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| Mayer Khamkatchi flies in for the score |
Turnovers. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. In a game filled with an abundance of turnovers from both teams, it was the unforced errors committed by the host Flatbush Falcons that ultimately resulted in a hard-fought loss Tuesday night in Brooklyn where the Falcons fell to the North Shore Stars, 51-45.
Four turnovers to be exact, in the estimation of Flatbush Head Coach Avi Borenstein, were at the heart of the tough loss. Which turnovers? Pick any four turnovers at any point in the game. If the Falcons could have converted any four into points instead of empty possessions, the outcome could have – if not would have – been different.
Making their second start in a row, the Falcons took an early lead behind a pair of baskets from the duo of Joey Dweck and Buddy Setton. Defense was then the order of the day, as both teams displayed tenacious defense keeping the score low and close throughout the first period. However, with less than one minute to play in the initial stanza, Flatbush committed a run of costly turnovers that the Stars converted into easy baskets giving North Shore a small separation from the home team in taking a 6-point lead at the first break. It was a lead the Falcons would close in on a number of occasions the rest of the way, but one the Stars would never relinquish.
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| Joey Dweck tallies the first points for Flatbush |
The remainder of the game saw the defenses dominate at both ends. North Shore was clearly flustered by relentless backcourt coverage of their guards, and by the dominant play under the boards from Flatbush’s front line defenders. Mayer Khamkatchi, Victor Silverman and Shawn Blinder all made significant contributions at both ends, closing out the North Shore post players on defense, and each adding to the scoring balance on the offensive end. But Flatbush demonstrated equal difficulty with the North Shore defense. The energy was high, but the control was lacking. Bringing intensity at both ends of the court, Seniors Nathan Haddad and Buddy Setton would bring the Falcons close (they led a balanced Falcon scoring attack with 10 points apiece), but each time the team had a chance to tie or take the lead, the team would make an errant pass or step out of bounds or commit an offensive foul or travel with the ball or stay in the lane too long - in other words, turnovers!
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| Falcons swarm to the ball on defense |
With under two minutes to play, North Shore managed to extend the lead to an apparently insurmountable 9 points, but true to its never-say-die fashion, the Falcons just would not go away. Forcing turnovers of their own and with North Shore cooperating by missing free throws, the Falcons managed to close to within three points with possession of the ball, but an errant shot at the :22 second mark gave the ball back to the Stars, and the Falcons never got closer. After the game, visiting head coach Elliot Steinmetz was notably impressed, commenting that Flatbush “played harder than anyone [North Shore] played so far,” and that includes the likes of Yeshiva University of Los Angeles, who defeated North Shore in the finals of the Cooper Invitational Tier I Championships.
In the end, North Shore proved to be every bit the top-level Yeshiva League opponent they came in as advertised. But, teams of the MYHSAL take notice. As evidenced Tuesday night, the Flatbush Falcons are right on the cusp of that group, and there is much season left to play.
Nest Notes:
Joey Dayon was held to 3 points, his lowest scoring output of the season (he is averaging 16 points per game). After a short Chanukah and Thanksgiving break, the Varsity Boys are back in action on Tuesday night, 12/3, against YDE at the Sephardic Center. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 pm.
The JV Boys hoopsters take center stage as they prepare to host teams from Detriot, MI, Memphis, TN and Livingston, NJ in the 18th Annual Hausdorff Tournament and Shabbaton, starting on Thursday, December 5 and running through Sunday, December 8.
