 This year's JV championship finalist pairing, the DRS Wildcats of Woodmere, NY, and the Frisch Cougars of Paramus, NJ, has the feeling of old versus new, upstart versus the establishment.
.The fact that the game is being played in DRS's backyard in Lawrence, one of the affectionately titled "5 towns", adds to the intrigue, because it give the Wildcats a huge advantage in this game. Add to this the tournament pairing of these two teams in January, in the first round of the Emunah Tournament, won by Frisch 49-26, and you have the makings of an event hard to predict.
DRS has wonderful sports progarams and some strong varsity basketball players this season. But let's be honest here. If you said to any observer what is DRS known for in boys sports, the answer would be "Yeshiva League Hockey." As a result, this DRS team, the first in YL history to this writer's knowledge to make the JV finals, is a huge move up in the basketball world for the Wildcats, and bodes well for years to come.
Frisch JV, on the other hand, like the Frisch varsity, has a fairly long and substantial basketball legacy. In the past 3 seasons alone, the JV has gone to the championship 2 of 3 seasons, and has accumulated a 33-6 overall record in YL play.
DRS has had a fabulous 2009-2010 season, finishing 8-1 in the regular season and beating East Division leader NSHA to get to the final 4, and then last week, besting a tremendous South Division winner Maagen David team in overtime to reach the championship game.
Frisch also had a wonderful season, leading the West with a 10-0 record, and beating MAYHS, Hillel and North winner SAR to earn their way to meet DRS for the big trophy.
As stated, Frisch and DRS met in January in the Emunah Tournament. DRS was late for the game and did not seem to be ready for Frisch's intense style of play, and the Cougars surprised the Wildcats by a 49-26 score.
That, however, is history. All that really counts is what happens on the Court. Both teams boast shooters, ball handlers and talented athletes. DRS is led by high scoring Eitan Jacob at the point, Shimmy Steinmetz at the shooting guard position, Shmuel Wagner at power forward and Jonathan Grossman as shooting forward. All are talented and dangerous players who attack the basket and are deadeye shooters.
For Frisch, Jordan Hod at the point is a genuine all-star and ball magician. SG Mike Bouaziz, the heir to a line of Boauziz' at Frisch, is an outstanding scorer and a threat from anywhere on the floor. SF Oliver Schwalbe is a heady player and a terrific defender who seems to corral every loose ball. Frisch's bigs, David Borghard and AY Yablonovich are excellent rebounders and strong shooters. Leading the talent off the bench is Judah Cohen, who scored 20 points in the SAR game and has 7 double figure games, behind only Bouaziz who has 11.
In the games seen by this observer, DRS played primarily zone defenses, while Frisch tends to play man to man. DRS likes to run when it can and Frisch is also known as a fast breaking team. The Frisch bigs may be a tad bigger than DRS' and that may be useful off the glass. Both teams can shoot the rock and attack the basket.
The difference between the two teams may be depth. Frisch has the advantage of being a bit deeper and has several bench players who would start for most of the teams in the league. If the game is marked by fouls, Frisch's deeper bench will pay off and foul trouble will not hurt the Cougars as much as it may affect DRS. And, if the officials let the players play and fouls are not a problem, Frisch's size and relentless pressure may help the Cougars control the game.
Plainly, DRS has the home court advantage due to the location of the game in the 5 towns.
We conclude that Frisch's unbeaten record, size and depth and the prior win in the emunah tournament give the advantage to the Cougars.
With all these factors, we see a game in the high 40's and we look to Frisch to be crowned the JV champ in a 48-43 final.
|
