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B-Woods vs Yeshiva League Pass Rematch Set for Championship

3/11/2020

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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.

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Top Seeds Hold Court in Tier I Playoffs

3/4/2020

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by Ilan Katz

There haven’t been many upsets in the first stages of the FM Home Loans IBL playoffs, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been madness. It sets up what should be a thrilling final two weeks of the season.
 
Tier I
 
Round 1
 
(9) KMK 48, (8) Gold Seals 45
In a game streamed live on our Facebook page (AFI Israel Basketball League), the undersized but scrappy guys from Maryland pulled out the win. Gold Seals couldn’t take advantage enough of the size discrepancy as they consistently settled for long jumpers. Early in the game they got second chances off offensive rebounds, but KMK buckled down late to earn the win. Gold Seals, who were led by Moishie Kahn (14 points) and Chesky Lewin (11) had a chance to tie, but Lewin’s three at the buzzer wouldn’t fall. KMK was led by three double-digit scorers in Jaim Magendzo (15), Raanan Glashofer (11), and Ezra Beletsky (11).
 
(7) Lobos 59, (10) All American Poly 52
In a rematch of last week’s FM Home Loans Game of the Week, the Lobos prevailed this time. Chaim Hirsch (14 points) of Lobos hit four shots from downtown in the first half, and he was one of four Lobos in double figures. Nussi Felder (16), Elisha Rudman (14), and Gavi Singer (11) also joined that group. Dovid Marmurstein (22 points) had another great game for All American Poly, but they come up short and their season comes to an end.
 
(5) Project Tzitzis 48, (12) Kol Hanearim 33
Yosef Rudansky led Project Tzitzis with 14 points as the veteran-laden team advanced to the quarterfinals. Kol Hanearim was a fun, upstart team who loved to run, but the guys from Project Tzitzis have been in the league long enough to know how to counter. Moshe Wasserman of Kol Hanearim led all scorers with 15 points as his team’s season is wrapped up.
 
(6) Papa’s Fried Potatoes 54, (11) Ashreinu Holy Bagel 44
Papa’s prevails in another rematch from the final week of the regular season, as they got off to a strong start and didn’t look back. Anytime Ashreinu threatened going on a run, the Fried Potatoes had an answer. Uriel Cohen led the Fried Potatoes with a game-high 23 points, while Max Mayerhoff paced Ashreinu with 18 points. The Fried Potatoes will face Tommy’s Midrash Ballers in the quarterfinals this weekend, with the winner of that battle moving on to face B-Woods in the semis.
 
Quarterfinals
 
(1)KHK/SZG Investments 61, (9) KMK 45
The lack of size finally caught up with KMK as they ran into the buzzsaw that is KHK/SZG Investments. However, the final score doesn’t do justice how close this game really was. KHK held just a three point halftime advantage until Yisroel Feld and Yoel Schreier took over in the 2nd half. Those two had 17 points apiece in the win. Jaim Magendzo paced KMK with 16 points in the loss. KHK/SZG will take on Yeshiva League Pass in the semis this weekend as they will attempt to avenge their only regular season loss.

 
(2)B-Woods 66, (7) Lobos 48
Lobos started off hot out of the gate, jumping out to a 7-2 lead. But B-Woods went on a run, quite literally, for the rest of the game. The Lobos couldn’t keep up with the fast pace that B-Woods was playing at, and that ends Lobos’ season. Noah Rossi led B-Woods with 17 points in the win, as they advance to the semifinals.
 
(4) Yeshiva League Pass 66, (5) Project Tzitzis 49
Another game that was closer than the final score indicated, as Project Tzitzis kept the deficit within arm’s reach for much of the night. But the Heller twins were too much in the end. Moshe (23) and Aharon (17) nearly matched Project Tzitzis on their own, and Ethan Aaron chipped in another 15 to make the difference. YLP will look to avenge their regular season defeat against KHK/SZG Investments in the semifinals.
 
Tier II
 
(4) Locketch Group 33, (5) The Chaburah 27
The Locketch groups gets the revenge they were seeking after The Chaburah won this regular season matchup. Loketch Group advances to take on top-seeded Shtark Sharks in the Tier II semifinals, which is a rematch from the final week of the regular season. The Shtark Sharks grinded out a three-point victory in that contest.
 
