#17 HANC vs #17 JEC Play-in Preview
- Marvin Azrak
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
The prestigious Red Sarachek Tournament opens with something new this year: a Tier II play-in game. For the first time, the winner won’t be chasing a Tier I title. Instead, it’s about earning a spot, staying alive, and setting the tone for everything that follows on the YU floor over the next few days.
That distinction makes this one even more compelling, because both teams are still trying to figure out who they are.
JEC is one of the more confusing teams in the field. On paper, a 6–8 record and a missed MYHSAL playoff appearance don’t inspire much. They lost a handful of close games that easily could’ve flipped their season, and their inconsistency showed all year. Still, there’s real talent here. They’ve added 10th graders from JV for Sarachek, run a structured offense with multiple sets, and lean into a zone defensively. When they’re clicking, they can control tempo and play through their size. Michael Schnur and Elie Krause give them an effective presence inside, and if the game slows down, that’s exactly how JEC wants it.
They did wallop HANC 71–36 in their regular-season finale, but that result comes with a massive asterisk. HANC rested starters on senior night, so it’s hard to take anything from it. This is a different stage and a completely different level of urgency.
The Hurricanes’ path is the definition of resilience. They started the year 0–5 and looked completely out of it. Yet slowly, they turned it around, grinding their way into the playoffs at 5–9 and making their first postseason appearance in years. That alone tells you what kind of group this is. They compete, and their guards can absolutely take over stretches of a game.
Yossi Davidovitz is the type of shooter who can flip everything if he gets hot. Ruby Tillis brings ball-handling and scoring ability, Adam Arbiv gives them energy defensively and in transition, and Sam Ofer works the glass, especially on second-chance opportunities. They’ve also shown they can win in tournament settings, taking the Beth Tfiloh tournament earlier this year. So while the record isn’t pretty, there’s real belief here.
The contrast between these two teams is clear. JEC wants this to be a controlled, half-court game played through the paint. HANC wants pace, spacing, and threes. If JEC is dictating tempo, it likely means their size is taking over. If HANC is comfortable, hitting shots, and turning this into a guard-driven game, things can turn on its head in a hurry.
And that’s what makes this such an interesting opener. It’s not just about advancing, but about which identity shows up first.
For JEC, it’s a chance to prove they’re better than what their record says. For HANC, it’s another opportunity to keep a season alive that already felt like it could’ve ended weeks ago. One team moves on. One team’s tournament is over before it begins. And for a play-in game, those stakes are more than enough.
Who controls the tempo:
This is the whole game. If it turns into a grindfest, that favors JEC, working through their sets, getting touches inside, and playing through their size. In that kind of game, they can control it from start to end. If it speeds up and turns into a track meet, that’s exactly how HANC wants it. The first team to impose pace will likely dictate everything.
HANC’s shooting variance:
HANC can swing this from the perimeter. If Davidovits gets hot and their guards start hitting threes, the feel changes quickly. But if those shots aren’t falling, their lack of depth becomes a real issue, and scoring can dry up fast.
JEC’s consistency:
We know the talent is there. The question is whether it actually shows up for 32 minutes. They’ve been up and down all year, with stretches where they look in control followed by stretches where things fall apart. If they stay disciplined and see the right possessions late, they have the edge. If not, this opens the door.
How To Watch:
Tip-Off is at 8:00PM from the MSAC. You can watch the game here on the MacsLive YouTube channel.
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