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Yeshiva League Pass Wins FM Home Loans IBL; Hot Poppers Victorious in Tier II

6/7/2021

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by Ilan Katz

A year after having their championship game ruined by COVID-19, Yeshiva League Pass lifts the Tier I trophy, winning all three playoff games by double digits. Below, we recap all the games of the postseason.
 
Tier I

Quarterfinals

(1) Symphony Care Network 71, (8) Egert and Cohen 52
Egert and Cohen put a scare into the 1-seed, leading by as many as 12 and by one at halftime. But Yisroel Wasser of SCN got hot and made six 3-pointers in the game, finishing with 27 points. Egert and Cohen, led all season by Jackie Haber, can hang their head high after a valiant effort and a solid year.
 
(5) Good Guys 67, (4) Reishit Studs 51
Zack Cytryn led the way for the Good Guys with 20 points as they advance to the semifinals. The Studs were without their full roster, while the Good Guys had 10 players register in the scoring column. The Studs had an excellent season, finishing 5-2 and in the Tier I playoffs.
 
(3) SINAI Schools 43, TC Gold Seals 40
The Gold Seals end their season in heartbreaking fashion, but they should be proud of what they accomplished this season. All of their losses this year were within a couple of possessions, they just couldn’t pull it out when it mattered. Danny Weinberger led SINAI Schools in scoring while Chesky Lewin paced the Gold Seals.
 
(2) Yeshiva League Pass 65, Imrei Binah 43
Yeshiva League Pass came out a bit sluggish, yet they still led by seven at the half. But the Heller twins and Raanan Glashofer each scored in double figures, and they cruised in the second half, looking like the elite team they were all season long.
 
Semifinals

Symphony Care Network 72, Good Guys 64
The Good Guys were in the lead for the majority of the 1st half, but Symphony Care Network came out on fire in the second. All season long, it has been star guard Yisroel Wasser’s team, but the story in this one was the shooting of Ari Schuman and Dov Sokolin, who combined to hit six threes, all in the second half. The Good Guys weren’t as deep as usual in this game, but should be congratulated on an excellent season.
 
Yeshiva League Pass 62, SINAI Schools 49
AJ Bennett of SINAI Schools had his best game of the season with 21 points, but it was enough to beat a juggernaut. Raanan Glashofer continued his postseason tear for YLP with 17 points, while Moshe Heller led all scorers with 26 to lead his team to the championship game for the second straight year.
 
Championship

Yeshiva League Pass 69, Symphony Care Network 56
After last season’s championship came was cancelled due to COVID-19, Yeshiva League Pass got the chance to finish this year and hoisted the FM Home Loans trophy. YLP founder and team captain Moshe Heller was fantastic as usual, going for 24 points, making one acrobatic layup after another. But the story in this one was the incredible play at both ends by Raanan Glashofer, who had 23 points, all in the second half. He would consistently draw a charge or get a steal on one end and get an and-one at the other.
Symphony Care Network walks away with their heads held high, as they finished the regular season as they top seed and finished the season in the championship game.
 
Tier II

Opening Round

(3) Hot Poppers 65, (6) Neveh Fighters 51
The Fighters certainly fought all season long, though they finish the season without a win. The Hot Poppers were led by Hami Alexander in this one, and advance to the semifinals. They controlled this game from nearly the opening tip.
 
(5) Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 50, (4) Sherlocks Hats 38
Sherlocks Hats had some impressive performances this season, but couldn’t pull it together on a consistent enough basis and they bow out in their opening playoff game. Nachum Peterseil led Sherlocks with 12 points, while Itzik Mazeh and Ari Sprung also scored in double figures. Nat Assayag (16) and Shimon Smaza (15) led the Ballers in the postseason win.
 
Semifinals

(3) Hot Poppers 57, (1) Chovat Piaseczna 48
By seeding, this would go down as the biggest upset of the postseason from either tier. Chovat Piaseczna had a 1st-round bye, while perhaps the Hot Poppers carried over some momentum from their opening round win to fuel them to this upset. Hillel Schwartz had 16 points to lead Chovat Piaseczna.
 
(2) DNA Lab Center 53, (5) Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 42
David Sasson had a game-high 13 points to lead DNA Lab Center to a championship berth. Nat Assayag continued his stellar FM Home Loans IBL career, once again scoring in double figures.
 
