(Check Back here Wednesday night following the Magen David-Flatbush game for the panel's picks regarding the (7) Northshore game against the play-in winner, Thursday at 11:30AM)
The wait is over—Sarachek is here, and so is the MacsLive Panel! We’re back to break down all the matchups, debate the biggest storylines, and give our game predictions for Wednesday (3/26) and Thursday (3/27).
Who will make an early statement? Which lower seeds have an upset in them? Our panel is ready to dive in. Stay tuned for expert analysis, bold takes, and everything you need to know about the upcoming games. Let’s get started!
Wednesday picks:
(10) Magen David vs. (10) Flatbush
Yosef Silver (Reigning champion): The Battle of Brooklyn. Last year, we saw this matchup five times, and MDY came out in the top four times. This year, Magen again owned this rivalry. Flatbush, led by Coach Matt Malc, has had a solid season after many assumed they couldn't withstand the loss of last year's leaders. Look for Flatbush to take the lead at the start of this game, with Magen taking a while to turn up the intensity. However, history repeats itself yet again, and Magen David prevails. MDY 59 Flatbush 51
Ari Schopf: A battle of Brooklyn to determine the final spot in Sarachek. Sign me up for this. These teams last faced off in the regular season finale, with Magen David winning 50-43. I expect another close one, with Magen returning with the win again. MDY 44 Flatbush 39
Marvin Azrak: Both teams start fast, looking to establish tempo. Joshua Chabbott gets to the basket early, while Phillip Sherr adds a couple of jumpers. Flatbush, energized by Haddad, keeps it tight, with Esses hitting a pair of three-pointers. The pace is rapid, with MDY's defense forcing a few turnovers. Anzaroot and Esses try to keep Flatbush close, but they struggle to match MDY's defensive intensity. The Warriors go on a 10-2 run toward the end of the half for a 36-30 lead at intermission.
However, in the second half, Flatbush comes out with renewed energy. Haddad scores 6 points in the first 3 minutes, keeping the Falcons within striking distance. Chabbott responds with 8 points, showing why he's among the nation's best. Magen David's defense continues to disrupt the Falcons' offense, forcing several rushed shots and turning them into fast-break buckets. The Warriors stretched the lead to double digits entering the fourth quarter. Flatbush, trailing by 10, doesn't back down. Haddad hits a three, and Anzaroot adds a couple of big shots to cut the lead to just 5 with 2 minutes left. MDY stays composed and gets a stop, leading to Chabbott nailing an insurance jumper. Sherr seals the tilt with a couple of free throws as Flatbush's attempts to press fall short. The Warriors maintain their throne atop the Syrian Civil War with a three-game sweep. MDY 62 Flatbush 55
Akiva Poppers (2023 champion): Flatbush improved a lot over the season, but it still feels like Magen David is the better team. It wouldn't surprise me if the Falcons pulled this off, but I will try not to overthink this (which I did with last year's play-in game). Magen David 55, Flatbush 49.
Oren Glickman: There have been a lot of Battle of Brooklyn matchups, but never before has one decided on a spot for Sarachek. You can bet that Flatbush and Coach Matt Malc have been preparing for this one for weeks. The last time these two teams met was in the regular season finale, and it was the best Flatbush had played against MDY, having a lead for a good portion of the game despite being unable to hold on. Magen should be able to go out on top whenever the going gets tough to set up a Tier I qualifier with North Shore. MDY 53 Flatbush 46
Thursday picks:
YS: Ida Crown finally got over the Tier I demons last year with a big win over Ramaz in their Tier I Qualifier. They even took YULA to the brink with a valiant effort in an OT loss in the Tier I Quarterfinals. However, many of the key pieces of that team are no longer on the squad. Eli Braha and the depth of Hillel will give Ida Crown lots of problems all game as the Heat force the Aces back down into Tier II. Hillel 62 Ida Crown 51
AS: Last year, Ida Crown won on Sarachek Thursday against Ramaz. This year, I expect a repeat win for the Aces against a different Yeshiva league team. Hillel has some excellent offensive weapons, but Avi Okner will establish an interior presence early and often in this game to help propel Ida Crown. The Aces win a low-scoring game.