(3)Zalman’s Hot Dawgz 55, (7) Nesiv HaTorah 29
Zalman’s gets the better of Nesiv HaTorah in the second matchup between these two teams this season. Zalman’s will take on sixth-seeded Piaseczna in the other Tier II semifinal. The Hot Dawgz won their first matchup by 22 points.
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FM Home Loans IBL Playoffs Set to Begin

2/24/2020

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by Ilan Katz
 
The regular season concluded in style and the playoffs are set to begin this coming weekend. Here is a preview of the FM Home Loans IBL Playoffs.
 
Tier I: FM Home Loans Championship Trophy
 
Byes:
(1) KHK/SZG Investments – the men from Grus finish the regular season at 6-1 and earn the #1 overall seed through a tiebreaker (aggregate record of opponents defeated). They are coming off an impressive finale in which they beat #3 seed B-Woods, 52-43. They’ll take on the winner of Gold Seals/KMK. They defeated Gold Seals by a mere five points previously and didn’t match up with KMK in the regular season. 

(2) B-Woods
– the guys from Los Angeles couldn’t finish their quest for an undefeated season, but perhaps it will allow them to refocus properly for the postseason. B-Woods will face the Lobos/All-American Poly winner, each of whom they defeated in the regular season.
 

(3) Tommy’s Midrash Ballers
– the ballers finished off the season in style, defeating Symphony Care Network in a 48-42 close call. They enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak. They await the winner of the Papa’s Fried Potatoes vs. Ashreinu Holy Bagel 1st round matchup.
 

(4) Yeshiva League Pass
– YL Pass is reeling a bit entering the postseason, so perhaps a two-week bye will do them good as they wait for a winner to emerge in the matchup between Project Tzitis and Kol Hanearim. They have yet to meet up with either team.
 
​
Tier I 1st round matchups:
 
(5) Project Tzitzis vs (12) Kol Hanearim
This rematch will be just one week after Project Tzitzis ended Kol Hanearim’s winning streak with a 50-35 victory. These two teams play very contrasting styles, with Kol Hanearim looking to push with every opportunity and Project Tzitzis preferring to walk the ball up the floor most of the time and executing in the halfcourt.
 
(6) Papa’s Fried Potatoes vs (11) Ashreinu Holy Bagel
Another rematch from the last week of the regular season, this one also won by the higher seed, with Papa’s pulling out a seven-point win this past week. Ashreinu had been playing great ball down the stretch, so they will hope to regroup and recapture some of that magic to have a chance at pulling off the upset.
 
(7) Lobos vs (10) All American Poly
All American Poly won the first iteration of this matchup, which was this past week’s FM Home Loans Game of the Week, by a final score of 51-36. So, the Lobos will be out for revenge. We’ve said all year that AAP was better than its record, so it would be wise to ignore the seed differential in this battle.
 
(8) Gold Seals vs (9) KMK
These teams did not match up in the regular season and each finished with a 4-3 record. KMK plays a high-intensity, high-pressure defense, and it should be an excellent battle against Gold Seals’ methodical, ball-moving offense.
 
Tier II: AFI Gold Cup
 
Bye: (1) Kol Hanearim – the young men from Yeshivat Hakotel miss out on Tier I by virtue of tiebreakers, though they earn the lone Tier II bye. They await the winner of the Loketch Group/The Chaburah matchup.
 
Tier II first-round matchups
 
(4) The Loketch Group vs (5) The Chaburah
The Chaburah won the regular-season matchup in a defensive struggle by a score of 24-21, so the Loketch Group will be out for retribution.
 
(3) Symphony Care Network (6) Team Piaseczna
Symphony Care Network looked really stout in nearly upsetting Tommy’s Midrash Ballers in the final week of the regular season. Piasecna has really struggled down the stretch.
 
(2) Zalman’s Hot Dawgz (7) Nesiv HaTorah
Zalman’s won the first game between these teams just a few weeks ago by a score of 61-43. Nesiv HaTorah looks to snap out of their five-game losing streak.

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Tommy’s Takes Down Project Tzitzis in Instant Classic; Conglomerate of Middling Teams Desperate for Tier I

2/16/2020

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by Ilan Katz
​
With the regular season winding down, many teams’ playoff fates will come down to the final game. Here’s how they did on the second-to-last weekend of the regular season.
 
