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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