Ida Crown 43 Hillel 38
MA: Ida Crown comes in looking for redemption, and Avi Okner set the tone early with stellar plays on both ends of the floor. Hillel counters with Eli Braha's scoring, keeping it tight through the first half—a big third quarter from Braha cushions Hillel, but ICJA storms back. With the game hanging in the balance, Okner delivers in the clutch, but the Heat's depth and late free throws by Braha seal it. The eight are headed to the Tier I elite eight. Hillel 50 Ida Crown 47
AP: Hillel has weapons all over the floor and more depth than the Aces. After an excellent performance in Sarachek 2024, Ida Crown returns back to Tier II in 2025. Heat win 53-42.
OG: This, for me, goes down to the down-low presence of Avi Okner and the sharpshooting of Eli Braha. Whoever gets hot more will end up on top. Braha has more of a supporting cast than Okner, and expect the YL to hold serve against Chicago's finest. Hillel 60 ICJA 52
YS: Magen David are coming off a win against Flatbush where they left a bit to be desired. However, a win is a win and they did what they had to do to move onto Thursday. Now, they have a quick turnaround into their matchup with North Shore. North Shore has had a 3 headed attack in Boukhour, Sassoon, and Cohen, but I think Magen’s strong team defense will be able to hold off the North Shore attack. Having played in the play in game, the Warriors should have shaken off any rust and can come out strong from the opening tip. MDY 57 NSHA 52
AS: There is a big advantage to the team that wins the play-in game in this Sarachek tournament. Momentum is very real and Magen heads into this matchup with a lot of it. These teams faced off in November with North Shore winning 58-42. Magen has gotten a lot better since that game and combine that with the momentum coming off the play in win against Flatbush I have to go with Magen winning this one.
MDY 53 North Shore 47
MA: Northshore’s defense, led by Eli, sets the tone early, while Charlie uses his speed in transition to get some easy buckets. Phil’s presence inside starts causing problems for MDY, but Chabbott responds with some smooth playmaking adapting to the box and one again. The Warriors turn up the defense in the second stanza. They force a couple of turnovers, which they quickly turn into points on the other end. Phillip Sherr finds Jack Dweck, and even Meyer Sakkal gets involved with timely shotmaking, and Magen David starts pulling away. The Lions offense starts to slow down as the Warriors clamp down on Bechor. Despite a few strong shifts from Cohen, MDY finishes the half strong and leads 30-25.
Coming out of the break, Northshore picks up the pace again. Bechor hits a couple of threes cutting into MDY’s cushion, and Phil starts to find some success in the paint.
The Lions 2-3 zone defense tries to limit Chabbott’s ability to drive the lane and set up his teammates. It forces MDY to settle for more outside shots, but they’re effective with their spacing and ball movement. Chabbott’s ability to attack off the dribble still proves a problem for Northshore, and they struggle to keep him contained.
Down the stretch, the Lions claw back. Bechor knocks down a couple of contested threes, and Cohen powers his way inside for an and-one. Yet MDY stays calm, with Chabbott hitting a mid-range jumper to seal the upset. Sherr hits a pair of clutch free throws, and despite Northshore’s press causing some issues, MDY holds on for the 62-58 win.
AP: I think it’s a major advantage for Magen David to have played the night before this game. This is a group with a lot of Sarachek and big-moment experience, and it’ll pay off big-time against their division rivals. North Shore won by 16 when these two met in November and they do have a bunch of weapons and are well-coached, but I’m not sure it makes much sense to take anything from that game. I wasn’t extremely impressed by the Warriors against Flatbush, but I do think they jump in front here and stave off a late Lions push. MDY wins 54-49.
OG: North Shore got the best of MDY in a very early regular season
matchup and it cost the Warriors in the end of securing a first round bye and being on a more favorable side of the bracket. While Magen is going in as the lower seed, I expect Chabbott and Sherr to roll in pretty easily and dispatch the Lions, showing they were a better team all year round despite the standings indicating otherwise.