Tommy’s Midrash Ballers 54, Project Tzitzis 53
The FM Home Loans Game of the Week (streamed live on our Facebook page) lived up to its billing yet again, as Tommy’s hands Project Tzitzis its first defeat of the year. Led by the red-hot shooting Liron Benharush. (17 points) and the always reliable Nat Assayag (15 points), the Ballers chipped away at a double-digit second half deficit and iced the game thanks to a pair of free throws from Adam Motovich. Project Tzitzis is now 4-1, while Tommy’s moves to 5-1, inching closer to a first-round bye in the Tier I playoffs.
 
Gold Seals 52, The Chaburah Cubs 43
This game looked like it was headed for a blowout as the Gold Seals started the game up 10-0 and were up 31-15 at the half. But Chaim Katz (17 points) and co. brought the Chaburah back, as they started the second half on a 17-8 run and eventually got within three points of the Gold Seals. Unfortunately for them, they eventually ran out of gas. Gold Seals get to an even 3-3 on the season, while The Chaburah drops to 2-4.
 
Lobos 46, Loketch Group 27
This battle between two league veteran teams was won easily by Lobos. The Lobos made a deep run in last year’s Tier I playoffs, and look in position to potentially repeat. They are now 3-2 with two games remaining in their regular season. The Loketch Group, meanwhile, drops to 2-4 on the season as they lost their second straight game.
 
All American Poly 69, Team Piaseczna 33
As mentioned in last week’s recap, All American Poly is a much better team than their record indicates. Each of these teams entered this matchup at 1-4 on the year, but the scoring margin is more indicative of the difference in skill level. All American Poly, who were led by 26 points from Ari Eisenberger and 20 from Zevi Gralla, will need to win their final regular season game and get some help to qualify for Tier I. Piaseczna was paced by 16 points from Mendy Kanofsky.
 
KHK/SZG Investments 64, Symphony Care Network 46
Yisroel Feld once again led all scorers, netting 28 points in the KHK/SZG Investments victory. His team moves to 5-1 on the season, hoping to secure a Tier I first-round bye. Symphony Care Network, who played more competitive than the final score indicates, is another 2-4 team that will need to win and get  help to qualify for Tier I. Otherwise, they would be one of the top Tier II teams in that field.
 
Papa’s Fried Potatoes 48, KMK 41
The Fried Potatoes have earned their way to a Tier I bid, as they now sit at 4-2 after this impressive victory against a very good KMK team. Made free throws by Papa’s down the stretch were the difference in a close game. Reuven Glashofer of KMK led his team with 14 points. KMK now sits at 3-3 and could use a win next week to secure a Tier I spot.
 
Zalman’s Hot Dawgz 61, Nesiv Hatorah 43
Shalom Dershowitz (18 points) led the Hot Dawgz, as usual. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and just barely keeps their Tier I hopes alive with a 2-4 record. Nesiv (1-5) will look to get ready for the Tier II playoffs in their final game after this tough loss.
 
Ashreinu Holy Bagel 42, Yeshiva League Pass 37
Ashreinu pulls off the upset of the week, as these teams entered the game three games apart in the standings. Max Mayerhoff (16 points), Aaron Weinstock (13), and Ariel Solomon (10) combined to score 39 of Ashreinu’s 42 points as the Holy Bagels move to 3-3 with their huge win. Yeshiva League Pass loses a close one for the second week in a row after starting the season 5-0. Their regular season is over, as they now await to see if their 5-2 record is enough to earn them a Tier I 1st round bye.
 
Kol Hanearim 60, Shtark Sharks 43
After starting the season 0-3, Kol Hanearim has looked like one of the scarier teams in the league, winning their past three games by an average of nearly 20 points per game. This game was close into the second half but, led by Moshe Wasserman (26 points) and Yehuda Wrotslavsky (18), pushed the pace and ran away over the final 10 minutes. Shtark Sharks were led by 14 points apiece from Jake Goldberg and Shlomo Meisels, and they now sit at 2-4 on the season.
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Week 6: Game of the Week Goes Down to the Wire; Logjam in Middle of Standings

2/10/2020

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by Ilan Katz

An exciting Week 6 of games included two top-tier matchups coming down to the wire, plus a cluster of teams sitting at 2-3 in the standings, setting up what should be an electrifying final two weeks of the regular season.
​
Tommy’s Midrash Ballers 49, The Chaburah 34
 
After Tommy’s got out to a big lead, Chaim Katz (17 points) brought The Chaburah to within a single possession, but that’s when Tommy’s put their foot back on the gas pedal and cruised to a 15-point victory. Nat Assayag (18 points) and Adam Motovich (16) of Tommy’s Midrash Ballers matched The Chaburah on their own, and the Ballers’ other pieces made the difference. Tommy’s moves to 4-1 with the win, while The Chaburah joins the logjam of 2-3 teams.
 
