The Valley Torah Wolfpack repeated as champion in the 2023 Sarachek Tournament at Yeshiva University’s Max Stern Athletic Center, beating the SAR Sting 56-48.
Valley Torah’s senior forward Johnny Dan, who scored 42 points in an earlier game, scored 17 points, with 12 rebounds and two assists. Senior guard Noam Mayouhas had nine points, eight rebounds and 12 assists. Dan and Mayouhas were named co-MVPs.
Dan hit three-pointers, was a beast on the boards, and his muscle and jump shot were tough for SAR to defend. Mayouhas delivered some highlight passes, clutch shots and on defense, he took several key charges.
”It feels great that our team came out, we poured our hearts out, as we knew we could do it back-to-back,” Mayouhas told sideline reporter SJ Tannenbaum.
Valley Torah Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Avrohom Stulberger told Tannenbaum that “it’s just an incredible accomplishment … We know how much work went into this. These are amazing kids and, Baruch Hashem,they’re going to go far. All over the world we have Valley Torah graduates who are watching. It’s a whole family out there …”
In commentary on the macslive.com broadcast, Valley Torah’s assistant coach Ryan Turell, the former YU star who played for Valley Torah and is now a member of the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons’ G League team, said Dan and Mayouhas were the best duo in the tournament.
In the first quarter, SAR dominated, and was up by 21-9 on a three and a jumper by the team’s captain,senior guard Akiva Schanzer, as well as a three -pointer by senior Jonah Sokol. Senior guard Benny Neuwirth hit some key shots in the first quarter to help give SAR the early lead.
At halftime, Valley Torah had closed SAR’s lead to one point, trailing 31-30. Coach Lior Schwartzberg was blunt, explaining the early problem.
“We started making shots,” he said on the broadcast, explaining why the team came back and he added the team switched its defensive strategy to go to zone instead of man.
Schanzer hit a deep three in the fourth quarter but it would not be enough to overcome a 10-0 spurt by Valley Torah, which helped put them in charge. Valley Torah still looked fresh in the fourth quarter, while SAR settled for a series of long three-pointers that would not fall.
The wolfpack’s junior guard Ethan List tied the game at 47 hitting a big three pointer from the left side with 3:22 remaining. Gabriel R’bibo broke the tie with two consecutive baskets.
Yeshiva Universitty’s Jack Turell, who also played for Valley Torah, said while both Valley Torah and Yeshiva played teams from the Bronx, there was no comparison.
“Let’s face it, Riverdale ain’t Ventura,” he told sideline reporter SJ Tannenbaum, adding that “these are kids, they are built different, they are raised different, they are born in the Valley, they are Valley strong, they don’t let anything get to them.”
It remains to be seen of any of the two MVP players or Schazner will end up playing basketball for YU in college.
