What was expected to be a tightly contested matchup between the #8 seed Hillel Heat and the #9 seed Ida Crown Aces quickly turned into a one-sided showcase of dominance by the home team. Instead of the neck-and-neck battle many anticipated, Hillel stormed past their opponents in a statement victory, securing a resounding 73-37 win. With this triumph, the Heat advance to the Tier I quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the #1 seed YULA Panthers vs. #16 seed Mesivta Mustangs. Meanwhile, the Aces will regroup and await their next opponent in the Tier II quarterfinals.
The opening quarter saw both teams struggling to find a rhythm. Turnovers plagued both sides, and while neither team was particularly sharp, Hillel asserted itself on the offensive glass, creating numerous second-chance opportunities. Ida Crown’s Eli Braha and Hillel’s Avi Okner quickly made their presence felt. Braha showcased his offensive prowess, sinking an early three-pointer and knocking down some tough mid-range jumpers. Okner, on the other hand, anchored the Heat’s interior presence, battling down low and making life difficult for the Aces in the paint. Despite the scrappy nature of the game, both teams managed to trade baskets in a low-scoring affair, with defense reigning supreme. By the end of the first quarter, it was clear that neither team would have an easy path to victory.
For the first few minutes of the second quarter, the battle remained intense, with the teams exchanging blows. At the 5:00 mark, Ida Crown held a narrow 18-17 lead, clinging to their momentum. However, what followed was nothing short of an avalanche. Hillel turned up the defensive intensity, applying relentless full-court pressure that completely unraveled the Aces. In a blistering 40-second stretch, the Heat rattled off three consecutive fastbreak layups, courtesy of Joey Kassin and Braha, flipping the scoreboard to 23-18 in an instant.
Hillel led by Eli Braha’s 30 points, routed #9 Ida Crown 73-37, boiling their spot in the Sarachek Tier I quarterfinals against reigning champ and top-seeded YULA. (Photo Credit: MacsLive)
Ida Crown found themselves suffocated by Hillel’s aggression. Shots weren’t falling, turnovers were mounting, and the Heat smelled blood. In what felt like mere moments, Hillel extended their lead to 29-18 with 1:24 left in the half. A crucial timeout gave Ida Crown a chance to regroup, and out of the huddle, they executed a well-designed play, leading to an open jumper by Meyer. However, the damage was done. By halftime, Hillel had established a commanding 33-20 lead, and the momentum was firmly on their side.
The second half began cautiously, with nearly two minutes passing before the first points were recorded—a smooth layup by Meyer. The Aces made a brief push, closing the gap to 33-24, giving their fans a glimmer of hope, but Hillel refused to let them get any closer. Relentless on the boards and unforgiving on defense, the Heat choked out any semblance of an Ida Crown comeback. Every possession felt like an uphill battle for the Aces, as they struggled to get clean looks while Hillel continued to dominate the glass and capitalize on second-chance points. By the end of the third quarter, the deficit had grown to 44-30, with Hillel firmly in control. Ida Crown’s fans, desperate for a late spark, did their best to will their team back into the fight, but Hillel quickly silenced any notion of a comeback. The fourth quarter opened with the Heat exploiting their inside game, wisely avoiding the three-point shot that had been unreliable all day. Instead, they methodically picked apart the Aces’ defense, stretching their lead to 52-32 with 5:45 remaining.
Then, in a moment of sheer brilliance, Eli Braha dashed what remained of Ida Crown’s hopes. The star guard drilled three consecutive three-pointers, including a contested corner triple in front of his own bench. If there was any lingering doubt about the outcome before, Braha erased it with a flourish.
As the final buzzer sounded, Hillel had sealed an emphatic 73-37 victory, sending a clear message to the rest of the tournament: they are a force to be reckoned with.
Hillel now advances to the Tier I quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of #1 YULA vs. #16 Mesivta in the MSAC. Meanwhile, Ida Crown will have to regroup as they prepare for their next challenge in the Tier II quarterfinals, hoping to bounce back from this tough defeat.
One thing is certain—Hillel’s statement win has put the entire field on notice.
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