MDY 54 North Shore 40
YS: Shalhevet usually comes out of the gate a bit slow, and I think we get some of that here as well. I can see Katz's up-tempo style giving a rusty Shalhevet some problems in the first quarter. Once Shalhevet shakes off the rust, they should be able to pull away reasonably easily and advance. Bitran has at least 25 in a high-scoring affair. Shalhevet 68 Katz 40
AS: Shalhevet will make a statement on Day 1 and show the rest of the tournament that they mean business. Aidan Bitran is the next elite guard coming out of Shalhevet and is undoubtedly one of the best players in this tournament. Katz will have no answers for Bitran and this Firehawks team. Shalhevet 67 Katz 30
MA: The Firehakws, with Aiden Bitran controlling the pace and Sam Jacobson making an early impact inside. Katz struggles to keep up with the Firehawks' intensity but stays within striking distance thanks to Haim Elmakies' quick drives and Nathaniel Hoffman's feisty defense.
In the second half, Shalhevet's depth and experience prove too much. Bitran takes over and puts the baby to bed. Katz fights hard and surprises people but won't overcome the Firehawk's firepower. In the fourth quarter, bench players and fan favorites get minutes.
Shalhevet 68 Katz 35
AP: Katz started off the year strongly but was then battered by injuries. They'll need to catch fire from deep to stay in this one. Shalhevet's ability to move the ball and attack through both Jacobson and Bitran will be too much. Firehawks 66-38.
OG: This will be the least competitive game of the day. Bitran will drop 20+, and Jacobson will ease his way to a double-double. Firehawks will easily cruise into the quarters. Shalhevet 71 Katz 38
YS: Back-to-back LA games early on. Love it. YULA is coming in after an impressive season where they took care of business against some of the top teams in the country. Mesivta has had a great season for their standards, but I think they will get outclassed against YULA and find themselves fighting for Tier II with Valley Torah on Friday. YULA 62 Mesivta 34
AS: YULA may start off slow, but I expect them to firmly establish control of this game by the end of the first half and cruise to an easy opening-round win. YULA 56 Mesivta 32
MA: YULA has too much in its arsenal with Gabbay, Holender, and Azeroul. While Mesivta has had a strong season, the reigning champions' experience and star power will shine through, especially in a high-stakes tournament like this. Mesivta will compete, but the Panthers are likely to control the clash. YULA 71, Mesivta 48
AP: LA teams often struggle in the first half on opening day due to the jet lag. YULA, coming off their 9th Championship, will be no different, but their talent will carry them in the second half over Mesivta, 51-30.
OG: FDU upset Purdue a few years ago in a 16-1 matchup. So why not the Mesivta Mustangs?! People will call me insane for predicting this upset. So I won't. But people should not underestimate Coach Dani Katz here. It's too harsh a task for him, even though he comes from the Katz dynasty, but I think Mesivta can stay competitive for at least three-quarters. YULA 41 Mesivta 29
YS: This one will likely be one of the tighter matchups of the day. Montreal gets off to a hot start, especially with no break after their league championships on Tuesday. Simon Alloul and Yaacov Ohayon are problems for SAR. However, as the game progresses, SAR picks it up, and ultimately, Sam Weiss and Avi Halpert power the Sting into Tier I. This one will be close and is likely gonna come down to the last few possessions. SAR 52 Montreal 49
AS: I'm very excited to see Montreal in a Tier 1 matchup. Ohayon and Alloul are tremendous players for Montreal and will help make this game competitive. SAR struggled to end the season, losing three of their final four regular-season games. SAR will struggle early in this game, allowing Montreal to jump out to an early double-digit lead. SAR will cut the lead in the second half, but Montreal will hold on for the major upset.
Montreal 47 SAR 44
MA: The Stings' experience shows, as they use their slower, more controlled offense to wear down the Heat's defenders. Sam Weiss and Avi Halpert set the tone with strong defense and smooth transition play, finding easy buckets. Simon Alloul puts on a show early, knocking down mid-range jumpers and finding gaps in SAR's defense. Yaakov Ohayon's physicality down low makes life difficult for the Sting's bigs, and Isaac Cons adds some flash with a dunk to keep things tight. Despite SAR's control early on, Montreal's ability to break up the floor quickly keeps them afloat. Yet the favorites' execute in the half-court, and they head into halftime with a 32-28 lead.
