Varsity Basketball in
Baltimore by Danny
Konigsberg (cont...) (BACK
TO NEWSLETTER)
On
January 28, we left Lawrence for Park Heights, Baltimore.
After a strenuous six-hour bus ride, we arrived at
the Baltimore J.C.C. only to find out we had a game
just half an hour away. Our first opponent was the
Stern Hebrew High School of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Behind
a strong performance from all five starters, Senior
Captain Elliot Koenigsberg, Senior
Captain Noam Horowitz, Junior Doniel
Weinstein, Junior Elan Kattan and
Junior
Danny Konigsberg, the varsity Ravens
crushed Stern by 17. Konigsberg lead all scorers with
18 points.
The next morning brought
a game that, if won by the Ravens, would secure their
spot in the tournament’s championship game, regardless
of Saturday night’s outcome. The game was against
Yeshiva High of Atlanta, Georgia. They were a tough
team with a dominant 6’ 8” center. The
Ravens were hoping to avenge last year's defeat to
Yeshiva High of Atlanta in the chamipinship game.
Before the game, coaches Weiner and Stein devised
a brilliant defense to contain Atlanta’s
big man. Through three quarters, it seemed to be working.
Elliot Koenigsberg had defensively
dominated Merlis, Atlanta’s center, and Rambam
had a lead. But in the fourth, the game would change
tides. Elliot
fouled out and the Ravens collapsed defensively. Merlis
began to overtake the game.
With 31 seconds left, the
Ravens found themselves down by three points. The coaches
made it clear that a three point shot was needed quickly
to tie up the game, because very little time remained.
Clutch Junior star, Doniel Weinstein (also
the MYHSBL leading scorer) nailed a three with 20
seconds left.
Atlanta brought the ball down for one more chance,
but Weinstein blocked the shot and the game went to
overtime. However, in O.T. Yeshiva High pulled away,
winning by four. This meant that Saturday night’s
game against the hometown Yeshivat Rambam Red Storm,
would determine who played for the championship on
Sunday.
The shabbos aspect of the tournament was
incredible. Players from all across the country were
interacting and
hanging out with each other. Many friends were made
over shabbos. Everyone was invited to a house
nearby to talk, eat and just hang out. But as soon
as shabbos was over, minds switched toward
concentrating on the evening’s game. It was a
huge game for both teams.
The J.C.C. gym was stuffed with over 400 fans
all of whom, besides the Rambam Activities Director,
Avi Meir, his wife and Mrs. Stein, were rooting for
Baltimore.
In
the
first
quarter,
the
two defenses were relentless allowing a combined 17
points. At the end of one, Baltimore led 9-8.
The second
quarter was different. Baltimore became more aggressive
and took over the game. At halftime, Baltimore
led by 12. The third quarter passed and the Ravens
still found themselves down by 12 and only eight minutes
away from elimination from the championship game. In
the fourth quarter, the Ravens offense exploded. Doniel
Weinstein, Elan Kattan and Danny Konigsberg erupted
for a combined 25 points in the fourth. Elliot
Koenigsberg,
who had once again defensively and offensively dominated
Baltimore’s big man, fouled out with six minutes
to play. However, Noam kept the offense moving and
the Ravens led Baltimore by one with a minute left
to play. The Ravens stole the ball off an unexpected
press and Danny nailed a three to put Rambam up
by four with 40 seconds to play. Baltimore battled
back and trailed by only 2 with 30 seconds left. But
Baltimore sank some key free throws and the two teams
found themselves in overtime for the second consecutive
year.
In O.T., Baltimore edged out the Ravens and advanced
to the championship.
Afterwards, Rambam Junior Avi Rabinovich said
it all “That
was an incredible game.”
On Sunday morning, the Ravens played Philly once again,
this time for third place in the tournament.
Elan Kattan led them to a victory
marking the end of the 2004 Willner Tournament for
the Rambam Ravens.
The Ravens finished third but the coaches and players
were were proud of what they had accomplished. Both
captains,Elliot Koenigsberg and Noam
Horowitz were
named “Tournament
All-stars."
The Juniors on the team can’t wait until next
year’s tournament in the hopes that we can bring
the championship to Rambam. Junior guard Daniel
Eisenberg couldn’t
have put it better, “I
can’t wait to go back. It was amazing.”
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