The Tikvat Israel men’s basketball team has opened the 2013 season with victories in two of its first three games in the Montgomery County Synagogue Basketball League.
TI is playing a nine-game Sunday morning schedule against other shuls this winter.
The team lost its opening game to B’nai Shalom, but then evened its record against Temple Isaiah. The team grabbed its second win in exciting fashion Jan. 20 against Shaare Tefilah.
“We got out to a fast start and were leading by 6 at halftime,” reported Warren Berger, TI’s veteran player-coach. “Shaare Tefilah came back and took the lead by 4 in the second half. We reduced that to 1 point with 50 seconds left and called a timeout. We got the ball into Brandon Ehrlich, who was fouled intentionally, and then he threw up a shot. The referee ruled that he was fouled in the act of shooting, giving us 2 points since he was beyond the 3-point line. We don’t shoot free throws in this league, so that gave us the lead!”
After much arguing, Berger said, the referee’s call stood. Time ran out and Tikvat Israel had its second win.
In addition to Berger, the roster consists of Ben Meltzer, Damon Ehrlich, Jeff Kahn, Leor Newman, Mark Bargeski, Mark Waldman, Michael Newman, Mike Micek and Neil Kram. Brandon Ehrlich and fellow collegian Jon Bass suit up when not away at college.
The team is guaranteed at least one playoff match on March 10.
