Blog Posts - AFI Sports

Playoff Picture All Set

3/5/2014

By Monty Wayland

In the final week of the season in the Red and Dr. Murray's Israel Basketball League, the Morashragas grabbed the highest playoff seed, with wins over two top rivals Lobos and Holy Rollers, 60-48 and 51-42 respectively. The victories kept Morashragas' perfect record intact, leaving them undefeated, and unaccompanied in the rarefied air of the top of the standings.

Morashragas' victims may get a chance at revenge very soon. Lobos earned the number four playoff seed, while Holy Rollers came in at number five. This means the two will meet in the first round of the playoffs, and the team to emerge will be bracketed against the winner of Morashraga's game against the eighth-seeded Chocolatiers.

The number two seed, the Hitminions, earned their spot with a pair of victories as well, to wrap up the regular season, defeating the Chocolatiers 54-46, as well as sixth-seeded Tzionim 55-47. The Hitminions face Cafe Rimon / Packer Shoes in the quarterfinals.

The other quarterfinal on that side of the bracket sees the Tzionim taking on the three seed, Mad Chillers. The two met just last week, in a game that finalized the playoff picture, as Mad Chillers came away with a 64-53 win.

In other action: Israel Sports Exchange 48 - Philips Israel 42; Lobos 48 - Cafe Rimon/Packer Shoes 33 ; Apek / Samsbagels 57 - Philips Israel 50; Cafe Rimon 56 - Trumanaires 33; Uncle Drews 48 Trumanaires 43; Israel Sport's Exchange 64 vs. Mevaseret Mavericks 63

Cafe Rimon Serves Up Winning Dishes

2/12/2014

The Cafe Rimon Packers won a 46-44 thriller over Israel Sports Exchange, dishing up juicy assists to feed their scorers, and moving within a game of first place in the Red and Doctor Murray's Israel Basketball League. Meanwhile, Jay's Mitches came up with a win in their biggest game of the season, to remain neck-and-neck with Sternberg at the top of the leader board.

The win gave Cafe Rimon captain Adam Scharaga an appetite for more. "Some of our opponents thought they could eat our lunch," said Scharaga, "but we turned the tables, and gave them some reservations. Now we just gotta stay hungry."

In an eagerly-anticipated showdown, Jay's Mitches dealt Frosted Flakes their first defeat of the season, with a 49-45 win. The Jay's squad built an impressive double-digit lead, only to see Frosted Flakes rally within striking distance, including two long-range threes in the waning seconds, before time expired. Mitch Blittman scored 11 and Jacob Schapiro tallied 8 for Jay's.

In other action, Sam's Bagels/Apek earned a 59-38 victory over the Mevaseret Mavericks, Sternberg won an offensive road race with Uncle Drews, 70-54, while the Chocolatiers used the proverbial "tenacious defense" to close out Philips Israel, 42-29.

Lobos moves to front of pack, Philips Israel shaves lead

2/6/2014

The Lobos moved to within half a game of first place, and Philips Israel also cut the distance to the lead with a big win, in the hunt for the AFI Basketball League's Red Auerbach Championship Trophy.

Dylan Cooper, Gil Piwko, and Ethan Cooper combined for 28 points, as Philips Israel edge the Mevaseret Mavericks, 38-32. Josh Altman and Dylan Cooper helped build a 12-point lead for Philips Israel shortly after the intermission. The Mavericks climbed back within four, with under five minutes remaining, but the Philips Israel defense held strong for the win.
The Philips defense was impressive throughout the game, particularly in the 3-2 zone, forcing traps and tougher shots than those allowed in man coverage. Dylan Cooper grabbed 5 steals, and Mikhael Smits added an incredible 7 blocked shots. Smits also led the rebounding with 8, while Ethan Cooper and Piwko grabbed 7 apiece.

Nissi Merenstein's 16 points and Gavriel Velentzky's 15, fueled the Lobos' 61-44 win over the Mevaseret Mavericks - but perhaps the biggest story of the game was the emergence of Mavericks shooting guard Michael Sagi.
Sagi racked up 30 points on virtually unstoppable outside shooting. Starting by finding daylight on running jumpers, which he knocked down with deadly accuracy, he quickly convinced the Lobos they had to do whatever necessary to deny him a good look at the hoop. Undeterred even then, Sagi shifted to contested three-pointers, and still couldn't seem to miss.
Lobos finally pulled away, thanks largely to clutch defense by Meshulem Novacellar, including a block and several steals, one of which he converted to a three-pointer to put the game away.

The Tzionim earned a win over Sam's Bagels/Afek, 49-32, as Chaim Friedman controlled the paint on both ends of the court, with 16 points on dominant inside shooting, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.
The Tzionim opened things up with a 15-2 run at the end of the half. Guard Shloime Liff provided the spark with 6 straight points, among his 10 on the night, including a dazzling 360 reverse layup. Moshe Beitler and Yehuda Shuck had 10 points apiece, and Elisha Adelman scored 9, adjusting well to his new role as power forward.
Sams Bagel's 3-point sharpshooter Menachem Greenberg notched 15 points, and Michael Shamsayev had 12.

