The sky darkened over Yeshiva University's Max Stern Athletic Center, the air thick with anticipation. A storm was brewing—not of rain or wind, but of destiny. The TABC Storm had been building toward this moment all season. From their JV triumphs to heartbreaking Yeshiva League finishes, they had climbed every mountain except one. Monday afternoon, that elusive Storm arrived. For the first time in school history, the TABC Storm are Sarachek Champions, defeating the Cinderella story of the tournament, (10) Magen David, 61-49. A program long defined by its dominance in hockey now has its signature moment on the hardwood, cementing its place atop the yeshiva basketball world.
Both teams started as if the moment was too big for them, missing good looks early. TABC's star Eyal Kinderlehrer and MDY's sharpshooter Joshua Chabbott couldn't find their rhythm, each clanking their first few shots. Yet, one thing both squads did well was hit their free throws. It was the only reason points were on the board in the early minutes.
Jack Dweck brought the crowd to life with an incredible chase-down block, rejecting a TABC layup attempt that seemed like a sure bucket. Chabbott went coast-to-coast, slicing through defenders and finishing with a tough lefty layup. That tied it at 4-4, but TABC responded. Kinderlehrer powered inside for a few quick buckets, making it 8-4 Storm. MDY, struggling to generate anything offensively, turned to their knockdown shooter, Alfonse Shiloach, for a spark.
However, turnovers proved costly. After Chabbott had a rebound poked away, TABC drained a three from the left wing. Then, Dovid Saks did it again. The Storm were rolling, up 14-4 late in the first. The Warriors finally got something going when Phill Sherr drove hard for a bucket, cutting it to 14-7 after one.
Sherr was just getting started. The valedictorian-turned-basketball-hero attacked the lane for two quick buckets, slicing the lead to 14-11. Magen David had life. Even Chabbott, who had been ice-cold, got back in on the action, hitting a falling-away jumper from the left side to make it 16-13.
Defensively, the Warriors switched to a man between quarters, challenging TABC to beat them one-on-one. The Storm struggled, but patient ball movement led to a clutch mid-range jumper from Bentzion Keiser to beat the shot clock. 18-13, Storm.
As TABC leaned on its size advantage, MDY needed someone to step up. Solly Hara answered the call, scoring consecutive buckets. Then Meyer Sakkal muscled his way in for a bucket, bringing it to 20-18. Minutes later, Chabbott buried a corner three. Sakkal finished a transition 2-on-1 off a perfect dish from Sherr, and to cap off a 21-8 blitz, Jack Dweck nailed a buzzer-beater fade away. Once down 14-4, the Warriors now led 25-22 at halftime. The Cinderella dream of becoming the first double-digit seed to win Sarachek was alive.
MDY came out of halftime still riding the momentum. Chabbott finally hit a clean jumper, pushing the lead to 27-22.
Then, Kinderlehrer—silent for much of the first half—took over. First, he drained a three. Then, after a tough Sherr and-one, Kinderlehrer went right inside, giving the Storm a 32-29 advantage.
After a TABC timeout, Kinderlehrer continued to dominate, scoring six straight points. MDY was reeling. Chabbott struggled, forcing shots, while MDY's desperation led to more fouls. When Keyser nailed a corner three to extend the Storm's lead to 37-29, the Max Stern Athletic Center's energy shifted, as the thunderous roar from the TABC fans at the sight of a 17-2 run, gave Weather Center vibes in the MSAC. Sakkal briefly stopped the bleeding with a mid-range jumper, but Kinderlehrer answered, for a 41-33 Storm cushion after three. One quarter away from history. MDY had one last push left in them. Chabbott hit two free throws. The Warriors stole the ball off the press, and Sherr found Sakkal for an easy bucket before TABC's Akiva Borgen halted the movement with a tough bucket, making it 44-37.
Dweck drove straight through the defense for a decisive layup. Chabbott, who had struggled all night, charged down the floor, finished through contact, and got the foul. 44-42. The MDY crowd exploded, chanting "MVP" for their star. Yet, TABC had the answers.
Kinderlehrer went inside again. 48-44. Then Yonatan Faber drilled a dagger three. 51-44. Finally, Keiser delivered the knockout punch, another corner triple to make it 54-44 with 2:50 left. The Storm fans could taste it. MDY kept pressing, but TABC kept breaking it. Kinderlehrer sealed it inside, making it 58-47. Sherr got the last bucket of his high school career as time ticked, but it was too late, to the tune of 61-49. With the defeat, 2024 &2025 Warriors became the fourth version to finish second in consecutive Sarachek tournaments. It’s also the first time in nearly decade the program walked away with no hardware in any tournaments to show for their efforts.
On the championed side, TABC has finally climbed to the top of the mountain. They had never won a Yeshiva League varsity title, but they are Sarachek champions. This senior core—Yonah Mandel, Abraham Schur, Chanan Schultz, All-Star Saks, Sammy Levine, tournament MVP Kinderlehrer, Keiser, Daniel Eckman, Aiden Rauzman—have made history.
Athletic director Oren Glickman is a national champion. Head coach Oz Cross had guided them through a brutal schedule: Glouberman, Memphis, the Yeshiva League finals, and now the national stage. They had fallen to DRS in their league, but that didn’t stop them. During their run, they stormed through #13 Fasman, overwhelmed #5 SAR, dethroned defending champs #1 YULA, and showed the Cinderella of the tournament, MDY; it was midnight. Outsiders say TABC is just a hockey school, but not on Monday. For the next year, they will be the kings of Yeshiva basketball. For the first time since 2017, the Sarachek trophy is heading back to New Jersey.
The Storm has finally arrived.