Project Tzitzis 46, All American Poly 45
 
All American Poly got out to a 4-point halftime lead in this evenly-matched, physical matchup, but Project Tzitzis emerged with the victory. Led by Shragi Peretz (23 points) who accounted for half of his team’s total output, Project Tzitzis moved to 4-0 and are one of two remaining undefeated teams. Down by 1 with under 10 seconds remaining, Peretz knocked down a pair of free throws, and All American Poly couldn’t convert a beautifully executed play on the other end. All American Poly has played arguably the toughest schedule in the league, and they fall to 1-4.
 
Papa’s Fried Potatoes 57, Zalman’s Hot Dawgz 40
 
The battle of delicious foods was won by the Fried Potatoes, who received double-digit scoring efforts from three different players. Moshe Goldring (15 points), Asher Kaufman (14). And David Lurie (12) helped Papa’s to a 20-plus point lead and built enough of a cushion to stave off a late Zalman’s push. Shalom Dershowitz led the Hot Dawgz, as he has all season long, with 15 points. The Hot Dawgz drop to 1-4 with the defeat, as Papa’s improves to 3-2.
 
B-Woods 52, Yeshiva League Pass 50
 
The FM Home Loans IBL Game of the Week certainly lived up to its billing, and may have been the game of the year. Each team came in at 5-0, with impressive resumes to date. B-Woods got off to a phenomenal start, making each of their first five shots, all from three-point range. They built a 12-point halftime lead, which extended to as many as 17 in the 2nd half. But YLP can never be counted out with its offensive firepower. Led this time by Aharon Heller (17 points), YLP managed to cut the deficit to just one basket, with a chance at tying in the final seconds, but couldn’t convert.
 
KHK/SZG Investments 57, Gold Seals 52
 
Yisroel Feld of KHK/SZG had 30 points, a league-high for the weekend, as he powers his team to a 4-1 record. After winning two in a row, Gold Seals has now dropped their past two by a combined seven points. They move to 2-3 in the crowded middle of the standings, where point differential will be key in determining playoff positioning.
 
Symphony Care Network 63, Loketch Group 37
 
Big things were expected of this SCN team headed into the season, and on this night they showed why. Although they are now just 2-3, they have the star-power to beat the top teams in the league. They are worth keeping an eye on if they can get into the Tier I playoffs. The Loketch Group had won two of their previous three, and they are also now 2-3 on the year.
 
Kol Hanearim 62, Team Piaseczna 24
 
Each of these teams entered the evening at 1-3, but Kol Hanearim was the more prepared team on this night, as can be inferred from the final score. They used tempo and ran all over the young men from TVA. Yehuda Wrotslavsky of Kol Hanearim led all scorers with 20 points, while his teammate Moshe Wasserman chipped in 15 points of his own.
 
Shtark Sharks 59, Lobos 55
 
Down by eight with 30 seconds remaining, the Lobos nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback, pulling to within three, but the Shtark Sharks made enough free throws to seal the victory and to move to 2-3. The Sharks were led by 23 points from Shlomo Meisels, while the Lobos had a superb effort from Elisha Rudman (22 points). The Lobos are now 2-2 on the season.


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Week 5: Top Teams Continue to Win Big

2/3/2020

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By Ilan Katz

Yeshiva League Pass and B-Woods win yet again, and are now the only two undefeated teams, with Tommy’s Midrash Shmuel and Project Tzitzis falling. Project Tzitzis had two opportunities for statement wins, but tired legs did them in in their second chance.

KMK 66, Zalman’s Hot Dawgz 56

The 10-point final spread is not completely indicative of how close and intense this battle was, though this was officially the first game of the season for KMK that wasn’t decided by two or fewer possessions. Yoni Snow was the hero for KMK, as he hit three clutch 3s from the top of the arc in the final minutes. He led four KMK double-digit scorers with 15 points. Zalman’s loses a hard-fought battle to drop to 1-3, while KMK moves to 3-2.