Championship
​

Hot Poppers 39, DNA Lab Center 22
It was not exactly an offensive clinic, but the Hot Poppers played fundamental basketball to lift the AFI Cup. For the Hot Poppers, Hami Alexander made plays consistently on both ends, while Judah Klein displayed dazzling footwork and was a matchup nightmare. Congratulations to both teams on excellent seasons!
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Week 6: Playoff Brackets Set

5/30/2021

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by Ilan Katz
 
The last undefeated team in the FM Home Loans IBL goes down, while the Reishit Studs win a thriller in a game with key playoff implications.  
For an updated look at the playoff bracket, go to http://afisports.weebly.com/playoff-bracket.html
 
Chovat Piaseczna 60, Neveh Fighters 45
Chovat needed a win and they got it, but unfortunately for them, it was not enough to secure a Tier 1 bid. The young men from TVA, who were led by Josh Hyman’s 22 points, instead earn the top seed in Tier 2, with a shot at the AFI Cup. The Fighters took some time to adjust to the level of play of the FM Home Loans IBL, but they have gotten tougher as the season has gone on.
 
Imrei Binah 55, Neveh Fighters 44
Kobi Schuman (20 points) led Imrei Binah to a crucial win, as they would secure the final spot in Tier 1. They will look to upset top-seeded Symphony Care Network in their quarterfinal matchup. The Fighters, meanwhile, will also have upset on their mind, as they open Tier against the higher-ranked Hot Poppers. They were led by Eli Raider, who also had 20 points in this one.
 
DNA Lab Center 45, Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 42
Naftali Wallach of DNA Lab Center led all scorers with 19 points, but even a hard-fought win wasn’t enough to earn a shot at the top trophy. His team finishes the regular season at 3-4 and gets a first-round bye in Tier 2. The Ballers were led by Nat Assayag (15 points) and Yisrael Probstein (13). They will face Sherlocks Hats in their Tier 2 opener.
 
SINAI Schools 59, Symphony Care Network 50
There will be no undefeated regular season, as SINAI Schools upsets previously 6-0 Symphony Care Network. Danny Weinberger and Gavi Domsky each scored in double-figures for SINAI Schools, who essentially clinched a Tier 1 berth with this win. Yisroel Wasser scored a game-high 23 points for SCN, who still earned the #1 overall seed due to a tiebreaker over Yeshiva League Pass. They will play Egert and Cohen in their quarterfinal Tier 1 match.
 
Reishit Studs 46, TC Gold Seals 45
The new kids on the block defeat the veteran-laden team in a game with Tier 1 seeding implications. The Studs (5-2), who were undermanned in this game, earn the 4-seed and will play Good Guys in the Tier 1 quarterfinal. The Gold Seals (4-3) fall to the 6-seed and will take on SINAI Schools in their QF matchup.
 
SINAI Schools 56, Sherlocks Hats 45
No letdown performance for SINAI Schools following their monumental win earlier in the week. Danny Weinberger (23 points) had his second great performance of the week, as SINAI Schools (5-2) closes out the regular season with its third straight win and earns the 3-seed in Tier. They will take on TC Gold Seals in the quarterfinals. Sherlocks Hats (2-5) will face Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers in the Tier 2 opening round.
 
Yeshiva League Pass 77, Hot Poppers 66
In a fast-paced, high-scoring shootout, the Hot Poppers were able to hang with the elite Yeshiva League Pass for much of the game, but simply didn’t have enough gas to pull off the upset. YLP (6-1) earns the 2nd overall seed and will face Imrei Binah in the Tier 1 quarterfinal, while Hot Poppers (2-5) take aim at the AFI Cup in Tier, opening against the Neveh Fighters.

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Week 5: Playoff Picture Comes into Focus

5/23/2021

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by Ilan Katz
 
The league’s best record remains unblemished as we enter the stretch run of the 2021 FM Home Loans IBL regular season. A huge logjam in the middle of the standings creates incredible drama over the season’s final two weeks.
 
Symphony Care Network 44, TC Gold Seals 32
Symphony Care Network extends their league-best record to 6-0 and, with just one regular-season game remaining, have a great chance to finish undefeated. The Gold Seals were led by Chesky Lewin’s 13 points and drop to 4-2 on the season. They will look to bounce back next game.
 
