SHALHEVET HIGH SCHOOL���/RV�$QJHOHV��&$���0DUFK��������1LVVDQ��������9ROXPH������,VVXH�����ZZZ�VKDOKHYHWERLOLQJSRLQW�FRP

CHAMPIONS

Victory at Sarachek makes Firehawks No. 1

29(5-2<('��9DUVLW\�EDVNHWEDOO�WHDP�PREV�FHQWHU�FRXUW��MRLQHG�E\�+HDG�RI�6FKRRO�5DEEL�6HJDO�DQG�$JHQGD�&KDLU�'DQLHO�6FKZDUW]��DIWHU�GHIHDWLQJ�)ULVFK�$FDGHP\�������DW�<8ҋV�5HG�6DUDFKHN�7RXUQDPHQW�LQ�1HZ�<RUN��)LUHKDZNV�DUH�QRZ�WRS�UDQNHG�-HZLVK�EDVNHWEDOO�WHDP�LQ�QDWLRQDO�SROOV�IRU�WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH�LQ�VFKRRO�KLVWRU\��

PHOTO: YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

Special Edition 7(16(��6WXGHQWV��VWDII�DQG�DOXPQL�ZDWFKHG�WKH�)LUHKDZNV�FRP�SHWH�IRU�WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH�LQ�WKH�&,)�6RXWKHUQ�6HFWLRQ�'LYLVLRQ�ÀQDOV��

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BY SIGAL SPITZER, SPORTS EDITOR

With much of the student body watch-ing a live video feed in the Beit Midrash, the Firehawk varsity basketball team won LWV�ÀUVW�HYHU�FKDPSLRQVKLS�DW�WKH�5HG�6DUD-check Tournament at Yeshiva University in New York March 11, defeating Frisch Acad-emy of Paramus, New Jersey, 62 – 53 and rising to No. 1 in national Jewish basketball UDQNLQJV�IRU�WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH�

Cheers could be heard in the hallways as the Firehawks extended their lead by

QLQH�SRLQWV�DW� WKH�EHJLQQLQJ�RI� WKH� IRXUWK�quarter.

“It was crazy,” said junior Jennie Dra-]LQ��ZKR�SOD\V�IRU�WKH�JLUOV�EDVNHWEDOO�WHDP��“I could feel the excitement and nervous-ness in the room, but I think we all knew WKH�)LUHKDZNV�ZRXOG�SXOO�LW�RII�LQ�WKH�HQG�µ

6WXGHQWV� FHOHEUDWHG� DW� VFKRRO� DV� WKH�SOD\HUV� UXVKHG� WKH� FRXUW� LQ� 1HZ� <RUN��KRLVWLQJ�RQH�DQRWKHU�LQ�WKH�DLU�DQG�MXPSLQJ�XS�DQG�GRZQ�LQ�D�KXGGOH��

6HQLRU�DQG�WHDP�FDSWDLQ�-RMR�)DOODV�ZDV�

named the tournament’s Most Valuable 3OD\HU��DIWHU�VFRULQJ�D�JDPH�KLJK����SRLQWV���Fellow senior Ari Wachtenheim was awarded the First Team All-Tournament DZDUG�� DQG� VRSKRPRUH� 6LPFKD� +DOSHUW�was named a tournament all-star.

6HFRQG�KLJKHVW�VFRUHU� LQ� WKH�JDPH�ZDV�)ULVFK·V� -XGDK� &RKHQ�ZLWK� ��� SRLQWV�� IRO-ORZHG� E\� 6HWK� 6FKOXVVHO� ZLWK� ���� � 7KLUG�KLJKHVW� ZDV� 6KDOKHYHW� VHQLRU� (LWDQ� 5RWK-PDQ��ZLWK����SRLQWV�

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KDG�HYHU�DGYDQFHG�DW�6DUDFKHN�EHIRUH�ZDV�ODVW�\HDU��ZKHQ�LW�ZRQ�ÀUVW�SODFH�LQ�7LHU�,9���7KLV�WLPH��WKH\�PDGH�LW�WR�WKH�WRS�RI�WKH����2UWKRGR[�VFKRROV�WKDW�FRPSHWHG�²�7LHU���²�and then won it.

