In Saturday night’s Tier II Quarterfinal showdown, the #3 DRS Wildcats delivered a statement win, overpowering the #16 Mesivta Mustangs by a score of 65-40 to punch their ticket to the Tier II Semifinals. While the final score tells one story, the game itself was packed with intensity, big plays, and gutsy efforts from both sides before DRS’s size, speed, and composure proved too much to handle.
DRS wasted no time setting the tone. Off the opening tip, Joe Aaron took a handoff and calmly drilled a jumper to get the Wildcats on the board. Moments later, he slashed to the rim for a smooth layup, giving DRS an early spark. But Mesivta didn’t flinch. Senior forward Dov Hirsch responded with a three and followed it up with a strong finish inside to give the Mustangs a quick 5-4 lead.
That lead didn’t last long, but it lit a fire under Mesivta’s bench—and especially under Nate Bitas. Bitas proceeded to go on a mini-run of his own, burying three straight floaters, each one more confident than the last, igniting the crowd and showing why they call him the glue guy of this team. His scoring helped Mesivta keep pace as DRS edged ahead 13-11 at the end of a highly competitive first quarter.
The second quarter is when DRS began to take control. The turning point came on defense—Joe Aaron soared for a highlight-reel block off the backboard, bringing the gym to its feet and swinging momentum firmly to the Wildcats. That play led to a transition bucket and forced a Mesivta timeout to regroup. Despite yet another floater from Bitas that cut the lead to ten, DRS had found its rhythm. They locked in defensively and ran the floor with purpose. With strong interior play from Michael Solomon and active rebounding from Yitz Bennett, DRS went into halftime leading 30-17.
After the break, the Wildcats continued to pull away. Bennett continued to control the boards and provide second-chance opportunities, while DRS’s defensive pressure and fast-paced attack wore down the Mustangs. Bitas remained a bright spot for Mesivta, repeatedly finding lanes and dropping in more of his signature floaters, but DRS’s depth and discipline continued to take over.
The fourth quarter continued to belong to Bennett, who completely dominated the paint on both ends. With more spark from backup point guard Zach Brand delivering a burst of energy off the bench, with back-to-back tuff buckets drawing the foul. DRS reminded everyone in the building why they’re the #3 seed in the tournament.
To their credit, Mesivta kept battling. Raphael Mogyoros drained a three, and Yisrael Hoffman hit a three and layup late, showing the fight that had earned the Mustangs respect all tournament long. But it wasn’t enough to stop the DRS wave.
DRS now advances to the Tier II Semifinals and will take on red-hot HA Montreal at 6:30 Sunday. Mesivta, though eliminated from title contention, walks away with pride. They fought with heart, had highlight moments, and gave one of Sarachek’s best a true battle. They will fall to the Tier II consolation bracket where they will face MTA.
Comentarios