11-5-2015 | Warriors Knock off Knights, 64-46

11-5-2015 | Warriors Knock off Knights, 64-46

By: Tani Finkelstein

In a Thursday afternoon matchup, the #4-seeded RASG Warriors took on the #13-seeded Yeshivat Bnei Akiva Or Chaim Knights. RASG started the game off with a lot of energy, but the Knights would not let the game go early. Whatever RASG did, the Knights countered with the help of their 6’8″ big man, Yaakob Bendayan. Then, Warriors junior guard Jack Esformes caught fire, draining five triples nearly consecutively in the quarter. The Knights stayed in it, however, and the score was 22-11, in favor of the Warriors at the end of the first quarter. Esformes led the way with 15 points in the quarter for RASG.

In the second quarter, with solid play from Bendayan, the Knights made a nice run to cut their deficit to three. RASG kept pushing, but the Knights stayed within reach. Ben Tal made some fancy plays for the Warriors, and the score at the end of the half was 32-26, in favor of RASG.

In the third quarter, it was the “Ben Tal Show”, as Tal lit up the Knights with 15 points in the quarter alone. With Tal’s outburst, RASG was finally able to begin pulling away from the Knights. Tal hit another triple to end off the quarter, and RASG was up 14.

In the fourth quarter, Tal continued to dominate and drop jaws with his fancy footwork and shooting. RASG scored a lot on fastbreaks, and they continued to add to their lead. The final score was 64-46, RASG. Ben Tal and Jack Esformes were the high scorers for RASG, scoring 26 points and 24 points, respectively. Yaakob Bendayan finished with 15 points in a losing effort for the Knights.

The win keeps the Warriors in Tier 1 who will play the winner of the CESJDS Lions/de Toledo Jaguars game, while Knights will await their opponent in Tier 2.