´1RZ�ZH�DUH�RQ�WKH�PDS�µ�VDLG�-XGDLF�6WXGLHV� 'LUHFWRU� 5HE� 1RDP� :HLVVPDQ��ZKR�ZDV�DVVLVWDQW�EDVNHWEDOO�FRDFK�LQ����������´(YHU\�\HDU�WKH\�LPSURYHG��1RZ�WKH\�DUH�LQ�ÀUVW�SODFH�����,W·V�EHDXWLIXO�WR�VHH�µ��

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Continued om Page 4

PHOTO: GOLDIE FIELDS

2SPECIAL EDITION MARCH 2013 THE BOILING POINT

BY JONAH GILL, STAFF WRITER

Shalhevet’s 2012 – 2013 Boys Varsity Basketball team made it farther in the CIF playoffs then any other sports team in school history, reaching the Southern Section Division 5A championship game. The road to that game was not a short journey.

Strengthened physically and mentally by an in-tensive, year-long game and practice schedule, the Firehawks stormed through the regular season with a win-loss record of 20 and 1. This included victories over cross-town rival YULA Jan. 2, as well as Milken on Feb. 9 – both larger schools who compete in dif-ferent divisions.

“I knew this would be a special season,” said team FR�FDSWDLQ�$UL�:DFKWHQKHLP��UHÁHFWLQJ�RQ�WKH�\HDU·V�overall record. “We dedicated some long nights for this season and it paid off.”

$IWHU� ZLQQLQJ� WKHLU� ÀUVW� ÀYH� FRQWHVWV�� WKH� )LUH-hawks suffered a single early-season loss to the Di-vision 4 Renaissance Academy Wildcats of La Can-DGD�� WKHQ�ÀQLVKHG�WKH�UHJXODU�VHDVRQ�RQ�D�G\QDPLF�15-game winning streak. Players gave much of the credit to their second-year coach, Collin Jamerson.

“Collin did a really good job this year, just getting us prepared and on the same page,” said co-captain -RMR�)DOODV���´,W�ZDV�UHDOO\�IXOÀOOLQJ��DIWHU�DOO�WKH�KDUG�work you put in -- I just felt like this year’s team was really special, because we focused on what we want-ed to accomplish, and everything we did was about accomplishing that goal.”

When the division playoffs began, the Firehawks also faced the largest expectations in school history – and their toughest challenge.

Shalhevet competes in the CIF Southern Section, a massive association of over 570 schools that includes all public and private schools in Los Angeles, Or-ange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura and four RWKHU� FRXQWLHV�� H[FHSW� IRU� WKH� /RV�$QJHOHV� 8QLÀHG�School District. If it were a state itself, the Southern Section would be 10th largest in the U.S.

Within Southern Section, Shalhevet competes in Division 5A, which has 45 member schools, with an average of 200 students in grades 9 – 12. Shalhevet’s enrollment this year is 162.

The Firehawks entered the playoffs as the No. 2 overall seed, and as coach Collin Jamerson said, ´ZLWK�D�WDUJHW�RQ�RXU�EDFNV�µ��7KHLU�ÀUVW�URXQG�JDPH�

was against the Bloomington Christian Ravens. Although the Ravens came out with some inten-

sity and kept the game close early, in the end Shalhevet’s talent proved too much for them to handle, and Shalhevet pulled away in the second half, winning 61 – 44.

Shalhevet’s next game came against AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union) Pasadena. Once again, Shalhevet’s speed and shooting ability ran the other team out of the gym, with Shalhevet blowing out AGBU by 40 points.

