Following Thursday’s 66-56 defeat to the fifth-seeded SAR Sting in Thursday’s Tier I qualifying matchup, coach Harold Katz wanted more of a complete team effort from his twelfth-ranked Mekor Chaim Cyclones in Friday’s Tier II qualifying bout against the 21st-seeded Or Chaim Knights, who were making their first 2023 Sarachek appearance.
While it took what assistant coach Akiva Poppers described as a “pathetic” first quarter where the Knights surged in front 8-3, the Cyclones would quickly find their footing, using a 14-0 run as a catalyst to a 29-point second stanza barrage for a 34-13 halftime lead. They never looked back in a rousing 59-36 thrashing of Or Chaim, sending them into a Tier II quarterfinal bout with the thirteenth seeded Berman Cougars, who dispatched the 20th seeded Kohelet Kings 71-59 earlier in the day. That matchup will be on Saturday evening at TABC with tip-off scheduled for 10:30 PM. Meanwhile, the Knights fall into the Tier III bracket against those Kings, which will take place on Saturday on Ma’ayanot’s court at 10:30 PM.
Friday’s Mekor Chaim offensive explosion was led by senior Jonathan Rosen, who backed up a 28-point outing on Thursday with 25 in fewer minutes on Friday. Also contributing was senior Dani Carter, who poured in 11.
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