SARACHEK PANEL GAME PREDICTIONS: SATURDAY
- MacsLive Staff
- 13 hours ago
- 6 min read
ANNOUNCEMENT:
With Ramaz falling to Jewish Culture in the Tier I quarterfinals and being eliminated from championship contention, we welcome Ramaz Assistant Coach and MacsLive legend Akiva Poppers back onto the picks panel.
STANDINGS:
Marvin Azrak: 15-2
Yosef Silver: 13-4
Zachary Sicklick 12-5
Ari Schopf: 11-6
Oren Glickman: 7-8
Akiva Poppers: 0-0
Akiva Poppers: I’m told that no one cared about the panel without me on it, but this shouldn’t be true because Ari Schopf is a legend. I’m here to save the ratings, though I wish I were still ineligible to do so. Rematch of the semifinals from last year. Noah Hendeles will have a much better shooting night against the TABC zone than he did on Thursday when he was held to 0 3s, and YULA’s size and physicality on the glass will be effective against TABC. Kobi Mahler will hold Akiva Borgen in check just enough for YULA to move on to the Tier II semis. Panthers 49, TABC 45.
Ari Schopf: I expect this game to be a tough low scoring game in the 40s. Both teams can defend at a high level and it’s going to come down to which team can score down the stretch of the 4th quarter. I have more faith in TABC in the clutch.
TABC 46 YULA 43
Yosef Silver: This should be fun. Even though both teams lost on Thursday, they had stretches where they competed well with the higher seeds. TABC had the ability to bounce back quickly with a dominant win over SCY High. Coming in with the momentum, and on home floor, it’s tough to pick against the Storm. Akiva Borgen leads the way for TABC as they Storm onto the semifinals. TABC 44 YULA 38
Marvin Azrak: This is a grind. Possession-by-possession. Probably ugly at times. Hendeles bounces back. YULA controls stretches. But late, TABC makes one or two more plays.
Final: TABC 46, YULA 43
Zachary Sicklick: TABC had a great performance yesterday, possibly the best offensive performance in Sarachek history. It won’t be as easy against a hungry YULA team, especially with Hendeles not getting going on Thursday. There has yet to be an upset in Sarachek so far. It’s gonna come down to the wire, but I think the Storm will storm their way to the semis. TABC 48 YULA 45
Oren Glickman: Cannot make a prediction
AP: I think this game is about pace. Ultimately I have faith that Fuchs will be able to pull the first seeding upset of the tournament by keeping this game in the halfcourt. Mizrachi wins 50-47.
AS: I’m going to make two bold predictions for this game:
Ovaknin and Jacobs will combine to score over 55 points.
This game will end on a buzzer beater. Fuchs will be the team to hit the buzzer beater.
Fuchs Mizrachi 53 Katz Yeshiva 51
YS: As much as I really like Fuchs this year, I think Katz will rebound from Thursday’s ugly loss to SAR. Ovaknin and Jacobs will go off, but I really trust Katz’s ability to get baskets down the stretch. Katz 54 Fuchs 49
MA: Back-and-forth. Runs on both sides. Stars trading buckets late.
But I trust Fuchs just a little more in those moments. They’re built for ugly, late-game execution.
Final: Fuchs 58, Katz 56
ZS: Ovaknin vs Jacobs might be the marquee matchup Tier II needed to get viewers on a Saturday night. 2 elite players, 2 offensive powers, 2 out of town teams, 2 guys who are going to leave it all on the court, a Tier II semifinals berth on the line (a lot of 2’s here). I don’t wanna take 2 upsets tonight, but I like the Mayhem here. Fuchs 57 Katz 55
OG: I’m going to take Katz here. Had a rough go at it against SAR but I think they’ll be fine against Fuchs to punch their ticket into the Tier 2 semis. Shoutout to my camper Dean Wasserman who I think will contribute big minutes off the bench in this one too!
Katz 61 Fuchs 52
AP: The two best guards in the tournament matchup here. I think the edge goes to Simon Alloul in that matchup, but Alex August’s Berman squad is a little more well-rounded as a whole and the Cougars sneak by. Berman 62, Montreal 58.
AS: When I look at Berman, I see a Tier 2 championship team. I really like this team. It’s unfortunate for the other Tier 2 teams that Berman lost their Tier 1 qualifier, because now they have to face Berman in order to win the Tier 2 championship.
Life’s not fair sometimes.
Berman by 25.
Berman 75 HA Montreal 50
YS: Always tough to have to write about Berman when your name is below Ari Schopf. That being said, the August vs Alloul matchup should be electric. However, Berman is a more complete team and should win on the margins. Give me the Cougars as the highest seed in Tier II moves on. Berman 57 Montreal 45
MA: Alloul makes this a show. He’s gonna have moments where it feels like he’s taking over. But over the full game, Berman’s balance and August’s control win out.
Final: Berman 54, HA Montreal 48
ZS: I just spoke about Jacobs vs Ovaknin, but Alloul vs August is just as intriguing. 2 of the top guards, and scorers, in all of Sarachek going head to head? Get me some popcorn, I can’t wait to watch. I had Berman winning on Thursday, so I think I am going to ride the wave with them again, even though Montreal is a good team as well. Berman 63 HA Montreal 54
OG: It’s crazy that we’re previewing an Alex August-Simon Alloul Tier 2 matchup but here we are! Berman should be in Tier 1 and Montreal should be proud of the effort they put in against DRS. I think August has a better cast around him than Alloul. Berman in the Tier 2 semis.
Berman 59 Montreal 46
AP: Ida Crown are the kings of Tier II. They were made for this moment. Their zone defense and press will cause havoc on the high school floor. Aces win, 55-47.
AS: Ida Crown will benefit from the day off yesterday and come out refreshed. MTA started slow against Shalhevet and they cannot afford to have that happen again. Ida Crown will control this game from start to finish.
Ida 50 MTA 39
YS: Ida Crown is a solid team that really plays together. They won’t be fazed by their loss to Flatbush on Thursday and will be hungry for success in the Aces’ home, Tier II. ICJA 51 MTA 45
MA: I think this is tight early. Maybe even MTA hangs around into halftime. I believed they were different this year, predicting them to shock Shalhevet and that was quickly shot down by the Firehawks. Although they responded against Beren yesterday, as Gavi Engel and the boys bounced back, they’re facing an Ida Crown group who will be motivated to show why they were nearly worthy of a Tier I slot before they fell to Flatbush. That 1-3-1 will run the second half as they emerge victorious.
Final: Ida Crown 51 MTA 43
ZS: After such a strong season from Ida Crown, they were devastated from their loss on Thursday against Flatbush. MTA has Gavi Engel who is a threat from everywhere, similar to Romano from Flatbush. The Aces will need to do a better job of limiting the star. The 1-3-1 defense gives team trouble, but the corners will be there for MTA. I think the Aces will win this game with hustle and care with the seniors not waiting to go home without a banner. Ida Crown 63 MTA 55
OG: I think this is the hardest game of Saturday night to predict. Ida Crown gave Flatbush a game and Well wasn’t even at his best. MTA bounced back against Beren but that’s a game they were expected to win. Give me the kings of Tier 2, the Aces.
Ida Crown 57 MTA 48