In a hard-fought Tier II Qualifier, Katz YHS used their size and dominance on the glass to grind out a 44-38 victory over Mizrachi. From the opening tip, Katz imposed their will in the paint, creating second-chance opportunities that kept Mizrachi on their heels.
The story of the game was Katz’s relentless rebounding, outrebounding Mizrachi 39-16. Leading the charge was 6’2” forward Nathaniel Hoffman, who crashed the glass for an incredible nine offensive rebounds. His efforts gave Katz crucial extra possessions, wearing down Mizrachi’s defense.
In the second quarter, Mizrachi’s starting guard Elisha Pizem, battling a lingering back injury, was forced to exit the game and could not return. His absence was a major blow to Mizrachi. Katz took a 23-18 lead into halftime.
Mizrachi stayed within striking distance late, thanks to Moshe Jacobs, who stepped up, scoring a game-high 18 points in an effort to keep his team in contention, and Kasriel Levine, who provided a much-needed spark off the bench. At the end of the third quarter, Katz led 39-33. Ultimately, Mizrachi's inability to match Katz’s physicality proved to be too much to overcome. When the final buzzer sounded, Katz walked away with a 44-38 victory, proving that size and effort on the boards can be the difference in a close contest.
For the Storm, 6’4” forward Nir Ovaknin capitalized on those opportunities, leading the team with 16 points, while 5’10” guard Haim Elmakies added 13, controlling the pace with smart backcourt play.
With the win, Katz advances to the Tier II Quarterfinals, while Mizrachi will look to bounce back in Tier III.
Comments