The Tikvat Israel men’s basketball team had its best season in years by finishing the 2013 regular season with four wins and five losses, good enough for seventh place among the 10 teams in the Montgomery County Synagogue Basketball League.
Player-Coach Warren Berger, who received an extension on his coaching contract because of the court successes, said TI’s team was “invigorated with an injection of skill and youthful energy” from Jeff Kahn and from several players who graduated from the top-flight USY basketball team of the past several years, Leor Newman, Brandon Ehrlich and Kenny Oxman.
“This was combined with steady play — drawing upon many, many years of experience — from our older players Neil Kram, Mark Waldman, Damon Ehrlich and Michael Newman,” Berger said. “We survived the season with only one injury — a shoulder injury to Mike Micek. We wish him the best and to heal quickly.”
Tikvat Israel lost in the first round of the league playoffs by two points to Oseh Shalom.
Now, TI’s gladiators turn their attention to the softball field in hopes of conquesting other shuls in the spring softball circuit. The team players doubleheaders every Sunday morning. The team dropped both games of its opening doubleheader on April 7 by single runs.
Due to limited players, TI has combined with Temple Emanuel, which also had trouble fielding a full team.
