Posnack Rams Outlast Maimo M-Cats in Nail-Biting Tier III Thriller, 54–52

In one of the most exciting finishes of the Tier III bracket, the #2 Posnack Rams edged out the #4 Maimonides M-Cats 54–52 to claim third place in a hard-fought battle that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

Both teams came out firing, trading baskets and defensive stops in a game that never saw either side lead by more than a few possessions. For Posnack, Guy Shlomi once again proved why he’s one of the tournament’s most consistent scorers, putting up 19 points and providing the steady leadership his team needed in clutch moments. Austin Ben-Shmuel followed with 17 points, attacking the rim and hitting timely shots that kept the Rams in control during the late stages.

Mark Mann contributed 10 points, including several key free throws down the stretch, while Matthew Furer and Evan Oppen each added crucial buckets to round out the scoring.

The M-Cats, meanwhile, refused to back down. Amiel Jotkowitz led the charge with 17 points, displaying his signature mix of quickness and confidence. Itai Winograd (10 points) and Sam Marcus (7 points) added strong offensive support, while Ariel Jesselsohn (6 points) and Daniel Zilber (6 points) helped Maimo stay within striking distance throughout the game.

The final minutes were pure chaos — a flurry of defensive stops, turnovers, and clutch baskets on both sides. With under a minute remaining, Shlomi hit a contested jumper to give Posnack the lead, and the Rams’ defense held firm in the closing possession as the M-Cats’ last shot rimmed out.

For Posnack, the victory marked a resilient finish to an emotional tournament — a bounce-back from their earlier loss and a statement about their grit and composure. The M-Cats, though falling just short, left everything on the court in a performance that captured their heart and hustle all tournament long.

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