SINAI Schools 56, Egert and Cohen 41
Jackie Haber’s 18 points weren’t enough for Egert and Cohen, who finish their regular season at 3-4. They still have hope to qualify for Tier 1 of the playoffs, depending on next week’s results. SINAI Schools, who had five players score at least seven points, bounce back with a crucial win after dropping two straight games. They are 3-2 entering their stretch run, and one win in their final two games should secure a Tier 1 bid.
 
Chovat Piaseczna 46, Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 37
Nat Assayag of the Ballers had 18 points, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the scrappy guys from TVA of Chovat Piaseczna. Josh Hyman led Piaseczna with 12 points as they finally come out on the right side of a close game. Piaseczna improved to 2-3 with this win, and the Ballers fall to 1-4, though each team had another game later in the week.
 
DNA Lab Center 36, Neveh Fighters 30
The Fighters finally lived up to their nickname in this instant classic, but DNA Lab Center outscored the Fighters 6-0 in overtime to notch its second win of the season. The Fighters are still looking for their first victory and will have two more opportunities to try and do so. Neveh was led by 21 points from star guard Eli Raider, while DNA Lab Center got 17 points from Yehuda Rabinowitz.
 
Reishit Studs 61, Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 37
The Studs were led by Eli Jesselson (18 points) and Jonah Eber (16) as they ran the Ballers out of the gym. Reishit improves to 4-2 on the season, all but assuring them a spot in in Tier 1, while the Ballers will likely settle for a spot in Tier 2, where they will be tough competition.
 
Good Guys 57, Chovat Piaseczna 45
In a chippy battle, the Good Guys were able to stave off a late Chovat Piaseczna run to snap a two-game losing skid. Morris Tobias had 18 points for the Good Guys, while Chovat Piaseczna was led by another good game from Josh Hyman, who finished with 15 points. Chovat Piaseczna drops to 2-4, with a must-win final game coming up in Week 6.
 
Good Guys 51, DNA Lab Center 43
Tired legs and a late DNA Lab Center push made this one closer than the Good Guys would have liked, but they complete a two-win day to improve to 4-2 on the season. DNA Lab Center drops to 2-4 and is yet another team that desperately needs a win for a shot at the Tier 1 playoffs. David Sasson (DNA Lab Center) was the game’s leading scorer with 19 points.
 
Yeshiva League Pass 53, Sherlocks Hats 26
Ethan Aaron and Raanan Glashofer (15 points each) outscored Sherlocks on their own, as Yeshiva League Pass won their 4th straight game, improving their season record to 5-1 in the process. Sherlocks Hats simply didn’t have enough firepower to compete with the league’s elite, and they have now dropped four of their past five games. Sherlocks is yet another team that needs to win their final game for a shot at Tier 1.
 
Imrei Binah 52, Hot Poppers 41
In a game with tremendous postseason ramifications, Imrei gets the vital victory they needed, improving to 3-3 on the season with a great shot at Tier 1. With the loss, the Hot Poppers become one of four 2-4 teams in the standings. 

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Week 4: One Undefeated Team Remains as Action Heats Up

5/18/2021

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by Ilan Katz
 
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.

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Week 3: Symphony Care Network and Good Guys Still Unbeaten

5/9/2021

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by Ilan Katz
 
Week 3 brought some dazzling scoring performances and one defensive nail biter along with some dominating victories. Several teams have begun to separate themselves from the pack.
 
Gold Seals 25, Chovat Piaseczna 24
In the most thrilling game of the weekend, the Gold Seals continue to win with their defense. In the first half, the Gold Seals grabbed an early lead before Micah Cohen of Piasecnzna went on a personal 7-0 scoring run. But the Gold Seals regrouped and made their opponent earn every point the rest of the way. With the game on the line, Piaseczna star Josh Hyman saw his potential game-winning midrange jumper barely roll off the rim, as his team loses its second consecutive heartbreaker. Gold Seals, meanwhile, have bounced back from a season-opening loss to win three straight games.
 
Good Guys 52, Neveh Fighters 29
The Good Guys remain undefeated in this comfortable victory. They won by 23 points, which equaled the personal output of leading scorer Zack Cytryn. Neveh has faced an adjustment to the FM Home Loans IBL, which is typical of younger teams. The Good Guys, meanwhile, have been playing together for a while, and it shows in their cohesiveness.
 