Yeshiva League Pass 71, Tommy’s Midrash Shmuel 51

Each team was down key players, but two players really stood out, one from each side. Moshe Heller continued his phenomenal scoring pace, netting a ho-hum 24 points in this one for YLP. Nat Assayag is a league veteran, and it showed on his way to matching Heller with 24 points of his own for Tommy’s. YLP improves to a stellar 5-0, while Tommy’s suffers its first defeat of the season, now sitting at 3-1.

B-Woods 55, Symphony Care Network 38
​

Another week, another win for B-Woods, who are tied with Yeshiva League Pass for a league-best 5-0 record. Zack Muller led the way with 17 points. Symphony Care Network had high expectations coming into the season, but a combination of bad luck and a tough schedule have them sitting at just 1-3 after four games.

Ashreinu Holy Bagel 33, The Chaburah 27


Chaim Katz had nearly half (13) of The Chaburah’s points, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the energetic Ashreinu, who were led by a combined scoring effort, mainly from Max Mayerhoff and Ariel Solomon. The Chaburah falls to 2-2 on the year, while Ashreinu improves to 2-3.

Loketch Group 48, Nesiv Hatorah 35


The Loketch Group has looked really good over the past few weeks. After starting the season 0-2, they have won two of their past three and look to keep pace with Tier I. Nesiv Hatorah got its offense back on track, more than tripling their offensive output from a week ago, but it wasn’t enough on this night. They fall to 1-4.

Project Tzitzis 59, Gold Seals 57


In the first of two games on the weekend for Project Tzitzis, they win a thriller against another top-tier team. Gold Seals usually max out their scoring in the 40s, so the pace in this one clearly favored Project Tzitzis, who moved to 3-0 with this one. The Gold Seals are now an even 2-2.

Lobos 45, Project Tzitzis 40


Project Tzitzis’ quest for an undefeated season ended in their second game of the weekend, as they couldn’t hang on against a surging Lobos team. Tired bodies may have been a valid excuse, but credit is due to Lobos, who have rebounded from a blowout loss to start the season to win their past two against credible teams.

Papa’s Fried Potatoes 53, Shtark Sharks 37


David Lurie led the Fried Potatoes with 14 points as his squad ends their two-game skid. Shlomo Meisels of Shtark Sharks led all scorers with 17 points, including five made 3-pointers. The hero for Papa’s was Asher Kaufman, whom teammates anointed “pickpocket gold medal winner” for his ballhawking defense. The Shtark Sharks can’t build on last week’s win and drop to 1-3.

KHK/SZG Investments
56, All American Poly 49

​All American Poly has arguably played the toughest schedule of any team in the FM Home Loans IBL, so their 1-3 record should be taken with a grain of salt. That being said, KHK/SZG Investments was the better team in this back-and-forth affair, eventually securing a victory and improving to 3-0.
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Week 4: Aside From a Pair of Stalwarts, Parity Defines FM Home Loans IBL

1/26/2020

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by Ilan Katz

Yeshiva League Pass and B-Woods each won tight ones to improve to 4-0. Meanwhile, 13 of the league’s 20 teams sit with one win on the season, displaying parity throughout the league. Nearly any team can beat any other on a given gameday.

B-Woods 42, All American Poly 39 (OT)

All American Poly gave B-Woods by far their stiffest test of the season in our FM Home Loans Game of the Week. B-Woods won its first three games by an average of 25 points, and this one looked headed in the same direction as they built an 11-point lead deep into the second half. But led by phenomenal play from Dovid Marmurstein (20 points), AAP closed regulation on a 14-3 run to force overtime. But B-Woods was able to regroup behind clutch play from Noam Meisels (16 points) to remain undefeated at 4-0. All American Poly drops to 1-2, but don't let the record fool you; they look very much like a Tier 1 team in this league.

Yeshiva League Pass 50, KHK/SZG Investments 49

Moshe Heller led Yeshiva League Pass with yet another dazzling performance, scoring a weekend-high 27 points. KHK/SZG Investments will regret missing several free throws down the stretch, and that ended up making all the difference in this one-point loss. YLP remains atop the league standings at 4-0, while KHK/SZG Investments, who were led by Yoel Schreier’s 18 points, fell to 1-1.

Shtark Sharks 47, Ashreinu Holy Bagels 43

These two teams are significantly better than their records indicate, and it showed in this intense matchup. It was back and forth until the very end, but the Shtark Sharks hung on to improve to 1-2 on the season. Those two losses, however, were to a pair of the top teams in the league (B-Woods, Tommy’s Midrash Ballers). Max Mayerhoff led Ashreinu with 24 points to continue his excellent season. A pair of late threes from Mayerhoff weren’t enough, and the Holy Bagels drop to 1-3.

