Just as Duke, Florida, and Auburn punched their tickets to the NCAA Division I Final Four, Jewish high school basketball teams across North America were delivering thrilling drama at Yeshiva University’s Red Sarachek Tournament.
This year’s competition, which tipped off March 26, featured stunning buzzer-beaters, a remarkable 17-point comeback, and a clutch performer reminiscent of Michael Jordan himself.
A David v. Goliath showdown
The Tier I Championship on March 31 featured No. 10 seed Magen David from Brooklyn, led by dynamic senior forward Joshua Chabbott, taking on No. 4 seed Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC) from New Jersey.
TABC entered the matchup boasting three players over 6’0″, anchored by arguably the best athlete in the tournament — 6’3″ senior center Eyal Kinderlehrer, who recorded an astonishing 30 points and 25 rebounds in the quarterfinal against SAR Academy.
The dominant center for the Storm got into some foul trouble in the first half as junior center Solly Hara drew two charging calls. The Warriors capitalized, leading by three points at halftime. Chabbott finished with an impressive 17 points, including several athletic layups, but Kinderlehrer emerged unstoppable in the second half. TABC secured the championship with a 61-49 victory. Kinderlehrer, who earned Most Valuable Player honors, recorded 24 points and 15 rebounds.
“I played as hard and we played hard as a team,” Kinderlehrer told Unpacked. “We know what losing feels like, and we didn’t want to lose.”
TABC teammate and senior forward Bentzion Keiser contributed significantly, tallying 16 points and seven rebounds. Head coach Oz Cross credited the victory to executing their strategic game plan.
“We had the size,” Cross explained to Unpacked. “We wanted to slow the game down and take control. It feels amazing to win.”
Coach Ike Dweck of Magen David credited the strong mentality of his players for making it close until the closing minutes.
“Last year we expected to make it to the finals because we won the yeshiva league championship and we ended up losing in overtime to YULA at Sarachek,” Dweck told Unpacked. “This year we were a little short on players, but they were all heart. We were a Cinderella team. It was incredible and they put it all out there. TABC played great.”
Not your average Joe
The Tier II bracket showcased No. 3 seed Davis Renov Salanter (DRS) Yeshiva High School for Boys from Long Island, which boasted Joe Aaron, the reigning Yeshiva League MVP. Aaron, an athletic 6’5” senior capable of playing guard and forward positions, led DRS to an overtime victory against TABC, 66-63, on March 16, securing the Yeshiva League title. Aaron’s spectacular offensive skill set made him nearly unstoppable, highlighted by his miraculous 35-foot buzzer-beating three-pointer in the Tier II semifinal against Hebrew Academy of Montreal, sending fans into a frenzy.
“I thought it looked good out of my hand, I’m not gonna lie,” Aaron told Unpacked of the miracle play. “I haven’t made a shot like that in a game, but I had to throw it up and I’m glad it went in.”
Aaron’s 29 points propelled DRS into the Tier II Championship against the No. 7 seed, North Shore Hebrew Academy. To upset Aaron’s dominant DRS squad, North Shore needed an inspired performance from their star senior guard, Eli Bokhour — and he delivered. Bokhour posted 17 points, four rebounds, a crucial steal from Aaron, and hit a pivotal free throw in the closing minutes. Junior guard Charlie Sassoon was equally critical, contributing 18 points, including three clutch three-pointers, while senior center Philip Cohen added physical dominance with 10 rebounds.
Despite junior forward Michael Solomon landing a few clutch baskets for DRS, Aaron’s Jordan-like aerial maneuvers — resulting in 23 points and 13 rebounds — nearly swung the momentum back to DRS. In the final second of the game, Aaron drove to the basket and had a makeable shot to send the game into overtime, but it didn’t fall.
“Thank God it rolled off the rim,” North Shore coach Shalom Babayev told Unpacked. “Joe’s a great player. I am proud of our team for playing great defense and for pushing the tempo when we needed to.”
Bokhour, the game’s MVP, expressed pride in his team’s victory.
“We’ve played a lot, and I know all his moves,” Bokhour said of Aaron. “We wanted to give this game everything we had, and we did. We’ve lost to them before, but this was a new game and we wanted to end this with a win.”
The Valley comes back from the shadow of death
In an unforgettable Tier III semifinal matchup, the No. 17 seed Valley Torah Wolfpack overcame a daunting 17-point deficit against No. 20 Maimonides M-Cats. Trailing 54-38 with only 6:30 remaining and by 11 points at the 3:43 mark, Valley Torah appeared defeated. But sophomore guard Meir Dan ignited the improbable rally by drilling three of his four three-pointers in quick succession. Trailing by six points with just 56 seconds left, Dan knocked down another critical three, setting the stage for an improbable 67-66 comeback win. Adam Bouzaglou sealed the victory with a decisive game-saving block in the final seconds.
Valley Torah coach Lior Schwartzberg recalled his halftime speech to Unpacked, highlighting the resilience of his players.
“At halftime, I asked them, ‘Are you satisfied? Is this what you came here for?’ he recalled to Unpacked. “We don’t give up, and we’re confident in our ability.”
In the Tier III Championship against No. 18 Fuchs Mizrachi from Ohio, Valley Torah overcame another slow start to claim victory, 54-43. Dan, awarded MVP, led with 16 points and six rebounds, relying on his exceptional quickness and agility.
Dan told Unpacked the team remained positive because it knew it could use its speed and skill to come back to win.
All tournament games were broadcast live on macslive.com, featuring professional commentary and instant slow-motion replays. Former executive director and advisor Akiva Poppers told Unpacked he was not surprised Valley Torah came back because the team was known to have an ability to fire on all cylinders at crucial moments
Originally Published Apr 2, 2025 06:02PM EDT
