It was everything you'd expect from a Flatbush vs. Magen David showdown for a spot in the big Sarachek dance. It was fast, physical, and full of momentum swings. Yet the Warriors found a way, downing the Falcons 56-52 and sweeping all three Syrian Civil War installations to keep their season alive. With the victory, MDY now faces #7 seed North Shore on Thursday at 11:30 AM, while the Falcons season is over.
How It Happened:
Jack Dweck wasted no time getting MDY on the board, draining a three-pointer to give the Warriors an early 3-2 lead. MDY pushed it to 5-2, but then came the first haymaker of the night—Flatbush's Ricky Haddad took over, scoring all nine points of a 9-0 Falcons blitz to surge ahead 11-5 with 4:11 left in the first quarter.
Coach Ike "Spike" Dweck was irate, calling an immediate timeout to get his squad back on track. The Warriors responded with defensive pressure that started forcing Flatbush into mistakes. A couple of quick Jack Dweck buckets settled MDY down, and then Phillip Sherr—the school's valedictorian and defensive engine—attacked the rim and tied the game at 11.
Both teams were flying in transition and battling in the paint, neither backing down. David Cheney scored off an outlet pass to give the Falcons a 16-15 lead after one quarter.
Joshua Chabbott had been relatively quiet in the first, but the reigning Sarachek All-Star made his presence felt immediately in the second quarter, drilling a three-pointer to tie the game at 18. That was just the beginning.
After a few tense, scoreless minutes where both defenses locked in, MDY found separation. Chabbott pulled up for a contested, high-arcing three from the right wing—swish. 24-18, MDY. Flatbush fought back on the glass, with Joey Esses cleaning up a putback to trim it to 24-21, but the Warriors had the last word before halftime.
Magen David packed the paint defensively, cutting off driving lanes and forcing Flatbush to take outside shots. At the break, MDY clung to a 24-21 lead, but Coach Dweck wasn't happy and sent the calm-as-a-cucumber Benny Mann for the obligatory courtside interview. "We will make changes throughout the game, mix it up, and see what works." Yet one thing Mann shared with the national audience was the need to box out defensively, and that's precisely what the Warriors did.
MDY came out of halftime with a vengeance. Jack Dweck opened the scoring with another three, sparking an 8-0 Warriors run. Their defense was suffocating, forcing an array of Falcons gaffes. With their box-outs limiting second-chance points, MDY extended the lead to 31-21 behind a pair of free throws from Dweck.
Flatbush coach Matt Malc had seen enough and called timeout with 6:29 left, but the McDonald Avenue boys kept their foot on the gas. Meyer Sakkal found a wide-open lane to the rim—Flatbush's entire defense had collapsed on Chabbott, leaving him free to score. Moments later, Dweck drilled a jumper off an offensive rebound, and Solly Hara, who quieted Falcons star Joey Esses with his toughness, followed with a mid-range bucket off a feed from Sherr. The Warriors were rolling, up 37-26.
Flatbush finally made a push in transition, cutting the deficit to 37-30, but MDY had a clear game plan—dare the Ave J crew to beat them from three while punishing them in transition. Chabbott continued to attack downhill, getting to the line for an and-one finish that put MDY up 42-30. At the end of three, it was 44-34.
Flatbush came out swinging in the fourth. They got aggressive, started running the floor, and attacked the rim. It worked. The Falcons ripped off a quick 6-0 run to make things 44-38, forcing MDY onto their heels. The Falcons were flying now. After battling back from a season-ending broken leg, Sam Jemal buried a three off an inbound play. 44-41. Moments later, Flatbush's pressure forced a steal and led to a transition bucket, completing an 11-0 blitz and pulling within one with 4:31 remaining.
Flatbush took the lead for the first time since the first quarter when Alan Anzaroot drilled a three with just under three minutes left—46-45. However, great players step up in big moments. Chabbott drove hard, absorbed contact, and drew a foul. He split the free throws to tie it, and then Dweck was fouled on a three-point attempt.
