Tier I Semifinal Preview: #6 Berman Vs #10 MDY
- Marvin Azrak
- Mar 30
- 2 min read
The stage is set for Sunday, 3:30 PM, at the Max Stern Athletic Center.
Two teams. One dream. A ticket to the Sarachek Championship is on the line, and neither team is ready to wake up from their dream run just yet.
The #6 Berman Cougars are here for the first time, rewriting history with every game they play. The #10 MDY Warriors are the darlings of Sarachek 2025, winning three games in three days, including a gutsy play-in victory over Flatbush, a stunning upset over #7 North Shore, and a monumental shocker over #2 Shalhevet. MDY has become the first double-digit seed to reach the Final Four, and they have their eyes on the ultimate prize—a first Sarachek title in 23 years. One team's magical ride will continue. The other's will end in heartbreak.
These sides met once before in January at the Satran Tournament, where Magen David cruised to a 61-45 win. However, this isn't January. Berman has evolved into a national powerhouse and is eager for revenge. This matchup is loaded with starpower. Berman's Alex August is a generational talent—a 2,000-point scorer as a junior, a walking bucket who can take over any game. MDY counters with its leader, Joshua Chabott, a 1,000-point scorer with a knack for clutch moments and a killer instinct when the stakes are highest.
So, are we looking at a box-and-one on both?
The #10 MDY Warriors can become the first double-digit seed to reach the Tier I final should they upend the #6 Berman Cougars in Sunday’s semifinal. (Marvin Azrak/MacsLive)
If Berman can break MDY's press and get into their sets, they'll be tough to stop. Yet, should the Brooklynites force turnovers and run and gun, the Warriors can dictate the pace, as Berman prefers controlled, steady execution. Both teams love to get out in transition, so this game will likely come down to who's hitting their shots and which role players relish the moment. Midnight Instagramer Jack Dweck, Valedictorian Phillip Sherr, and Chabbott have been playing lights out for MDY, and this team is well-coached by Ike "Spike" Dweck and disciplined on both ends of the floor. They're playing red-hot basketball at the best time. The Cougars have received in-depth contributions from Eli Teitelbaum and Itai Rozmaryn who will seek to show Cinderella it’s midnight.
Sunday's tilt will be a battle of styles, a clash of titans, and only one will walk away with a spot in Monday's championship game.
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