Montreal begins the second half on a heater. Alloul goes ablaze in the third quarter, scoring at will. Ohayon continues to dominate the boards and gets several second-chance opportunities. The Sting's defense begins to slip as Montreal burns them with their speed. Sam Weiss keeps SAR in the tilt, but the Heat are relentless. With the score tied at 45-45 with 2 minutes to go, SAR gets the ball, and Weiss sets up Ellis for a wide-open three-pointer from the corner. The shot misses, and Montreal grabs the rebound, pushing the ball up quickly. With 15 seconds left, Montreal runs the clock down. Alloul drives the lane, drawing a double-team. He kicks it out to Cons for a dream-making three at the top of the key with five seconds remaining.
The Sting have one last chance. They inbound to Weiss, who attempts a deep three at the buzzer but rims out. The Heat notch the upset.
Final: H.A Montreal 48 SAR 45
AP: Alloul might be the best sophomore in the tournament (bold take but not an insult to Stepner; he's one of the best Jewish defensive guards in the continent and is a great scorer as well), and Ohayon will be a huge problem inside due to the Sting's lack of size. But SAR ultimately gets this done thanks to its ability to score the basketball without requiring the use of the dribble. SAR 57-49.
OG: The Heat finally get a crack at Tier I, which excites me. However, I think they got a very tough five seed in SAR. Halpert and Weiss will easily overpower Alloul and Ohayon here. The Sting run away with it in the 4th quarter. SAR 50 Montreal 38
YS: The classic MTA 5:30 game. Always makes for a great atmosphere in the gym. This year, unlike in the previous three, the tournament hosts have earned the ability to avoid one of the top two teams with a strong 12-2 record during their Yeshiva League campaign. However, it all came crashing down in their last game vs. SAR and the playoff vs. MDY. The Lions will have to fight to put it all back together but will have the strength of the home crowd behind them. However, they got a tough draw against a team like Berman, who has an elite scorer in Alex August. His point-scoring ability will give MTA problems all night as they struggle to contain him defensively. Berman 57 MTA 50
AS: (I went to Berman, but I'm not biased)
The MTA Lions had a great season, finishing with a 12-2 regular season record. The Lions have an outstanding balance of solid guard play with good big men down low. They must play a wise and patient game against this fast-paced Berman team. This is the best Berman team I have watched. They play with incredible pace on both ends of the floor. They've played most of this season without all-around star Gabey Margulies, who will be out for Sarachek with an injury. Alex August is the star scorer, but guys like Itai Rozmaryn, Eli Teitelbaum, and Ariel Hasan make this team a top contender in this tournament. Berman's shooting and ball pressure will be too much for MTA to handle. Berman 56 MTA 45
(I may be a little biased)
MA: From the tip, Berman is buzzing. Alex August comes out firing, knocking down a couple of quick jumpers and finding teammates in transition. Rozmaryn and Teitelbaum contribute with quick steals and easy fast-break points, putting the Lions on their heels. MTA shows poise. Josh True-hoft gets going early with a couple of mid-range jumpers and draws fouls on Berman's bigs, getting to the free-throw line. Jakey Abenaim does his best to keep the Lions in rhythm with big-time threes. The MTA painters play well in the post, with True-hoft dominating the boards and getting some tough finishes inside. The Lions can slow Berman's fast pace with some disciplined half-court defense, but Berman's relentless speed and the sharp shooting of August keep them ahead 34-29 at the break.
The junior gunslinger picks up where he left off in the second half with more fire, hitting a deep trey, pushing the Cougars lead to 12. Rozmaryn and Teitelbaum maintain the pressure with key defensive stops. Yet, feeding off the home crowd, the Lions make a run. With about 4 minutes left and MTA trailing by five, True-hoft has a massive block on the defensive end, then follows it up with an and-one on the other end. MTA can take the lead, but Berman's defense clamps down. In the waning seconds, the Cougars' full-court defense causes a couple of turnovers. August connects from the charity stripe for insurance, finishing with 28 points and ensuring his team survives and advances. Berman 55, MTA 49
AP: If MTA can keep this game in the half-court, they will win. Ultimately, though, I think that task will be too great. In a game of runs in front of a raucous home crowd, Berman survives to advance to Tier I for the first time in school history. Alex August FTs to ice it. 60-56 Cougars.