In the week's biggest nail-biter, the Jays hit the game winner with 8 seconds left, then held on defensively, for a heart-stopping 51-50 win over Sharaga. The Jays repeatedly extended their lead to 8 or 10, only to see the resilient Shraga crew rally to within a bucket. With under a minute left, Sharaga took their first lead of the game with a fearless three-pointer, to go up 50-49, but the Jays didn't fold under pressure, coming away with the slimmest of victories.
Michael Hakakian led all scorers with 15 points, Josh Ottensoser put up 14, and Judah Cohen had 8. For Sharaga, Schreier and Kafka had 14 apiece, while Sharaga and Lautman had 10.

An injured Sheldon "Boogie" Rubin (ankle) still managed to lead Uncle Drew's, with 19 points, 5 blocks and 4 steals, in their 55-35 win over Flint Tropics.
Eliyahu "Yahoo" Klein and Josh "Birdman" Bergman set up shop in the paint, with Klein achieving his first career double-double on 21 points and 11 rebounds.
JJ "Melo" Berman ran the offense with precision, and shot 5 for 6 from beyond the arc to give the Drews an early lead which they would never relinquish. Akiva Topper keyed the U.D. defense.

Hirsch Toasts Sam's Bagels, Tzionim State: Here to Stay

1/23/2014

By Monty Wayland

In a stunning sequence in their game's final 90 seconds, Hirsch completed an 8-point rally to defeat Sam's Bagels/Afek, while the Tzionim's "statement game" established them as a real contender, in the "Red and Dr. Murray's" Israel Basketball League.

Team Hirsch, trailing by 4, drained a 3-pointer with just a minute and a half remaining, then came up with a steal, and hit another 3-pointer to take the lead. Two clutch free throws accounted for the 41-37 final margin.

"With our offense's great spread, we thought were locks," said a rye Michael Shamsayev of Sam's, putting a good face on the Bagels offering. "We even led to the tuna' four points, but thanks to some great dishes they served us up on treys."

For Sam's Bagels, point guard Oliver Borr set the table for Shamsayev team-leading shooting, while Avidan Elgavi's unrelenting energy and Aytan Kamienny's monster block down the stretch led the defense.

In other action, it was a meeting of league powerhouses, as Tzionim combined outside marksmanship with great penetration to pull away from Lobos, 57-44. The win placed Tzionim at the top of the standings, tied with Frosted Flakes, who continued to impress with a 92-39 victory over Flint Tropics. Meanwhile, LeVian defeated Uncle Drew's 45-28.

“RED AND DR. MURRAY’S” ISRAEL BASKETBALL LEAGUE TIPS OFF

1/15/2014

The “Red and Dr. Murray's” Israel Basketball League tipped off this week, with a dozen teams looking to bring home the coveted Red Auerbach Championship Trophy.

On opening night, the veterans of Lobos took on newcomers Sam's Bagels/Apek. Lobos, whose quest for back-to-back titles was foiled in a thrilling championship game last season, began their campaign with a 42-25 victory. In a notably balanced attack, Nissi Merenstein, Yitz Spitz, Gav Valensky, and Meshulem Novacellar, tallied 10, 9, 8, and 7 points, respectively. Michael Shemsayov and Rabbi Yaacov Weisman led Sam's Bagels with 8 apiece.

In other opening week action, the Tzionim's Elisha Adelman and Chaim Friedman produced 16 points apiece, palindromically prevailing over Hirsch, 52-25. Meanwhile, Frosted Flakes defeated the Mevaseret Mavericks 65-34, in a game that made league observers stand up and take notice. The LA-based squad, whose iteration last season came within one shot of the finals, became an instant insider favorite, showcasing their athleticism throughout the encounter. Aryeh Eastman and N. M. Koolyk were the stars of the engagement.

Premium Kosher Beef steaks their claim

2/10/2013

With the playoff race heading down to the wire this weekend, Premium Kosher Beef moved into the thick of the playoff race, with a pair of wins in the Red & Doctor Murray’s Israel Basketball League, including a dramatic 47-45 triumph over the Shnuggets.

Premium Kosher used a combination of smart defense, good shot selection, and of course, choice cuts. “We don’t follow the heard, and we’ve got our own brand,” said Premium Kosher Beef captain Manny Topas. “When it comes to basketball, our team is a lot like a grade-A steak - in this medium, it’s rare to find things so well done”.

In other close games, Flint Tropics edged KIVA 55-52, and Lobos came away with a 40-37 nail-biter over Wildes and Weinberg. Ashreinu meanwhile defeated Rap City 66-29, and BMT Alumni beat Amp Cellular 53-24.

