Tier I Qualifier Preview: #6 SAR vs #11 Katz

In what promises to be one of the most competitive Tier I qualifiers, the #11 Katz YHS Storm will battle the #6 SAR Sting on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in the MSAC.

SAR enters the tournament as the Yeshiva League runners-up under Coach Rafi Halpert. After a season defined by resilience, the Sting look to improve upon last year’s performance, where they entered as the #5 seed, defeated HA Montreal in the Tier I qualifier, but were ultimately knocked out by TABC in the Tier I quarterfinals. This year’s squad has battled through significant adversity, including a series of narrow losses to Flatbush in the Magen David and Glouberman tournaments, alongside a nagging injury to their big man, Evan Goldberg. However, they found their rhythm when it mattered most, upsetting Frisch and finally overcoming Flatbush on their home court during the playoffs.

The #11 Katz Storm arrive in New York with aspirations of shocking the Jewish Basketball world should they takedown #6 SAR Sting on Thursday in the Tier I Qualifier. (Photo Credit: KYHS Storm/ Instagram)

The Sting are led by a versatile backcourt. Star point guard Ari Halpert sets the tone as an elite defensive player and transition threat. Max Weiss provides a high-IQ presence, capable of shooting the three or operating in the post, while Jonah Blechner serves as a reliable "3 and D" specialist. Avery Simon rounds out the core as a high-energy cutter and perimeter threat.

On the other side, Katz Yeshiva High School (KYHS) returns to Sarachek looking to build on last year’s Tier II run, which included a win over Fuchs in the Tier II qualifier before a quarterfinal loss to North Shore. This season, the Storm have displayed much more consistency than last year’s up-and-down squad, highlighted by two hard-fought overtime battles against Jewish Culture. 

The Storm are led by Nir Ovaknin, a 6'4" point forward who is nearly unstoppable in transition and a force on the offensive glass. Ilan Attias is a dangerous one-on-one scorer with a deep mid-range and three-point arsenal, and Abi Coblum, a lights-out shooter from the perimeter. While they love to push the tempo, Katz has developed a solid half-court offense that will pose a major challenge for the SAR defense.

How To Watch:

SAR enters as the favorite based on their league success, but Katz is looking to pull of the upset. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Thursday in the MSAC and will stream live on MacsLive.