OG: This, for me, is the game of the day. It will be the loudest time in the gym on Thursday. This is where the Yeshiva League winning streak will end against out-of-town teams. August will put on a show against the Lions. MTA had a great year defying a lot of people's expectations, and I believe they will make a good run at a Tier II title. Berman 43 MTA 39
YS: TABC wants revenge after losing to DRS in the MYHSAL finals two weeks ago. TABC will begin the tournament with a powerful performance. Fasman has star power in Adir Amster, but they will have to turn to Tier II to make their impact on the tournament. Kinderlehrer leads, scoring with 20+ as Fasman can't contain Eyal inside. TABC 55 Fasman 45
AS: TABC is looking to use Sarachek to redeem a tough loss in the Yeshiva League championship game against DRS. Eyal Kinderlehrer is a top player in this tournament and dominate this game in the paint for TABC. Adir Amster is a terrific scorer for Fasman to keep an eye on. TABC 54 Fasman 37
MA: Fasman comes out swinging behind Adir Amster's hot shooting, keeping it close early. Then, TABC's depth and discipline start to take over, with Eyal Kinderlehrer dominating inside and Yonah Mandel knocking down threes. Fasman makes a second-half push, cutting the lead to single digits entering the fourth, but TABC locks in defensively and pulls away late.
TABC 54 Fasman 42
AP: If TABC can figure out the Yeshiva's zone, Fasman will struggle to contain Kinderlehrer. I think the Storm come out slow, but by the second quarter, they get rolling, and by mid-3rd, the game is out of reach. TABC 57-36.
OG: Conflict of interest- will not make a prediction
YS: A rematch of last year's play-in. Frisch has been waiting to be matched again with DRS on the MSAC floor. Combine this with a potential championship hangover for DRS, and Frisch can take the lead into the locker room at the half. That said, Coach MoCo earns his stripes in the second half and re-ignites his team in the second half. The Wildcats storm back in the final frames, taking this rematch away from the hungry Cougars. Aaron and Tsaidi both cross 20. DRS 59 Frisch 51
AS: Frisch and DRS faced off once this season back in November, with DRS coming away with a 37-35 win. Both teams have come a long way since this game, and this time, it'll be Frisch with the huge Round 1 upset. There'll be a little bit of a championship hangover for DRS, and we'll see the Wildcats play a sloppy brand of basketball. Frisch gets the job done.
Frisch 55 DRS 50
MA: Frisch comes out with intensity, eager to avenge last year's loss, and Isaac Stepner gets them going early. Schachter disrupts DRS's flow, forcing a couple of early turnovers. Yet it lights out once the Wildcats get over their Yeshiva League championship hangover. Aaron and Tsaidi announce themselves to the national audience. Aaron knocks down a few threes, and Tsaidi attacks off the dribble. DRS's defense tightens, forcing Frisch into contested takes for a 26-22 intermission advantage.
The second half is where DRS separates. Their championship pedigree kicks in, and their ball movement leads to open looks. Frisch keeps scraping, but the Wildcats control the boards and limit second-chance opportunities. A late push from Stepner slices it to single digits, but the Wildcats hit their free throws down the stretch to ice it. DRS 58 Frisch 49
AP: Fun one to end the day. DRS has more weapons offensively, although Frisch nearly pulled off a win when these two met earlier in the season. DRS has played much more recently due to their championship run, which greatly helps them. Wildcats 52-40.
OG: This has the potential to be a much better game than people expect it to be. When these two teams met early in the season in the Greenhouse, the yeshiva league champs only won by 2. With Stepner, you always have a fighting chance and can never be counted out. I don't see an upset, though. The Wildcats won't cruise the way people will predict, though. They're a little slow out of the gate but will survive and advance. DRS 61 Frisch 58
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