Here’s our preview of the Yeshiva League quarterfinals. Predictions? Are you crazy? This is the Yeshiva League. Anything can happen.
HAFTR vs SAR
HAFTR (12-2; 26-7) was #1 in the East. SAR (8-6; 10-9) was #4 in the West, beat Ramaz in opening round
Let’s first of all put aside the Hawks’ 25-point win over the Sting in late November.
SAR is a far better team now than the one that didn’t look anything like a playoff contender at the start of the season. But HAFTR is better now also, dominating TABC and DRS in late season wins to win their division. They likely have too many weapons for the Sting to stop.
Hillel vs DRS
Hillel (12-2; 19-8) was #1 in West. DRS (10-4; 14-8) was #4 in East and beat North Shore in opening round.
The Heat are playing with a big chip on their shoulders, figuring they haven’t gotten the respect due a team that tied for the best record in the league. One reason might be that they had by far the easiest schedule of any playoff team. But you play the teams on your schedule and that includes wins against TABC and Heschel that gave Hillel the West division crown.
And that was key because hosting DRS is a lot better than traveling to the Green House. Still, DRS boasts one of the best starting fives in the league. And despite a final-game loss to HAFTR that meant the difference between 1st Place and 4th, the Wildcats had just beaten Magen David to deny the Warriors the East divisional title.
Heschel vs Shaare Torah
Heschel (11-3; 17-9) was #2 in West; Shaare Torah (11-3; 18-6) was #3 in East and beat YDE opening round
These two teams played one of the best games of the Satran Tournament, with Shaare Torah going up in the final seconds only to see Heschel come down the court and win it at the buzzer.
We know about Shaare Torah’s explosive offense but Heschel has a tendency to clamp down on defense at home in the playoffs. It will come down to a test of will - the Stars’ bid to get to the semifinals for the first time in forever and the Heat’s drive for a repeat league title.
Magen David vs TABC
Magen David (11-3; 24-4) was #2 in East; TABC (10-4; 14-5) was #3 in West and beat Frisch opening round
What a difference a few weeks - and the return of the league’s best sharpshooter - make. TABC looked dead in the water in late season losses to Frisch and HAFTR. But they put it all together in knocking out Frisch in the opening round.
Can the Storm go into Brooklyn and block the Warriors on their path to a third straight championship game appearance?
Why not? They beat MDY there back in November.
But Magen David might have had the post-Cooper-title lethargy that happens each year. Sure, TABC was in Memphis also, but they essentially took Sunday off in their 3rd Place game while Magen David was battling Shaare Torah for the ‘ship.