7KH� WHDP·V� ÀUVW� UHDO� WHVW� LQ� WKH� SOD\RIIV�came against the Valley Torah Wolfpack in the third round Feb. 20, the week before Purim. Although they had already defeated Valley Torah earlier in the season, this game went down to the wire.

3HUKDSV� RYHUFRQÀGHQW� IURP� WKHLU� HDUOLHU�YLFWRU\��6KDOKHYHW�FDPH�RXW�ÁDW�RQ�ERWK�VLGHV�of the ball, while the Wolfpack jumped out to an early lead highlighted by senior Nathaniel Liberman’s dunk. But led by Jojo, the Firehawks fought back and were able to go up E\�WZR�SRLQWV�DW�WKH�HQG�RI�WKH�ÀUVW�TXDUWHU�

From then on, this game was a nail-biter. )RU�WKH�QH[W�WKUHH�TXDUWHUV��QHLWKHU�WHDP�ZDV�DEOH�WR�get a big lead. Although neither team played their best games, whenever Shalhevet needed a big shot, Jojo knocked it down, and Nathaniel Liberman did the same for Valley Torah.

:LWK����VHFRQGV�WR�JR� LQ�WKH�IRXUWK�TXDUWHU�� WKLV�game turned into a classic. Down by 1, Shalhevet did what it has all year -- handed the ball to Jojo -- and he delivered, knocking down a huge 3-pointer to put Shalhevet up by two.

Then, Valley Torah needed to score to at least force overtime. Instead, amid cheers of from the Shalhevet fans, the Firehawk defense forced a turnover. At this point, everyone in the gym was sure Shalhevet had won the game. But the drama was just getting started.

)LUHKDZN�VRSKRPRUH�$GDP�.DXÁHU��LQERXQGLQJ�the ball under his own basket, made what may have been the mistake of the season had Shalhevet lost this game. Attempting to throw a pass to a cutting Simcha Halpert, he threw it late, and Liberman snagged the ball.

Amid gasps from the crowd, Liberman then raced to the corner to heave up a 3-pointer that would win the game. It air-balled, but a Valley Torah player got WKH�UHERXQG���7KH�ÀUVW�DWWHPSWHG�SXW�EDFN�E\�97�IHOO�

EPIC PLAYOFF RUN CAPPED A SEASON OF VICTORIES

BY ERIC BAZAK, STAFF WRITER

The Firehawk varsity basketball team ex-ited the Anaheim Convention Center Feb. 28 with gloomy faces, after being defeated 50-36 by Rolling Hills Prep in the CIF Division 5A Championship game with two busloads of Shalhevet students watching.

The game had been relatively close for three TXDUWHUV��DQG�6KDOKHYHW�ZDV�OHDGLQJ�ODWH�LQ�WKH�WKLUG�� %XW� LQ� WKH� ÀQDO� TXDUWHU�� 5ROOLQJ� +LOOV·�Huskies contained the Firehawks to a mere two points, with a stunning 12-0 run to seal the game and take home the trophy – in the pro-cess, snapping Shalhevet’s 19-game winning streak.

In the locker room afterwards, Athletics Di-rector Eli Schiff tried to cheer up the teary-eyed players and motivate them for their upcoming Sarachek tournament.

“One hard game doesn’t take away what we accomplished this whole season,” Mr. Schiff said. “There is a lot of excitement ahead, so try not to be too disappointed.”

But it was a bitter loss for the Firehawks, ZKRVH�IDQV�KDG�EHHQ�ÀOOHG�ZLWK�H[FLWHPHQW�EH-IRUH�WKH�JDPH���,W�ZDV�WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH�6KDOKHYHW�HYHU� UHDFKHG� WKH�&,)� GLYLVLRQ� ÀQDOV�� 7KH� ODVW�time they’d come close was in 2005, when they ORVW�LQ�WKH�VHPL�ÀQDO�PDWFK�XS���

The administration was no less excited than the students, cancelling half a day’s worth of classes, and ordering Firehawk-red towels and shirts to hand out to the whole school to wear during the game. But the day’s problems start-

ed early, when the buses left half an hour late and most students missed the beginning of the game.