Kol Hanearim 40, Lev Ligs 37

A tight one for the entire night, as neither team led by more than six points at any time. The Ligs had a 1-point halftime lead, but were eventually worn out by the fast pace of Kol Hanearim. Moshe Wasserman paced Kol Hanearim with 17 points, as he constantly raced down the floor to either score or dish on the fast break. Kol Hanearim picks up their first win of the season (1-3) and Lev Ligs fall to 1-2.

Gold Seals 45, Loketch Group 34

Jack Abramowitz, Moshie Khan, and Yoni Bobker all had double-digit points as Gold Seals improves to 2-1. Their lone defeat came in overtime at the hands of All American Poly. Shua Weiss had half (17) of Loketch Group’s points as his team couldn’t build on last week’s win and now sit at 1-2.

The Chaburah 26, Nesiv Hatorah 11

This highly defensive affair was tied at 10 apiece at the half, and Nesiv Hatorah was not able to break through in the 2nd half, going the entire period without a made field goal. Chatz Katz of The Chaburah matched the opponent’s points on his own with 11 as his squad moves to 2-1. Nesiv Hatorah will look to get its offense back on track next week as they dropped to 1-3 with the loss.

Lobos 58, Papa’s Fried Potatoes 55

We go from a low-scoring battle to a shootout, Lobos thought they were in control when they built a 15-point 2nd half lead, but Papa’s Fried Potatoes slowly chipped away, eventually battling back to within a single point. The Lobos’ ability to consistently make free throws ended up being the difference, as was a missed three with three seconds remaining. Moshe Goldring of PFP led all scorers with 17 points. His team moves to 1-2 as Lobos wins their first game of the year (1-1).

Project Tzitzis 44, KMK 38

KMK was looking to build off last week’s win but couldn't quite pull out another victory. They tied the game with under five minutes left, but the veteran leadership on Project Tzitzis helped will them to victory behind defense and free throws. Jaim Magendzo of KMK (2-2) led all scorers with 16 points. Project Tzitzis remains undefeated at 2-0.

Zalman’s Hot Dawgz 49, Team Piaseczna 27

Zalman’s got their first win of the season behind a phenomenal team effort, with Joseph Matthew, Josh Hajibai, and Gabe Gerszberg all scoring over 10 points. Piaseczna drops their 2nd straight after winning their season debut.

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Week 3: Yeshiva League Pass, B-Woods, Tommy’s Midrash Ballers Improve to 3-0; Veteran Team Kaminetzky Debuts in Impressive Fashion

1/19/2020

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by Ilan Katz

The top of the league is beginning to separate itself, as three teams now sit at 3-0. There are plenty of other quality teams though, including All American Poly (who lost a tight FM Home Loans Game of the Week) and Team Kaminetzky (who win a blowout in their season debut).

Gold Seals 49, Lev Ligs 48

After losing an overtime thriller last week, Gold Seals come out on the other side of the drama this week. Mike Natkin of Lev Ligs followed up a strong performance in last week’s win by pouring in 21 points, but it wasn't enough in the end. With the score tied at 48 and under 20 seconds remaining, Chesky Lewin of Gold Seals was fouled on a three-point attempt, and made one of three free throws which proved to be the decisive point, as the Ligs couldn't get a bucket on their final possession. Yoni Bobker led the Gold Seals with 22 points.

Yeshiva League Pass 52, All-American Poly 45

Our FM Home Loans Game of the week was closer than the final score indicated, especially in the first half. Team captains Moshe Heller (YLP) and Ikey Cohen (AAP) alternated dazzling displays of creativity, each leading his team in scoring. After leading by a single point at halftime, League Pass went on a 9-1 run early in the 2nd half and never looked back. YLP improves to 3-0, while AAP, still one of the stronger teams in the league, drops to 1-1.

B-Woods 51, Lobos 18

It didn't look like this would be a blowout in the 1st half. After a 11-0 B-Woods start, Lobos went on a 12-6 run to enter halftime down 17-12. But it was all B-Woods in the 2nd half, outscoring the Lobos by a whopping 34-6 margin. Zack Muller of B-Woods led all scorers with 17 points as his team improves to 3-0. Gabi Singer led Lobos with 10 points as they drop their season opener.

