The New Kids Take the Crown: #4 Jewish Culture Ends #13 TABC’s Reign

The Chanps have been dethroned by the new kids on the block as #4 Jewish Culture pulled away late to beat #13 TABC 57–42, in Tier I qualifying.

TABC came out exactly how a defending champ should. The crowd was into it, the zone was active, and they dictated the tone early. But Jewish Culture didn’t panic — they absorbed it, settled in, and then slowly started to tilt the game in their direction.

It actually started with defense. Both teams made life difficult early, but it was Jewish Culture that found the first real offensive rhythm. Shilo Kahn got loose for a couple of early threes, and just like that, it was 10–2. Then Michael Hazan jumped a passing lane, went coast-to-coast, and suddenly it was 14–4, a punch that woke TABC up.

Yiseo Kahn answered right back with a three of his own, the ball started moving, and you could feel TABC finding confidence. Akiva Borgen attacked the paint, collapsed the defense, and created looks — one of which led to the game being tied at 17. TABC crashed the offensive glass, extending possessions, and turning defense into offense. They grabbed a 19–17 lead and, for a moment, it felt like the champs were starting to take control. Borgen kept pushing downhill, and TABC stretched it to 21–18. The spacing improved, the execution sharpened, and after another Kahn three, they were rolling.

Yet the Lions responded, as Hazan answered late in the half — scoring, then creating off a steal — and just like that, they flipped it back to a 24–23 lead at halftime. Then came the third quarter.

TABC threw a 1-2-2 press at them, trying to speed things up and force mistakes—but Jewish Culture completely handled it. The ball moved, the spacing opened up, and once again it was Shilo Kahn knocking down a three to ignite the run, giving Jewish Culture a six-point lead. And then the dam broke. TABC went scoreless for a massive stretch midway through the third, and that’s where the game was decided. Jewish Culture turned defense into transition, turned rebounds into second chances, and, most importantly, kept scoring in bunches, up 35-24 after three.

To TABC’s credit, they didn’t quit. Shlomo Weingarten finally stopped the drought. Naftali Hockstein (14 points) kept them within reach. Borgen battled inside, even converting a tough and-one to cut it to 45–35. Then Hockstein hit a huge three, slicing it to 45–38 with just over six minutes left. But every time TABC made a push, Jewish Culture had an answer.

Hazan delivered again, finishing through contact, creating offense, and controlling tempo. The press from Jewish Culture started forcing mistakes, leading to free throws and easy points. And then, fittingly, it was Kahn again — his dagger three, part of a 21-point night, putting the game out of reach for good.

#4 Jewish Culture defeated #13 TABC 57-42 advancing to the Tier I bracket. (Photo Credit: MacsLive)

The third quarter exposed the gap:

For most of the first half, this felt like a true battle. TABC dictated stretches, controlled the glass, and even grabbed momentum late in the second quarter. But that scoreless stretch in the third changed the entire game. Jewish Culture didn’t just take the lead — they separated. They handled the 1-2-2 press cleanly, generated quality looks, and turned stops into instant offense. That’s the difference: one team survived runs, the other created them. Over a full 32 minutes, that gap becomes impossible to hide.

Jewish Culture’s balance was better than TABC’s bursts:

TABC had moments, real ones. Borgen attacking downhill, Hockstein knocking down shots (14 points), and stretches where their spacing looked sharp. Jewish Culture, on the other hand, had consistent production across possessions. Shilo Kahn (21 points) spaced the floor and delivered big shots, while Michael Hazan (14 points) impacted every phase — scoring, playmaking, and defense. It wasn’t one run or one player. It was sustained pressure from multiple angles that wore TABC down.

Possessions decided the game, and Jewish Culture owned them:

The rebounding margin (23–13) tells a big part of the story. Jewish Culture created extra chances while limiting TABC to one-and-done trips. Add in their ability to turn pressure into free throws late, and suddenly the possession game tilts heavily in their favor. Even when TABC cut it to seven, Jewish Culture didn’t rush; they executed, got to the line, and closed.