With ice in his veins, the "Jack Attack" knocked down all three free throws, putting MDY back in front 50-47. Dweck wasn't done. Seconds later, he broke free in transition for a layup, pushing the lead to 50-46. Sherr added a free throw to make it 53-49. Then came the Brooklyn Battle’s defining moment, as Sherr stepped in and took charge with 1:02 left, stopping Flatbush's momentum in its tracks.
Alan Anzaroot stole the inbound pass down four but was called for a double dribble with 36 seconds left—a crushing turnover. Chabbott was fouled and calmly knocked down two more free throws. Anzaroot redeemed himself with a three off an inbound play, slicing things to 55-52 with 22 seconds left. However, Chabbott, who had struggled to get open looks all night, found another way to impact by going 9-12 from the charity stripe. He hit one more free throw with 20 seconds left to ice a 56-52 Syrian Civil War triumph.
Chabbott, despite finishing his career 7-1 against Flatbush in Varsity play, including dashing their trophy hopes three times, twice at the Max Stern Athletic Center, didn’t take a victory lap. Instead, he was already looking ahead: "MTA came out the same way on me in the quarterfinals. Coach Spike taught me how to handle it, and now, for the rest of my life, I know how to handle a high box-and-one.” That's what makes him one of the best in the nation—while everyone else was celebrating, he was strategizing. He, Sherr, and the rest of the squad have one goal left: win two straight as underdogs and earn a sixth crack at the Greenhouse boys, #3 DRS in the semis. “We’re here with a vengeance. We have a favorable matchup tomorrow morning against North Shore. We went 1-1 against them this year. It should be a good battle.”
Joshua Chabott went 9-12 from the free throw line as the MDY Warriors defeated the Flatbush Falcons 62-58 in the Syrian Civil War and Sarachek Play-In game. (Photo Credit: MacsLive)
Warriors Convert from Charity stripe:
Magen David didn’t play their best basketball tonight. They blew a double-digit lead, struggled to contain Flatbush’s late push, and had moments where it felt like the game was slipping away. Yet they did one thing incredibly well—they hit their free throws, and that was the difference.
In their Yeshiva League semifinal heartbreak against DRS, MDY shot 9-for-21 from the line, which cost them dearly. On Wednesday, they were 20-for-25. That’s how you win close games.
Clutch Gene Activated:
The Warriors were the more opportunistic of the Brookynites. Dweck stepped up when MDY desperately needed a response, sinking three critical free throws after Flatbush took the lead. Chabbott calmly sealed the deal with two makes in the final seconds. MDY’s defense forced turnovers late, but their ability to convert at the stripe made sure those stops counted.
Flatbush’s Season Ends the Hard Way:
Flatbush had their shot. Yet when it came down to the moments that decide seasons, they couldn’t capitalize—especially at the free-throw line. 1-for-6. That was Esses’ line from the stripe, and it wasn’t just him—Flatbush as a team struggled to cash in on their opportunities. Meanwhile, MDY turned their semifinal nightmare (9-for-21 FT) into their saving grace, going 20-for-25 tonight.
Flatbush had the heart. They fought but didn’t have the free throws. That’s why their season ends here.
Marv’s Final word:
I predicted 62-55 MDY, but it finished 56-52. For the most part, the game played out exactly as expected—both teams came out firing, Flatbush kept it tight early, and Magen David’s defense made life tough for the Falcons. Chabbott and Sherr were clutch, and the Warriors pulled away late. I anticipated MDY would ice things at the line, and they did. Yet I didn’t expect Flatbush to struggle that much at the stripe. That’s the difference between a classic finish and a "What could have been" for the Falcons. The three-game sweep is complete, the Warriors hold the Brooklyn crown, and the maroon & gold will think about this one all offseason.
Up Next:
Magen David now turns its attention to #7 North Shore, with a quick turnaround for an 11:30 AM showdown. The Syrian Civil War is over, but the mission is far from finished.
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