For the third time this season, the #19-seeded Farber Fire and the #18-seeded Fuchs Mizrachi Mayhem are set to clash in the Tier III semifinal. Both squads entered Sarachek with Tier II aspirations but stumbled in their qualifying games on Friday, with Farber falling to Fasman and Mizrachi suffering a tough loss to Katz YHS.
This matchup is very familiar. The two teams share a long-standing friendly rivalry, and they’ve already played twice this year and split those two previous meetings. Farber struck first with a victory in the Tanzman Tournament, but Mizrachi responded with a statement win in the Tanzman championship game. Now, with the big stage of Sarachek to compete on, both teams have one final chance to prove who truly has the upper hand.
The key for Farber is that everything runs through their perimeter attack. Brothers Jonas and Emmet Singer are the engines of the offense, setting the tempo and facilitating their team’s ball movement, but it’s the shooting of Gideon Lopatin and Abie Gardin that will determine Farber’s fate. If they get the three-ball falling early, Mizrachi could be in for a long night. Expect Farber to push the pace and hunt open looks from deep to overwhelm Mizrachi before they can settle in defensively.
On the other side of the matchup, Mizrachi’s success hinges on one player: Moshe Jacobs. When he’s in the rhythm, he’s almost impossible to contain. Jacobs, a true offensive weapon, is capable of torching defenses at all three levels. Expect Mizrachi to go to him and feed him early and often. If he finds his groove, Farber could have their hands full. Farber knows the scouting report and they’ve seen firsthand what Jacobs can do, and will be determined not to let him take over. Expect them to throw extra bodies at him, whether through relentless double teams or a box-and-one designed to make someone else beat them. The question is, can Mizrachi’s supporting cast step up if Farber forces the ball out of Jacobs' hands?
One looming X-factor is the status of Mizrachi’s Elisha Pizem. Mizrachi was without their key contributor on Friday due to a back injury, and his absence was felt. If he’s able to suit up, his presence could add another dimension to Mizrachi’s attack and give them the boost they need to pull out the win.
With both teams looking to bounce back from Friday’s heartbreak, this game promises to be a good one.
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