11-8-2014 | NSHA Stars punch ticket to Championship Game, Defeat TABC Storm 48-37

11-8-2014 | NSHA Stars punch ticket to Championship Game, Defeat TABC Storm 48-37

By: Yonatan Cooper

The first of the two Final Four games featured the #1 North Shore Hebrew Academy Stars against the #5 Torah Academy of Bergen County Storm. The opening tip went to North Shore, but TABC’s defense held up. The score stayed scoreless through the first 2 minutes of the game until TABC broke North Shore’s press. From there, the score went back and forth. At the end of the 1st quarter, North Shore led 11-8. All of TABC’s points came from Moshe Brum, while the leading scorer for North Shore was Cody Cohen with 4 points.

In the 2nd quarter, North Shore continued to press, but TABC continued to break it. TABC started the 2nd quarter on a 5-0 run, but North Shore answered with a 4 point play by Yair Cohen. After that, TABC’s Dan Poleyeff hit 2 three pointers, and then Solo Shulman knocked down another. The score was 21-16 with 1:07 left to play. With 30 seconds to go in the half, Josh Hecht made a 3 point play to cut the deficit down to 2. At the end of the first half, TABC had a 21-19 lead. TABC’s leading scorer was Moshe Brum with 10 points. North Shore’s scoring attack was much more balanced with 5 different players scoring at least 3 points.

For TABC, the 3rd quarter started with a bang, as Moshe Brum put up a layup, followed by both teams trading buckets. Midway through the 3rd quarter it was a 25-23 game, TABC on top. With 3:00 left, North Shore’s Isaac Haft knocked down a 3 to give North Shore a 26-25 lead. Haft then added a layup to make it 28-25. He then stole the ball and added a layup to make it 30-25, but TABC’s Solo Shulman responded with a 3 to get it back to a 2 point game, at 30-28. At the end of the 3 quarters, North Shore had the advantage 30-28. For North Shore, Cody Cohen had 9 points to lead them. For TABC, Moshe Brum had 12 points to lead the way.

The 4th quarter started with an unfortunate play for North Shore, as I. Heft jumped for a steal and landed on his right arm. Seconds later, Setton of North Shore knocked one in from downtown. Then, North Shore’s Yaron Cohen knocked down a 3-baller to make it 36-28 North Shore. It was raining 3’s in the MJCC in Memphis, TN.

TABC’s Dan Poleyeff got fouled shooting a 3, but missed all 3 shots. But, TABC’s Moshe Brum then went on his own 6-0 run, as he made a 3, then a 3 point play which tied the score at 36. Then, on the other end, Cody Cohen knocked down a layup and had an opportunity for a 3 point play, but missed the free throw. With 4:09 left, North Shore had the lead 38-36. Then North Shore’s Setton knocked down his 3rd 3 of the night. It was 41-36. With 2:43 left, North Shore called a full timeout as they had a 42-37 lead.

With 1:30 left North Shore had the ball, but with 1:17 left TABC came up with a steal, and they immediately called a timeout. TABC missed a shot, and then fouled. North Shore had the inbound with 1:02 left. With 40 seconds left, TABC’s Shua Naor went to the line for 2, but he missed both. North Shore was then trapped, but called a timeout, their last timeout. With 33 seconds left, Cody Cohen went to the line for 1 and 1, and he made both. TABC failed to score their next possession, and Cody Cohen went to the line again, and he made both once again. TABC once again failed to score, and Cody Cohen went to the line and made 2 more. The final score was 48-37. Cody Cohen led the scoring for North Shore with 18 points and Moshe Brum lead TABC with 20 points.