WARRIORS REPEAT AS CHAMPS AT MAGEN DAVID TOURNAMENT

Albert Nsiri scored 20 points and the host Magen David Warriors blew open a close game in the second half to beat DRS and successfully defend their tournament title.

The Warriors (3-0) dominated the first quarter but led by only one midway through the second before a late flourish gave them a 21-16 halftime lead. They then held the Wildcats (3-1) to just 15 points in the second half.

Michael Natkin added 8 points for Magen David and Ray Jajati grabbed 12 rebounds. DRS’ Gavriel Kahn, who averaged just under 20 points per game during the tournament, had 14 points to lead his team in scoring for a fourth straight game.

COOPER COUNTDOWN BEGINS WITH SEEDING ANNOUNCEMENT

If you're not aware that one of the season's biggest tournaments is right around the corner, you will be Sunday night.

That's when the Cooper Invitational Seeding Show will be streamed live from Memphis at CooperInvitational.com.

Modeled after CBS' announcement of the NCAA Tournament seeds, the show has everything but the live feeds of teams watching and erupting when they learn they are in.

That's because we know the 16 teams who will compete at Cooper. But the show is still worth a watch as Tournament Director Josh Kahane reveals how the teams stack up and who plays who in the opening round to qualify for the top tier.

The seeding show starts at 6 PM CST (that's 7:00 on the east coast and 4:00 out west).

As soon as the show concludes, fans can take the Bracket Challenge on the tournament website to predict how they think the games will go. Only one thing is certain this year: there will be a new champion. Last year's winner, Valley Torah, isn't going to Cooper this year.

Here are the teams competing in Cooper 2018:

Cooper Yeshiva-Memphis
Atlanta Jewish Academy
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School-Rockville, MD
De Toledo High School-West Hills, CA
Fasman Yeshiva-Skokie, IL
Katz Yeshiva High School-Boca Raton, FL
Kohelet Yeshiva High School-Bala Cynwyd, PA
Magen David Yeshiva-Brooklyn,NY
Milken Community High School-Los Angeles,CA
Posnack Jewish Day School-Davie, FL
Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School-Livingston, NJ
Rambam Mesivta-Lawrence,NY
Rochelle Zell High School-Deerfield,IL
Scheck Hillel Community High School-North Miami Beach,FL
Yeshiva of Flatbush-Brooklyn,NY
Yeshiva University of Los Angeles

MAGEN DAVID, DRS REACH FINAL IN BROOKLYN

The Magen David Warriors will try to defend their tournament title Thursday when they take on DRS in the championship game. Here’s how they got there:

QUARTERFINALS

Heschel     57      Flatbush     50

Ricky Sutton scored 18 points and Jesse Abed added 13 as the Heat advanced. Joe Kattan led the Falcons (1-1) with 21 points.

Magen David      51      YDE     36

The Warriors managed only one point in the fourth quarter but the game was long since decided. Michael Natkin scored 16 points, Ray Jajati added 15 and Albert Nsiri had 10. The Thunder (1-1) were led by Haimy Sassoon's 14 points.

DRS    64     North Shore HA    46
Gavriel Kahn led the Wildcats with 21 points and Zach Brown chipped in 14. Michael Tsor had 17 points for the Stars (1-1).

Rambam    60     HAFTR     34

The Ravens' balance allowed them to dominate from the outset, with Aaron Azose scoring 24 points, Dovid Lichter adding 14 and Ethan Aaron getting nine points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots.

SEMIFINALS

DRS    47      Heschel    43    OT

Gavriel Kahn scored 24 points and Zack Brown added 12 to help the Wildcats (3-0) reach the final. 

Magen David     55     Rambam    31

The host Warriors (2-0) raced out to an 11-2 lead and were up 33-13 at the half. Michael Natkin finished with 18 points, Albert Nsiri scored 14 and Ray Jajati had 13. Dovid Lichter paced the Ravens (2-1) with 12 points.

MAGEN DAVID TOURNAMENT - RESULTS

OPENING ROUND

Flatbush       73     HANC   54



Joe Kattan scored 21 points and Jack Rosow added 17 as the Falcons overcame 35 points from Oren Betesh to beat the Hurricanes.

DRS          69        Shaare Torah     57



Gavriel Kahn led the Wildcats with 19 points.

HAFTR      58        Kushner      49

Matthew Jedwab had 19 points to lead the Hawks. Harrison Stiel had 16 points for the Cobras, Gabe Plotzker added 10 points and 14 rebounds and Nadav Twizer scored 10 points.

Rambam    55        Hillel           26

Aaron Azose had 22 points and Dovid Lichter scored 11 as the Ravens beat the Heat.

YDE           65        Ramaz       63

Joe Mishanie's runner and one in the final seconds capped a huge rally from 17 down early in the 4th quarter.

North Shore HA   71      JEC    49  

QUARTERFINALS

Monday

Heschel vs Flatbush

Magen David vs YDE

Tuesday

North Shore HA vs DRS

HAFTR vs Rambam

SEMIFINALS

Wednesday

Heschel/Flatbush winner vs North Shore/DRS winner

Magen David/YDE winner vs HAFTR/Rambam winner

CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday

MAGEN DAVID TOURNEY TIPS OFF 2018-19 SEASON

The 2018-19 Jewish Hoops America season tips off Sunday with the start of the Magen David Tournament in Brooklyn.

The tournament features 14 teams from the Yeshiva League, including the defending league champion and host Magen David Warriors. MDY and the Heschel Heat have byes into the quarterfinals.

The six opening round games are Sunday, followed by the quarterfinals on Monday and Tuesday. The semis are Wednesday and the champs will be crowned Thursday night.

MAGEN DAVID TOURNAMENT

OPENING ROUND - Sunday, Oct. 14

Flatbush vs HANC
North Shore vs JEC
Shaare Torah vs DRS
Kushner vs HAFTR
Rambam vs Hillel
YDE vs Ramaz

QUARTERFINALS - Monday, Oct. 15

Game 7: Heschel vs Flatbush-HANC winner
Game 8: Magen David vs YDE-Ramaz winner

Tuesday, Oct. 16

Game 9: North Shore-JEC winner vs Shaare Torah-DRS winner
Game 10: Kushner-HAFTR winner vs Rambam-Hillel winner

SEMIFINALS - Wednesday, Oct. 17

Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner
Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner

CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, Oct. 18