Egert and Cohen 53, Imrei Binah 32
Backed by 19 points from star guard Jackie Haber, Egert and Cohen pick up their first win of the season. Alan Sassoon also contributed with 12 points, including eight in the first half. Yosef Groman led Imrei Binah with 10 points in a losing effort, as they dropped to 1-2 on the season in their first of two games on the week.
 
Imrei Binah 51, Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 37
Yosef Groman led Imrei in scoring once again, this time going for 20 points. Imrei Binah is now 2-2 on the season, alternating losses and wins with each game. Midrash, meanwhile, was led by 14 points by Nat Assayag. The Ballers have also alternated losses and wins, though they have played one fewer game than Imrei, and their record stands at 1-2.
 
Symphony Care Network 76, Egert and Cohen 47
Symphony Care Network put on an offensive clinic, their 76 points scored the most any team has achieved in a single game this season. Three of their players scored at least 15 points, led by 22 from point guard Moshe Wasser. Egert and Cohen was led by 18 points from Alan Sassoon, and they dropped to 1-3 on the season. SCN is one of two undefeated teams at 3-0.
 
DNA Lab Center 51, Sherlocks Hats 35
DNA Lab Center finally broke through into the win column, following a tough overtime loss last week. Azriel Feldman and Chanoch Brukirer had 12 points each for the winning team. Sherlocks loses their first of two games this week.
 
Reishit Studs 65, Neveh Fighters 13
Five Reishit players scored at least nine points, led by 18 from Jonah Eber. Ari Ofman provided elite rim protection as Reishit cruised to a very comfortable win. The Studs are now 2-1 on the season, while Neveh is still looking for its first win, sitting at 0-3.
 
Yeshiva League Pass 58, SINAI Schools 51
The anticipated matchups between two FM Home Loans IBL heavyweights was won by Yeshiva League Pass in impressive fashion. Moshe and Aharon Heller combined to score more than half of YLP’s points as their squad bounced back from last week’s loss to Symphony Care Network. They are now tied in the standings with SINAI schools at 2-1.
 
Hot Poppers 59, Sherlocks Hats 46
In the final game of the weekend, the shorthanded Hot Poppers won their season debut. Judah Klein of the Hot Poppers led all scorers with 20 points. On the opposite end, Sherlocks continue to struggle, as they have lost their past three games following a season-opening win over Imrei Binah. 

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Three Teams Remain Unbeaten After Two Weeks

5/3/2021

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by Ilan Katz

Symphony Care Network, SINAI Schools, and The Good Guys all looked impressive in improving to 2-0 on the young season. Chovat Piaseczna’s completes an incredible comeback to earn their first victory.
 
Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 45, Neveh Fighters 24
The Fighters were down a couple of key players in their season debut, but that shouldn’t take anything away from the big Ballers win. Nat Assayag had another strong performance, scoring 12 points in the first half, as Probstein 123 cruised to a victory to even their record at 1-1. The Fighters will look to get to full strength and into the win column their next time out.
 
Chovat Piaseczna’s 46, Egert & Cohen 43
Josh Hyman of Chovat Piaseczna’s blocked Jackie Haber’s last-ditch three-point attempt in the waning seconds, as the young men from TVA were able to grab their first win of the season. Chovat was down by 15 points but went on a huge second half run to stun Egert & Cohen. Hyman led the victors with 16 points, while his counterpart Haber looks like one of the more prolific scorers in the league. He led all scorers with 22 points, following a 21-point outing a week ago.
 
TC Gold Seals 44, Levy 32
The Gold Seals have bounced back from their season-opening loss to win two straight, this win sending Levy to their second straight loss. The veteran Gold Seals were favorites coming in, but Levy kept it close until the final few minutes. Chesky Lewin led TC with 13 points, while Eli Lowenstein paced Levy with 18 of his own, accounting for more than half of his team’s scoring output.
 
Imrei Binah 44, DNA Lab Center 34 (OT)
After dropping a close one to Sherlocks Hats a week ago, Imrei Binah came out hungry tonight and outscored DNA Lab Center 10-0 in overtime to grab an important first win. Dovid Zelikovych had 17 points in the win. Azriel Feldman and Nate Wallach each scored in double figures for DNA Lab Center in the losing effort.
 
