Sarachek Tier I Qualifier Preview: #1 YULA vs. #16 Mesivta

The defending Sarachek champions #1 YULA Panthers will begin their title defense tour against the feisty #16 Mesivta Mustangs of Philadelphia in a compelling Tier I qualifying matchup. 

The Panthers enter the tournament as a serious powerhouse, coming off a first place finish in the Memphis Yeshiva Invitational earlier this year. They finished their season with a 7-2 league record, in spite of one of the tougher schedules played by Sarachek schools, and now look to become the fifth squad to win consecutive Sarachek championships, following in the footsteps of their cross-town rivals, Valley Torah, who accomplished this feat between 2022 and 2023.

The team is led by reigning Sarachek MVP, 5’11” guard Alex Gabbay, and sharpshooting Sarachek all-star, 6’3” forward Yoni Holender, both clutch seniors with plenty of tournament experience under their belts and a knack for finding the bucket in crunch time. YULA’s role players are no less impressive, with versatile 6’3” guard Jaden Azeroul and 6’3” center Josh Pachter, bringing much-needed grit, energy, size, and defensive presence to the squad. 

This Panthers team combines skill, size, and experience into such a strong package. The majority of the Panthers' starters, such as Gabbay and Holender, were already on last year’s championship team as starters. Now, as matured and seasoned seniors, this squad is better and more prepared than it’s ever been. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers will deal with the added hype and expectations. They are no longer title seekers, but title defenders.

The YULA Panthers return to Sarachek week seeking to defend their Tier I title. They begin their trophy defense against #16 Mesivta on Thursday afternoon. (Photo Credit: @shot.by.j2 on IG)

In order to secure their Tier I spot, the Panthers must first fend off the gritty Mesivta Mustangs of Philadelphia. Under the tutelage of 2nd year coach, YU Macs legend, Dani Katz, the 2024-2025 Mesivta Mustangs are coming into Sarachek completely revamped since their last Sarachek appearance in 2023. They have an 18-4 record on the season and exude palpable confidence and energy on the court. 

The offense centers around 6’2” forward Dov Hirsch, an accurate shooter and talented playmaker, with an affinity for shooting from deep. Hirsch’s dynamic supporting cast features shifty 5’8” point guard Shaked Ben David, a skilled facilitator who averages 15.6 points per game as a scorer. They are rounded out by a group of speedy, energetic, ball-handling guards, including 5’9” Eli Friedman and 5’10” Tuvya Gross, as well as tone-setting defender 5’10” forward Nate Bitas.

Against their toughest challenge this season, it remains to be answered whether Mesivta will embrace the aggressive underdog role attributed to them, or whether they continue to play with their characteristic fiery swagger. Regardless, expect the Mustangs high-octane playing style, full of hustle and grit, to be on full display as they play with house money.

One outstanding factor for viewers to be cognizant of in this matchup is YULA’s significant size advantage over Mesivta. The Panthers' superior height advantage extends to every position as the Mustangs tallest starter at 6’2” clocks in as merely the fourth tallest on YULA’s starting squad. 

Consequently, one of the biggest keys to this game is whether YULA takes advantage of this size differential by any means. This might involve posting up smaller players in the paint or dominating the rebounding game. In such a case, expect guys like Azeroul and Pachter to take on a more central role in the offense. 

From Mesivta’s standpoint, they will have to play bigger and stronger than their stature, using their speed and energy to compete against YULA. Look for them to crash the boards and apply frequent press on defense to compensate. They might also benefit from a faster game pace and quick offensive transitions.

Whatever the outcome might be, this David vs Goliath matchup is setting up to be a spirited battle of skill, physicality and energy. 

Tipping off at 2:30 pm, Thursday afternoon.

#Sarachek #Sarachek2025 #YULA #YULA2025 #Mesivta #Mesivta2025