Kaminetzky 51, Papa’s Fried Potatoes 25

Team Kaminetzky made their season debut and immediately looked like a contender for the top of Tier 1. Led by 17 points from Yoel Schreier, Kaminetzky showed veteran savvy in dismantling PFP on both sides of the ball. Papa’s Fried Potatoes tried a balanced attack, but it simply wasn't enough. They followed up last week’s impressive victory with a loss here, dropping to 1-1 on the year.

KMK 47, Ashreinu Holy Bagels 44

Each of these teams entered the night 1-1 on the season and appeared to be evenly matched. KMK built up a double-digit lead, but Ashreinu clawed its way back behind Aaron Weinstock (18 points) and Max Mayerhoff (14). Jaim Magendzo powered KMK to the win with 14 points. The Holy Bagels had a chance to tie it late in the game but missed on a 3-point shot, and that proved to be the difference.

Tommy’s Midrash Shmuel 67, Nesiv Hatorah 21

This one was all Tommy’s as they built a 35-10 halftime lead and never looked back. Yitz Kapetas nearly outscored Nesiv Hatorah all by himself, scoring 20 of his own points for the men from Midrash, who improve to 3-0. Nate Boaz scored 15 of Nesiv’s 21 points as they drop to 1-2 on the season.

Chaburah Cubs 35, Team Piaseczna 30

The Cubs started off up 8-0, and that proved to be pivotal in the outcome of this game. Chatz Katz had nearly half (17) of the winning team’s points as the Chaburah Cubs improve to 1-1 on the year. Team Piaseczna will look to show up earlier going forward, as they drop to 1-1.

Symphony Care Network 56, Kol Hanearim 44

This battle between a pair of teams looking to get into the win column was very much a battle for the first 20 minutes as SCN entered the break with just a single-point lead. But Symphony Care Network was just too much for Kol Hanearim in the 2nd half, pulling away for a 12-point victory. SCN improve to 1-2 on the season while KH is still looking for that elusive first win.
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Week 2: B-Woods, Yeshiva League Pass, Tommy’s Midrash Ballers Improve to 2-0; AAP Wins OT Thriller

1/12/2020

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by Ilan Katz

In the second week of FM Home Loans IBL action, several teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack. Meanwhile, a matchup between two teams led by league veterans went down to the wire.

Tzitzis Project 54, Ashreinu Holy Bagels 45

Led by league veterans Shragi Peretz and Chaim Krieger, Tzitzis project got out to an early double-digit lead. That’s when Max Meyerhoff of the Holy Bagels caught fire and made this one a close game the rest of the way. Meyerhoff, who finished with 28 of his team’s 45 points, made contested jumper after contested jumper, but Peretz wisely controlled the tempo and along with contributions from his teammates, made smart plays down the stretch to win their season debut.

Loketch Group 24, The Chaburah Cubs 21

In a scrappy, low-scoring affair, Loketch gets its first win of the season. It was a strong defensive performance from both sides, and Loketch used a balance scoring attack to score just enough, with no player scoring more than seven points. The Cubs, who were led in scoring by Chaim Katz, drop their league debut. Brighter days are ahead.

All American Poly 49, Gold Seals 46 (OT)

This thriller featured a multitude of FM Home Loans Israel Basketball league veterans, and moxie was passed back and forth between the squads. All American Poly got out to a 12-4 lead, but Chesky Lewin of Gold Seals hit a barrage of outside shots to give Gold Seals a similar lead. All American Poly made a run of their own to make it a 25-24 halftime deficit. On the final possession of regulation, Gold Seals had a chance to win it at the charity stripe with one second left, but missed both free throws. In overtime, All American Poly’s veterans showed poise by emphasizing defense and rebounding to secure a three-point win.

B-Woods 63, Shtark Sharks 36

A second half romp by the boys from Los Angeles negated a strong first half effort from Shtark Sharks. In the battle of the Meisels’, Noam led B-Woods with 22 points, while Shlomo of the Sharks had 15 of his own. The Sharks kept it close early, trailing just 19-16 at half. But B-Woods’ talent was too overwhelming en route to a 44-20 second half surge. B-Woods improves to 2-0, while Shtark Sharks are still looking to get in the win column.