SINAI Schools 57, Reishit Studs 37
Two of the top teams in the league met on Friday and SINAI Schools jumped out to a 20-point halftime lead and hung on to win by the same margin. Danny Weinberger and Gavi Domsky each scored in double figures for SINAI Schools as they improve to 2-0 on the season. Jonah Eber made his season debut for the Studs and led them with 19 points, but it wasn’t enough, as Reishit moves to 1-1.
 
The Good Guys 68, Sherlocks Hats 35
The Good Guys continue to roll, as they have utilized a very deep bench to steamroll their first two opponents, winning by an average of 29 points. Morris Tobias of the Good Guys scored 20 points, leading all scorers. Sherlocks Hats didn’t come in with the same fire they had in their season-opening win, and couldn’t contain the Good Guys on the defensive end. They will look to get back on track in their next game.
 
Symphony Care Network 52, Yeshiva League Pass 48
Yisroel Wasser was the star for Symphony Care Network, making big shot after big shot down the stretch. He showed off his tremendous range from the point guard spot, and Yeshiva League Pass did not have an answer for him defensively. Moshe Heller was impressive with 12 points in defeat, as YLP drops to 1-1. Symphony Care is looking very formidable in their 2-0 start.

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FM Home Loans IBL Returns With a Bang

4/26/2021

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by Ilan Katz

Better late than never, the FM Home Loans Israel Basketball league got off to a great start, with multiple teams asserting their dominance during opening weekend. After last season was cancelled just before the championship, Yeshiva League Pass showed up hungrier than ever on their quest to capture that elusive title trophy.
 
Symphony Care Network 37, Probstein 123 Midrash Ballers 25
It was a defensive struggle between these two veteran teams, ending with a 12-point SCN victory in the league’s season opener. Yisroel Wasser led the victors with 12 points, while Nate Assayag, a long-time FM Home Loans IBL player, had 16 of his team’s 25 points in a losing effort.
 
Reishit Studs 61, Egert and Cohen 52
The Studs did their scouting and played a box-and-one zone on E&C star Jackie Haber. After the Studs got out to an early lead, E&C called timeout and returned with an 11-0 run to tie the score. But Reishit responded well, led by star big man Jason Zucker, who contributed 15 points off the bench. Haber led all scorers with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to pull off the win.
 
Yeshiva League Pass 51, TC Gold Seals 41
Yeshiva League Pass never got the chance to play the championship game that they earned last season, but they are back with a bang. Moshe Heller led the way with 26 points, as YLP pulled away in the second half. With the score tied at 27 early in the second half, Yeshiva League pass went on a 10-0 run, which ended up being in the final margin.
 
Sherlock’s Hats 42, Imrei Binah 34
It was a battle between the veterans and the young guns, and the elder statesmen of Sherlock’s Hats won out. Sherlock’s played nine different players and simply wore down Imrei in every facet, running and gunning all evening long. Imrei tried pressuring and upping the tempo in the second half, but Sherlock’s Hats were well prepared. They look like a force to be reckoned with this season.
 
Sinai Schools 39, Chovat Piaseczna’s 24
This game was much closer than the final score indicated. Sinai Schools was paced by lead guard Danny Weinberger’s 18 points, and his team rode excellent defense to pull away in the second half. Chovat Piaseczna’s, the young men from TVA, are a scrappy bunch who will not be an easy win for any opponent on their schedule.
 
Good Guys 54, Levy 29
The widest margin of victory on the season’s opening weekend belonged to Good Guys, as they used their depth to manhandle the undermanned Levy team. Morris Tobias led the Good Guys with 19 points, using his advanced size and shooting ability to overpower his defenders. Six different players scored multiple baskets for the Good Guys, which is more players than Levy had available.
 
TC Gold Seals 45, DNA Lab Center 22
The Gold Seals avenged their tough Friday loss by taking it out on DNA Lab Center late Saturday night. Chesky Lewin, Nechemiah Gross, and captain Jack Jackobowitz each had at least nine points as veteran-laden TC improved to 1-1 on the season. DNA Lab Center struggled to get things going on the offensive end and will look to bounce back in their next game.

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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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    Authors

    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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