In the battle for the top playoff seed, City of Gold kept the top spot, with a 68-52 win over previously-undefeated OJ. City of Gold and can clinch the pole position with a win over Lobos – whereas a Lobos victory could create a tie-breaker scenario.

Café Rimon Serves Up Great Dishes

1/9/2013

By Monty Wayland

Café Rimon used great court vision and ball movement, dishing out plenty of assist to win a thrilling 41-38 game over the Atoms, in the Red & Dr. Murray’s Israel Basketball League. Captain Manny Topas credited Café Rimon’s exemplary teamwork with the victory.

“We’re always looking to dish, to set the table for each other,” said Topas, predicting that more wins were on the menu. “This was merely the appetizer. As long as we play hungry, our opponents will get their just desserts.”

Meanwhile, in a showdown between league leaders Lobos and KIVA, Lobos surged to the top of the league standings with a 49-33 victory. Nissi Merenstein led the Lobos attack with 17 points, on his trademark quick-release shooting, Yitz Stein attacked the rim from all angles for a dozen points, and Lazer Liff’s 10 included a couple of dagger three-pointers.

Daniel Macks led KIVA’s scorers with 13 points, with 9 coming from beyond the arc, while Kolya Miller and Ari Silberstein tacked on 8 apiece.

Sharing the league lead is Wildes & Weinberg, winners once again of a shoot-out, this one over The Big Smush, 73 – 65. Yisroel Solomon racked up 20 points for W&W, Matt Reich had 19 including three treys, Yossi Halpert scored 17, and Josh Wildes had 9. Halpert and Wildes each hit clutch free throws down the stretch to secure the victory. For The Big Smush, Avi Kaye scored 16 points, and JJ Donner and Orin Schwartz notched 15 apiece.

Also at the top of the crowded league standings are OJ, after their 72-66 defeat of “BMT 83-84 Alumni”.

In other action, Flint Tropics defeated the Heartburns 52-33, Blood Sweat and Beers rolled the Holy Ballers 68-31, and Trumanaires outpaced Ashreinu 60-44.

City of Gold Has Perfect Location

1/3/2013

By Monty Wayland

City of Gold kept a perfect record and the top spot in the Red and Dr. Murrays Israel Basketball League, earning a 75-69 victory over BMT Alumni. Reigning MVP Yisrael Feld led City of Gold, with a combination of pin-point location assists and slashing drives to the hoop, to pace a 10-point halftime lead.

BMT returned from the intermission with a fast-paced attack, climbing all the way back to tie the game, but City of Gold never trailed, regaining the initiative and pulling away for the win.

Sharing a piece of fist place are Wildes & Weinberg, KIVA, OJ and perennial contenders Lobos. KIVA edged Ashreinu 49-41, OJ were 60-35 winners against Holy Ballers, and, Lobos shut down the Atoms 50-13.

The last fixture of the weekend was a roller coaster ride between Wildes & Weinberg and Trumanaires. After a nip and tuck first half, W&W went on a tear to start the second half, led by Yisroel Solomon's 20 points and 8 assists, and Matt Reich's 17, including 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc. When Reich hit back-to-back treys to balloon the lead to 24 points, the game seemed over – until Gavriel Stark rallied the Trumanaires to an 18-4 run to turn the tide. However, Solomon and Reich stepped up, matching the Trumanaires attack bucket for bucket the rest of the way, to earn the 69-61 victory.

In other scores: Amp Cellular 48 - Café Rimon 32, Rap City 66 - Yoeli's Shnuggets 38, Blood Sweat and Beers 60 - The Big Smush 46.

“Red and Dr. Murray’s” Israel Basketball League Tips Off

1/3/2013

By Monty Wayland

The “Red and Dr. Murray's” Israel Basketball League tipped off this week, with eighteen teams looking to capture the Red Auerbach Championship Trophy.

The campaign began with the veteran Lobos team taking on newcomers Ashreinu. Looking nothing like an expansion team, Ashreinu put on an impressive debut, matching the experienced Lobos in both athleticism and cool-headed decision-making, before Lobos finally pulled away for a 56-44 victory.

In other opening week action, Wildes and Weinberg defeated Rap City 69-54, Oratz beat Holy Ballers 56-41, Aviezer edged Reishit 53-46, OJ made a statement with a 75-17 landslide over Yoeli's Shnuggets, and City of Gold came up with a 57-47 victory over The Big Smush.

Author

Monty Wayland is a journalist whose work is syndicated by the GAN News Network, and featured in media including The Jerusalem Post and Ha’aretz.
His latest book, co-authored with Figmentov Uri Magination, is “Fourth-and-T’fachim: What the NFL and the Babylonian Talmud Teach Us About the Dynamic Tension Between Technocratic and Substantive Systems of Codification, and Life”.

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