More seriously, starters Jojo Fallas and Ariel 6RNRO� ZHUH� VLFN� ZLWK� ÁX�OLNH� V\PSWRPV�� 'H-spite being ill, they played for the majority of the game, with Jojo leading Shalhevet with 20 SRLQWV�LQ�KLV�ÀQDO�&,)�DSSHDUDQFH�

More than 100 students and almost half the faculty made the trip. The crowd was very into the game, loudly rooting for the Firehawks un-WLO�EHLQJ�FUXVKHG�LQ�WKH�ÀQDO�PLQXWHV��

The Firehawks were down early on, only scoring four points LQ� WKH� ÀUVW� TXDUWHU��They managed to cut WKH� GHÀFLW� WR� WKUHH� DW�halftime, making the score 23-20 after 16 minutes of play.

In the locker room during half time, Coach Collin encour-aged them to play their best basketball. When asked about his strategies for the sec-ond half, Collin had a lot of tactics.

“We have to attack the zone on offense,” he said. “Play more 2-3 zone defensively, and start running to get some fast breaks.”

Rolling Hills Prep had a few strategies going into the second half as well. Their assistant coach, Courtney Beach, said defense would be key to winning the game.

“We need to make sure to stay disciplined and keep playing hard,” Coach Beach said. ´:H�VKRXOG�EH�ÀQH�LI�ZH�GR�WKDW�µ

The Firehawks were looking strong to start the second half, with senior Eitan Rothman RSHQLQJ� WKH� TXDUWHU� ZLWK� D� IRXU�IRRW� VKRW� WR�WULP�WKH�GHÀFLW�WR�MXVW�RQH�SRLQW�

They would eventually capture the lead late LQ�WKH�WKLUG�TXDUWHU���-RMR�QDLOHG�D�WKUHH�SRLQW

LOCKER ROOM: After the game, faces told the story of their loss.

BP PHOTO BY NOAH ROTHMAN

GUARD: Ari Wachtenheim tries to stop RHP from scoring.

CIF Final: A rare dark moment as Firehawks fall to RHP Huskies

BP PHOTO BY GOLDIE FIELDS

Firehawks No. 1 in two polls

GUIDANCE: Coach Collin sketched advice for the team.

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Jewish teams by the numbers

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ERICA.COM

BY COLLEEN BAZAK, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

7KH� )LUHKDZN� 9DUVLW\� EDVNHWEDOO� WHDP� ÀQ-LVKHG� WKH� VHDVRQ� WLHG� IRU� ÀUVW� SODFH� LQ� -HZLVK�Hoops America’s National Top 25 Jewish high school survey.

Eighty Jewish high schools, most not Ortho-dox and many much larger than Shalhevet, are followed and ranked weekly by the site, which has 12 basketball experts from around the coun-try vote give up to 25 points to each school.

:LWK�����SRLQWV��6KDOKHYHW�ZDV�WLHG�IRU�ÀUVW�with Chicagoland Jewish High School of Deer-ÀHOG��,OOLQRLV�

Meanwhile, the Firehawks were automati-cally ranked No. 1 among 20 Orthodox high schools by winning the Sarachek contest in New York March 11. Chicagoland, a school with 165 students (Shalhevet has 162), did not compete at Sarachek.

Panelists for JHA come from all over the country, and according to the group’s web-site, range from former college basketball players to dedicated basketball fans. No YRWHU�FDQ�EH�DIÀOLDWHG�ZLWK�D�VFKRRO�

They ranked the teams every Monday of the season, with Shalhevet and Chicago-ODQG�DOZD\V�WUDGLQJ�ÀUVW�DQG�VHFRQG�VSRW��

Shalhevet and Chicagoland were the only teams who were undefeated against other Jewish Hoops America teams. Chi-cagoland beat nine other JHA teams, and Shalhevet defeated seven.

