10-25-2012 | #10 RASG Warriors Tame #7 Yavneh BULLDOGS, Score first upset in Cooper Invitational

10-25-2012 | #10 RASG Warriors Tame #7 Yavneh BULLDOGS, Score first upset in Cooper Invitational

By: Shmuel Meir Perl

The first official game in this year’s Cooper Invitational was a grudge match between the #7 seed Yavneh Bulldogs from Dallas and the #10 seed RASG Warriors from Miami Beach. Yavneh won the tip, but missed their opening shot. The first basket of the game was made by RASG Sophomore Morris Esformes. RASG then hit their next shot, but their run was stopped by a Yavneh three pointer. After a burst of scoring from both teams, both sides went dry and couldn’t make any shots. The Warriors ended the dry spell making two straight baskets. Yavneh didn’t give up though, and hit a three to tie the game up at eleven all. At the end of the first quarter, the game was tied 13-13.

Yavneh scored two straight baskets after a made free throw by Gross, then each team exchanged baskets keeping the score close at 19-16 with Yavneh in the lead. Yavneh then scored, followed by three Warriors baskets to give RASG a one point lead. Following a jump ball which resulted in the Warriors getting the ball, Chad Basin hit one of two free throws to make the score 23-21 RASG. Coming off a 12-0 run going into halftime, the score was 28-21 in favor of RASG.

Coming out of halftime, the Warriors continued their hot streak scoring the opening basket. Each team scored multiple times, but the Bulldogs three pointer made their deficit only nine. Sam Kleinman hit another three-pointer for Yavneh cutting the lead down to three, but the Warriors had seven straight points to expand their lead to ten. With a minute left in the third quarter, it looked like an upset was on its way with RASG on top 41-31, but a three and then a David Steinbrecher buzzer beater layup made the game close.

In the fourth quarter, RASG came out strong with Chad Basin three. Both teams kept scoring, but RASG stayed on top leading by seven. After a turnover by RASG, Yavneh took advantage and hit a layup to pull within 5. But the Warriors came right back and hit two baskets of their own, and on the second one, they capitalized on the one and one opportunity. The Warriors capitalized on another three point play, but Yavneh got the ball and hit a three pointer to prevent the Warriors’ lead from becoming insurmountable. RASG got some stops and made some free throws, and finished off the Bulldogs, with the final score being 61-45. Adam Karnett and Sam Kleinman led the Bulldogs in points with 12 each, and Daniel Abramowitz was the high man for RASG with 26 points.