual stars for Tommy’s could not get going, and credit for that could be given to Muller and the rest of B-Woods.
With that, the stage is set for the Tier I championship game. Back in Week 6 of the regular season, Yeshiva League Pass and B-Woods were each 5-0, and our FM Home Loans Game of the Week did not disappoint. B-Woods built a 12-point halftime lead which extended to 17, but YLP made a ferocious comeback and ended up losing by two. This sets up to be a thrilling end to an excellent season, and you can catch the action on or Facebook page, AFI Israel Basketball League, this Saturday night.
Tier II
Championship Preview
(1)Shtark Sharks vs (2) Zalman’s Hot Dawgz
Both of these teams may secretly wish they made Tier I, but have to be excited at the prospect of playing for a championship this Saturday night. Shtark Sharks had a 1st round bye then beat Loketch Group by five in the semis, while Zalman’s got by both Nesiv Hatorah and Piasecnza to reach the title game. These teams did not meet in the regular season, but it should be a hotly contested matchup.
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