Of the Top 25 teams, 13 competed at the Sar-achek tournament.

“A lot of this is luck,” said senior Eitan Roth-man, who at 6’9” is the team’s center. “There are big schools with really bad teams and small schools that have good teams because they have the personnel needed.

“On the other hand,” he added, ”we’ve been playing together for a while, we know the system, have a good coach, a starting player [Jojo Fallas] who’s playing D-1 next year, me who’s tall, and a great point guard. We put the pieces together.”

Judaic Studies Director Reb Noam Weiss-man said the improvement had been gradual.

“They were talented in playing well togeth-er,” Reb Noam said. “It’s not something that happens over night.“

10 0DJHQ�'DYLG�%URRNO\Q�1< 20-5 198

3SPECIAL EDITIONMARCH 2013 THE BOILING POINT

sity and kept the game close early, in the end Shalhevet’s talent proved too much for them to handle, and Shalhevet pulled away in the second half, winning 61 – 44.

Shalhevet’s next game came against AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union) Pasadena. Once again, Shalhevet’s speed and shooting ability ran the other team out of the gym, with Shalhevet blowing out

7KH� WHDP·V� ÀUVW� UHDO� WHVW� LQ� WKH� SOD\RIIV�came against the Valley Torah Wolfpack in the third round Feb. 20, the week before Pu-rim. Although they had already defeated Valley Torah earlier in the season, this game

3HUKDSV� RYHUFRQÀGHQW� IURP� WKHLU� HDUOLHU�YLFWRU\��6KDOKHYHW�FDPH�RXW�ÁDW�RQ�ERWK�VLGHV�of the ball, while the Wolfpack jumped out to an early lead highlighted by senior Nathaniel Liberman’s dunk. But led by Jojo, the Fire-hawks fought back and were able to go up E\�WZR�SRLQWV�DW�WKH�HQG�RI�WKH�ÀUVW�TXDUWHU�

From then on, this game was a nail-biter. )RU�WKH�QH[W�WKUHH�TXDUWHUV��QHLWKHU�WHDP�ZDV�DEOH�WR�get a big lead. Although neither team played their best games, whenever Shalhevet needed a big shot, Jojo knocked it down, and Nathaniel Liberman did the same for Valley Torah.

:LWK����VHFRQGV�WR�JR� LQ�WKH�IRXUWK�TXDUWHU�� WKLV�game turned into a classic. Down by 1, Shalhevet did what it has all year -- handed the ball to Jojo -- and he delivered, knocking down a huge 3-pointer to put

Then, Valley Torah needed to score to at least force overtime. Instead, amid cheers of Mi shenichnas Adar from the Shalhevet fans, the Firehawk defense forced a turnover. At this point, everyone in the gym was sure Shalhevet had won the game. But the drama

)LUHKDZN�VRSKRPRUH�$GDP�.DXÁHU��LQERXQGLQJ�the ball under his own basket, made what may have been the mistake of the season had Shalhevet lost this game. Attempting to throw a pass to a cutting Sim-cha Halpert, he threw it late, and Liberman snagged

Amid gasps from the crowd, Liberman then raced to the corner to heave up a 3-pointer that would win the game. It air-balled, but a Valley Torah player got WKH�UHERXQG���7KH�ÀUVW�DWWHPSWHG�SXW�EDFN�E\�97�IHOO�

out, but as time expired, a last second layup rolled in, forcing overtime.

As the Shalhevet crowd sat stunned, the Valley Torah fans went into a frenzy. Any sports fan would expect the Valley Torah team with all of the momen-tum to have come out and dominated in overtime.

Instead, Shalhevet came out, and thanks to stingy defense and good shooting, shut out the Wolfpack in overtime, wining the game by a score of 70 – 63 DQG�ERRNLQJ�WKHLU�WULS�WR�WKH�&,)�6HFWLRQ�6HPLÀQDOV�against San Gabriel Prep.

