11-12-2011 | Aces Still High after Royal Battle with Warriors, 45-43

11-12-2011 | Aces Still High after Royal Battle with Warriors, 45-43

By Shmuel Meir Perl

Fresh off an upset over the #2 Frisch Cougars, the #7 Ida Crown Aces rode a wave of confidence into their game against the #6 seed, the Magen David Warriors. But Ida Crown’s confidence soon disappeared after a missed layup on an opening tip, two inbound passes that were thrown out of bounds, and a couple of missed threes. With two minutes left in the first, the Aces came storming back and tied the game up at thirteen apiece at the end of the first quarter.

At the beginning of the second quarter, The Warriors proved why they were the higher seed by opening up the quarter with a 4-0 run. But yet again, he Aces came back and took the lead by four. With a minute left in the half, the Warriors came back and tied it, but Ari Lowenstein hit a huge three to put Ida Crown up. Not to be outdone, Magen David rebounded and hit a three of their own. But after Lowenstein fouled Dweck with one second left, Magen David hit two out of their three free throws to go up 26-24 at halftime.

At the start of the third quarter, both teams battled it out getting rebound after rebound, forcing turnover after turnover, and making basket after basket. At the end of the quarter, Ida Crown hit two back to back threes to go ahead by six.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Magen David went on a 5-2 run, but the Aces still led by three. Then after a made free throw by Ida Crown, Magen David hit a big three to cut the lead to one. With three minutes left, Magen David converted an Ida Crown back court violation into two points to put Magen David ahead by one. With one minute left, Ida Crown hit two free throws only to be followed by a Magen David three pointer. With thirty second left, Ida Crown hit a huge three pointer to go up by one. After a foul and a missed free throw, Ida Crown regained possession, and was fouled by Magen David. Ida Crown hit the first shot and closed it out the game 45-43. Morris Dweck led the Warriors with 13 points and Daniel Macks of the Aces hit for 21 points.