From Run to Rout: #6 SAR Pulls Away from #11 Katz in Tier I Qualifying Romp

Sting season is flying. #6 SAR takes it 75–51, in Tier I qualifying, and while #11 Katz had their moments, this quickly turned into the kind of game the Sting have been building toward all season.

Early on, you could see the vision for Katz. Push the pace, let Nir Ovaknin get downhill, create some chaos — and for a stretch, it worked. A couple steals, transition buckets, and suddenly that early SAR lead started to shrink. From 24–18 to 24–22, the energy flipped. Katz fans were loud, the momentum felt real, and for a second, you wondered, " Is this getting interesting?

However, SAR never lost control. Max Weiss got going from deep, and he never stopped. Then came the stretch that decided the game.

At halftime, SAR exploded for a 9–0 run, taking a 42-25 edge and dispelling any remaining doubt. Katz looked a step slow, a little stagnant, and SAR took full advantage. Turn defense into offense, push in transition, find shooters — rinse, repeat. Weiss was unreal, dropping 24 points, including a ridiculous 10-point burst in just a couple of minutes that completely blew the doors open. Josh Blechner added 20 points, flying up and down the floor, impacting both ends. Everything the Sting did felt connected. You could see the chemistry, the continuity, the edge from everything they’ve been through this season. Losing the Yeshiva League Championship didn’t break them, but sharpened them. Katz kept playing, kept pushing, but by then the writing was on the wall. They’ll drop into Tier II while SAR prepares for a rivalry clash with #3 Frisch in a rematch of their Yeshiva League semifinal.

The #3 SAR Sting flew past Katz 75-51 and are into the Tier I Quarterfinals against #6 Frisch. (Photo Credit; MacsLive)

SAR dictated the game by speeding it up:

Coming in, it felt like SAR might need to control the tempo to win. Instead, they embraced the pace, but did it their way, off turnovers, clean outlets, and organized transition. That’s the key difference. Katz wanted chaos; SAR created controlled speed. Once that happened, Katz was playing catch-up in a game that was moving too fast to recover.

SAR’s continuity and chemistry showed up in the biggest way:

You could see it. The way they moved, the way they spaced, the way they trusted each other — this is a group that’s been through a lot together. Blechner running in transition, Halpert setting the tone, and everyone knowing where to be. It wasn’t forced or rushed; it was natural. That kind of cohesion is what turns good teams into dangerous ones this time of year.

SAR’s defense quietly set the tone for everything:

The offense will get the headlines, but this game was won on the other end. SAR forced Katz into tough, rushed looks, jumped passing lanes, and turned defense into instant offense. That’s what fueled the runs. Once Katz started forcing things, SAR fed off it. And from there, the game snowballed.