It was Purim night when the Firehawks took on WKH�6DQ�*DEULHO�(DJOHV� LQ�D�&,)�6HPLÀQDO�*DPH�RQ�)HE�������$IWHU�D�TXLFN�0HJLOD�UHDGLQJ�E\�VRSKRPRUH�player Mati Hurwitz, the atmosphere was absolutely electric, with Shalhevet piling kids into a bus to go to the game.

Although the Eagles were mostly taller than the Firehawks, Shalhevet played a great game. Led again by Jojo Fallas, with 32 points. Shalhevet never trailed en route to a 70 – 58 victory. A standout player for San Gabriel was junior forward Josh Ajayi, who at one point in the game laid a tomahawk dunk on freshman Jacob Dauer.

Senior guard Ari Wachtenheim also played very well, control-ling the offense throughout the

game for the Shalhevet offense, and sophomore Simcha Halpert shot the lights out to set up a meeting in the CIF Sec-tion Championship against the No. 1-seeded Rolling Hills Prep Huskies – the only playoff game Shalhevet lost. (See story, P. 2.)

“It’s going to be tough next year, coming from doing so well this year while next year we’re los-ing so many great seniors,” said sophomore sharpshooter Simcha Halpert.

But sophomore guard Zev Marcus said not to count the Fire-hawks out.

“With Collin as our coach, we can win any tournament,” Zev said.

EPIC PLAYOFF RUN CAPPED A SEASON OF VICTORIES

Rolling Hills Prep had a few strategies go-ing into the second half as well. Their assistant coach, Courtney Beach, said defense would be key to winning the game.

“We need to make sure to stay disciplined and keep playing hard,” Coach Beach said. ´:H�VKRXOG�EH�ÀQH�LI�ZH�GR�WKDW�µ

The Firehawks were looking strong to start the second half, with senior Eitan Rothman RSHQLQJ� WKH� TXDUWHU� ZLWK� D� IRXU�IRRW� VKRW� WR�WULP�WKH�GHÀFLW�WR�MXVW�RQH�SRLQW�

They would eventually capture the lead late LQ�WKH�WKLUG�TXDUWHU���-RMR�QDLOHG�D�WKUHH�SRLQW-

er from the corner, then made two free throws on the ensu-ing possession to go up 31-30 over the Huskies.

However, the Huskies responded by sinking a three from the top of the arc at the buzzer, ending the third TXDUWHU� ZLWK� WKH�Firehawks trailing by two.

Rolling Hills pre-vailed in the fourth TXDUWHU� ZLWK� D�harrassing defense and effective transi-tion offense on the other end. Argu-

ably the key play in the game was when Rolling Hills brought WKH� OHDG� WR� ��� DIWHU� D� TXLFN� VWHDO�and a layup with under four minutes left to play. They outscored Shalhevet 14-2 in the closing eight minutes to clinch the win.

“I knew the game was over when there was about a minute remaining and the other team was just passing the ball around to waste time,” said point guard Ari Wachtenheim.

Adding to the disappointing day, due WR�WKH�EXVHV·�GHOD\��D�TXDUWHW�RI��VWXGHQWV�from Shalhevet’s choir didn’t get their chance as planned to sing the national anthem before the game began.

Originally scheduled to be per-formed by choir members Danny Sil-berstein, Liat Bainvoll, Rachel Spronz, and Benny Balasz, the Star-Spangled Banner was sung by Danny and fellow senior Leah Glouberman, who had driven down in Danny’s car instead of taking the bus.

Rachel Spronz was also a little melancholy after the incident.

“We worked so hard and it was all hyped up, but we couldn’t get to do it at the end.” Rachel said.

That might have summed up the mood of the day for everyone – and espe-cially the basketball team.

