Some close matchups included Symphony Care Network improving to 5-0 as the last unbeaten team. Egert and Cohen and Yeshiva League Pass were also impressive, each notching a pair of wins on the week.
Egert and Cohen 69, Hot Poppers 41
In their first of two back-to-back games, Egert and Cohen had the hot hand en route to a comfortable 28-point victory. Star guard Jackie Haber led them once again, scoring 23 points in this match. The rebranded Hot Poppers were coming off their first win of the season and would get another shot at a win later in the week.
Egert and Cohen 64, Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 45
The hot shooting continued for Egert and Cohen, with their second 60+ scoring output in one night, an impressive feat for the FM Home Loans IBL. We’re running out of superlatives to describe Haber, who 31 points in this one, 22 in the first half alone. Egert and Cohen has now won three straight after starting the season 0-3. Haber outdueled fellow scoring machine Nat Assayag, who had 25 points for the Ballers in a losing effort.
Symphony Care Network 53, SINAI Schools 30
SINAI Schools looked like one of the league’s top teams through their first two games but have dropped back-to-back tough ones. They were shorthanded in this one, though, and will be a tough matchup for any team during the stretch run. On the other side, Symphony Care Network has proven themselves as the team to beat thus far. Moshe Wasser had 26 points to lead his team to their fourth victory on the season.
Sherlocks Hats 51, Neveh Fighters 25
As per usual, Sherlocks used a balanced scoring attack, with no player scoring more than 10 points. They snap a three-game skid with this crucial victory. Neveh continues to face a difficult adjustment to league play, as they are still searching for that elusive first victory.
Reishit Studs 46, Chovat Piaseczna 42
In a battle of two promising teams, Reishit pulls away with a big win. The Studs continue to win with balance, with four of their players going for at least 10 points. Chovat Piaseczna continue to come out on the wrong side of close games. They are now 1-3 on the season, but one of those three losses came in OT and the other two were by a combined five points.
Yeshiva League Pass 71, Good Guys 48
This was a highly anticipated matchup between two of the league’s more impressive teams to date. But Yeshiva League Pass came out to determine they are in the elite tier of the FM Home Loans IBL. Led by 25 points from Moshe Heller, they put on an offensive showcase. Edward Benjamin led Good Guys with 12 points in the loss.
Yeshiva League Pass 61, Reishit Studs 44
It was the second game of the day for both teams, but that didn’t stop them from putting on an exciting show. Yeshiva League Pass continued to assert their dominance, though it wasn’t without a fight from Reishit. The Studs were led by point guard Eli Jesselson, who scored 13 points in the match. His team fell to 3-2 on the season, still in the upper echelon of the standings.
Symphony Care Network 55, Good Guys 52
The two teams that entered Week 4 undefeated squared off and Symphony Care Network exits with the league’s last unblemished record. The Good Guys had a rough week, losing two games, but should keep their heads held high. They lost to arguably the top two teams in the league. Brighter days will be ahead.
Hot Poppers 49, DNA Lab Center 47
Hot Poppers won this thriller in dramatic fashion, holding off a starving DNA Lab Center team still looking for their first victory. Hami Alexander led the Hot Poppers with 14 points as they improve their record to 2-3 on the season after an 0-2 start. DNA Lab Center is 0-4 on the season but battle hard, as they showed in this valiant effort.
TC Gold Seals 51, Imrei Binah 46
It was an old-fashioned scoring duel between Chesky Lewin of Gold Seals and Moshe Gross of Imrei Binah. Each player had 25 points in this exhilarating matchup, which Gold Seals took by a close margin. Gold Seals are now tied for second place in the league at 4-1. They have won four straight games since dropping their season opener. Imrei Binah joins a logjam of 2-3 teams in the middle of the standings.