Tommy’s Midrash Ballers 52, Zalman’s Hot Dawgz 44

In a game closer than the final score indicated, Tommy’s was paced by three double-digit scorers. Marc Giahn provided steady point guard play for TMB, along with 12 points, as Adam Motovich and Yitzy Kapetas chipped in 14 points apiece. Shalom Dershowitz led his team in scoring for the second consecutive game, however both performances ended with a loss. The Ballers (formerly known as Team Giahn) improve to 2-0.

Yeshiva League Pass 60, Symphony Care Network 44

Ari Kafka was the early story for YLP, as he dominated inside en route to a 28-19 halftime lead, but the story of the game was the performance of the Heller twins, who nearly outscored Symphony Care Network by themselves. Moshe Heller had 27 points, while brother Aharon had 12. “Great ball movement led to easy shots,” Moshe said after the game on his breakout scoring performance. “We didn't need to force any shots.” Yeshiva League Pass improves to 2-0, while SCN drops their first game of the season.

Papa’s Fried Potatoes 57, Kol Hanearim 42

A 2-3 zone by Kol Hanearim was of little challenge to Papa’s Fried Potatoes, who moved the ball flawlessly and selflessly to find holes and make open shots. It was a balanced scoring attack, as five players scored at least six points, while Uriel Cohen led PFP with 13. Moshe Wasserman of Kol Hanearim scored a game-high 20 points as his team drops to 0-2.

Lev Ligs 41, KMK 37

After winning a thriller in their season opener, KMK was on the receiving end of heartbreak in this close loss. KMK led by double-digits at half, but Lev Ligs chipped away slowly but surely over the final 20 minutes, using sound defense and timely shooting. Ray Betesh hit the dagger three to secure the Ligs’ win in their season opener. Mike Natkin of the Ligs led all scorers with 17 points, while Jaim Magendzo paced KMK with 11 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

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Week 1: KMK Wins a Thriller; Blowouts Dominate Saturday Night

1/5/2020

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by Ilan Katz

The opening weekend of the 2020 FM Home Loans Israel Basketball League got off to an exciting start, with one close battle and four other teams looking sublime in blowouts.

Ashreinu Holy Bagels 44, Loketch Group 32

In the 2020 FM Home Loans IBL opening game, these two returning clubs traded baskets early. Ashreinu closed the first half on an 8-0 run after the score sat at 19-18 and never looked back. Aaron Weinstock of the Holy Bagels led all scorers with 14 points and was aided by the great point guard play of Max Mayerhoff, who added 11 points of his own. Zevi Katz paced Loketch Group with 11 points.

KMK 55, Kol Hanearim 53

In a tightly contested matchup, KMK was able to share the ball well to pull out the win. In a physical contest, KMK got out to a 31-26 halftime lead. Kol Hanearim was able to make some adjustments, namely switching a to a 2-3 zone. But KMK made adjustments of their own and their unselfish play help them prevail. Jaim Magendzo led the way for KMK with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Elijah Wolfe led Kol Hanearim with 17 points in defeat.

Giahn 51, Shtark Sharks 36

This one was close for most of the first half, with Giahn building a six-point halftime lead. Yitzy Kapetas was on fire, making four 3s in the first half alone, ending up with 20 points in the game. The Shtark Sharks, led by Shlomo Meisels’ 15 points, chipped away in the second half, but Giahn was too overwhelming all-around en route to a 15-point victory.

Yeshiva League Pass 57, Nesiv HaTorah 24

Nesiv was doomed from the start, as YLP jumped out to an early 20-2 lead. Yair Kimmel led Yeshiva League Pass with 24 points, while Aharon Heller and Ethan Aaron joined him with double figures as well. Gavriel Niyazou, Ben Steele, and Haim Sivan combined for 22 of Nesiv’s 24 points in the loss.

B-Woods 50, Zalman’s Hot Dawgz 35

In the final game of a quadruple-header on Saturday night, B-Woods built a 12-point halftime lead en route to a 15-point victory. Composed of players mostly from the Los Angeles area, B-Woodz used set plays and a balanced attack to cruise to a comfortable win. Shalom Dershowitz and big man Noam Silverman led the Hot Dawgz with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

​
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    Authors

    Ari Adler is a sportswriter and video editor, based in Jerusalem.

    Ilan Katz
    is a veteran author, sportscaster, analyst and organizational sports consultant. His first love in journalism is basketball, for which he has been doing play-by-play since his days as the lead broadcaster for the Yeshiva University Macabees, as well as the Red Saracheck Tournament. He anchors the FM Home Loans Israel Basketball League weekly broadcasts.


    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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