Hurricanes Rise: HANC Caps Dream Run with Tier III Championship

This one didn’t feel like “17th place.”

It felt like a team finishing a journey — and by the end of it, HANC walked away with a 69–61 win over Hillel Pittsburgh to claim the Tier III championship. From the opening minutes, you could feel their intent. This wasn’t a team just happy to be there. This was a team ready to finish it.

And from the jump, they made that clear. Yossi Davidowitz was everywhere early, setting the tone on both ends, and just like that, it was 9–2, then 11–2 before Hillel could even catch their breath. HANC was running, pushing pace, playing free, and forcing Hillel to react rather than initiate. Hillel did some good things in that first quarter. They forced a few turnovers, got into passing lanes, but they couldn’t turn those into points. And against a team playing with that kind of rhythm, that’s how a small gap starts to grow. By the end of one, it was 13–4 Hurricanes, and it felt like HANC had grabbed control of the game’s tempo early.

However, if there’s one thing Hillel showed all tournament, it’s that they don’t go away. The second quarter was their response.

Zach Itzkowitz got them going with a big three, then Gavi Shaw jumped a passing lane and finished in transition, slicing things to 15–13. The energy shifted, and now HANC had to answer. And they did. Davidowitz hit from deep. Then again. Ruby Tilis attacked downhill and finished through contact. Every time Hillel made it a one-possession game, HANC pushed it right back to two or three. Still, Hillel kept fighting, and right before the half, Ronny Motaiev knocked down a buzzer jumper to bring it to 29–25. HANC struck first in the third when Davidowitz opened the half with a three. Yet, Zach Itzkowitz caught fire with three consecutive buckets, keeping the Heat within striking distance.

Yet, this is where HANC separated themselves. They never let a run turn into control. Tilis gets downhill for a layup before a putback buzzer gave HANC a 44-38 lead after three.

And in the fourth, HANC finally created the separation they’d been building toward all game. They didn’t rush things, but they just kept making the right plays. Adam Arbiv with the scoop and score. Davidowitz was leaking out in transition and hit a couple of triples, giving them a 61-47 lead.

Hillel kept competing, but now they were being chased. And HANC stayed composed with free throws to clinch the Tier 3 championship. This is a program that made the Yeshiva League playoffs for the first time in a decade, then went on to win the Beth Tfiloh tournament, fought their way into Sarachek through a play-in win over JEC, and now they’re walking away with the trophy.