LOCKER ROOM: After the game, faces OTHMAN

Win-LossCIF Final: A rare dark moment as Firehawks fall to RHP HuskiesChad Dillard

Chad Dillard

Chad Dillard

“Flava” Winbush

“Flava” Winbush

Collin Jamerson

Collin Jamerson

Collin Jamerson

“Flava” Winbush

2-10

5-14

5-14

7-13

4-12

13-9

16-6

17-8

24-2

Coach

BP StaffEditors-in-ChiefColleen Bazak

Jacob Ellenhorn

Managing EditorEmilie Benyowitz

Chief Layout EditorRachel Spronz

Sports EditorSigal Spitzer

Photography EditorGoldie Fields

Layout EditorsSydney MillerMargo Feuer

Faculty AdvisorMrs. Joelle Keene

BLOCK: Eitan Rothman, No. 32, tried to block a Valley Torah pass. PLAN: Coach Collin Jamerson took the team through a detailed plan of the next play.

DRIBBLE: Simcha Halpert takes the ball down the court to make a clean shot.

Year

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

20012-13

Long road to that championship season

PHOTOS: YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

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Page Design by Sydney Miller

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We’ve all heard that you’ll be playing Division 1 college basketball next year for Cornell. How did that come about?

So the head of my AAU program, Rob Icarc, called me one day and left a message on my phone saying that he wanted to talk to me about playing basketball at Cor-nell. I was thrilled, and immediately called him back to ask for details. He told me nothing was certain, but Cornell needed a point guard. He asked me if I was interested, and I said of course. That got the ball rolling, and from there, I contacted coaches at Cornell and sent them game tapes.

We talked on the phone and I visited the school. I had to send them my entire application, and I loved the school—but I only wanted to go there if I could play bas-ketball. It was a whole long process, and one day they of-fered me a spot on the team.

Did any other schools recruit you? About 25 Division 3 schools recruited me. I turned

down a few, and reached out to a few, but they turned me GRZQ���,W·V�D�UHDOO\�ÀFNOH�JDPH�WKDW�WDNHV�D�ORW�RI�SDWLHQFH�DQG�OXFN�WR�ÀJXUH�RXW�WKH�ULJKW�SODFH�WR�JR��

How far do you think you’ll go in basketball? How far do you want to go?

Right now I don’t know. I want to work hard and see where it takes me. I would love to play professionally in Israel after college for a few years if I can.

What do you do for training outside of school?I work one-on-one with my trainer, Dwain Williams,

who played Div. 1 basketball in the D league at Providence.

Do you stop everything on Saturday? I still play on Saturday, but it makes things more

complicated because I keep Shabbat. I can’t drive to JDPHV�� VR� ,�KDYH� WR�ÀJXUH�RXW� WKH� VLWXDWLRQ�EHIRUH�KDQG��which requires a lot of planning. I play in tournaments

during the summer, and all of them go over the week-end, so I have to plan ahead and make sure I have a way to get to the game without breaking Shabbat.

What was it like to play the CIF game ZLWK�WKH�ÁX"

It was a little nerve-wracking because I’ve QHYHU�SOD\HG�ZLWK� WKH�ÁX�EHIRUH�� � %HIRUH� WKH� JDPH�started, I was really nervous about how it would end up, but once I was in the game, it felt like a normal game. During the game, I just forgot about being sick and did what I’m used to doing. Does your family members also play?

:K\�GLG�\RX�KDYH����SRLQWV�LQ�WKH�VHPL�ÀQDOV"I think it was because out team in general had a bad

ÀUVW�KDOI��VR�ZH�ZHUH�UHDOO\�GHSUHVVHG�LQ�WKH�ORFNHU�URRP���We were disappointed about how we played, and in the third quarter, I wanted to come out and be aggressive. I had to make sure that there was nothing that we could’ve done more that we didn’t during the game. There were lots of opportunities to score because we moved the ball—and everything started clicking.

How did you feel about losing to Rolling Hills Prep in Anaheim?

It was heartbreaking. It was a goal of ours since Co-lin came in my sophomore year, and we really felt like it was our year to do it. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t ÀQLVK� WKLV� VHDVRQ� FRPSOHWLQJ� DOO� RI� RXU� JRDOV�� EXW� LW� VWLOO�was a very special season.

What was it like being named Sarachek MVP?,W�ZDV�D�UHDOO\�IXOÀOOLQJ�ZD\�WR�HQG�P\�FDUHHU��7KHUH�

were so many people that have helped me get to where I am,

and a t that mo-ment there was no other feel-ing that I could have than appreciation for all of that.

How did you ÀUVW�JHW�LQWR�EDVNHW-ball?

I’ve been playing for as long as I can remember. My mom always tells this story about how when I was 9 months old, I used have this little ball and run up to our tiny basket and dunk it.

:KHQ� GLG� \RX� ÀUVW� UHDOL]H� WKDW� \RX� ZHUH� UHDOO\�good at it?

I’ve kind of always been good around my friends, EXW�,�WKLQN�WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH�,�NQHZ�WKDW�,�ZDV�UHDOO\�JRRG�ZDV�P\�ÀUVW�WRXUQDPHQW�LQ�/DV�9HJDV�ZLWK�P\�$$8�>$PDWHXU�Athletic Union] summer team, where I played with people throughout the country.

Segal and team chaperones Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg and Rabbi Aharon Assaraf, and Agenda Chair Daniel Schwartz.

The victory also propelled Shalhevet to D�WLH�IRU�ÀUVW�SODFH�LQ�D�FRDFKHV�SROO�UDQNLQJ�the much larger group of all Jewish high schools (see story, P. 2).

6LQFH� WKH� 7LHU� �� ÀQDO� VWDUWHG� DW� ��� D�P�/RV�$QJHOHV� WLPH�� VFKRRO� RIÀFLDOV� FUHDWHG�a special schedule for the day, with a one-and-a-half hour window extending from 11 to 12:30 p.m. for students to watch without missing class.

Technology Director Mr. Yossie Frankel XVHG� WKH� %HLW�0LGUDVK� SURMHFWRU� WR� VKRZ�the game on a large screen, instead of the VPDOO�VFUHHQ�LQ�WKH�IR\HU�SUHYLRXVO\��/XUHG�by popcorn and school spirit, more than half the school attended, including many teachers.

Yelling and screaming at the Firehawks WKURXJK� WKH�VFUHHQ�� WKH�%HLW�0LGUDVK�ZDV�focused intently on what was happening 2,500 miles away. During tense moments, ZKLVSHUV� RI� ´'HIHQVH�µ� RU� ´%R[� RXW�µ� VL-lenced the room.

After a swished three-point shot from Jojo or a visionary pass by Ari Wachten-

KHLP��VWXGHQWV�ZRXOG�FKDQW�´/HWV�JR�)LUH-hawks!” in support of their performance.

The annual Sarachek Tournament opened March 7, hosted by YU in its Max Stern Athletic Center. Twenty teams com-peted from around the U.S.

Early in the week, Shalhevet defeated Cooper Yeshiva of Memphis by 12 points DQG�1RUWK�6KRUH�+HEUHZ�$FDGHP\�RI�/DNH�Success, New York, by 3. Crosstown rival <8/$� RI� /RV�$QJHOHV� SODFHG� WKLUG� LQ� WKH�conference overall – as Shalhevet had last year – defeating North Shore in the conso-ODWLRQ�ÀQDO�

,Q� WKH� ÀQDO� JDPH� DJDLQVW� )ULVFK�� WKH�Firehawks took an early lead, 9-0 in the ÀUVW�TXDUWHU��5LJKW�EHIRUH�KDOIWLPH��-RMR�KLW�WKUHH�IRXO�VKRWV�WR�SXW�6KDOKHYHW�XS�E\�ÀYH�SRLQWV�� � %XW� WKH� )ULVFK�&RXJDUV� FDPH� RXW�strong from the locker room to outscore the Firehawks in the third quarter, 17-10.

Shalhevet’s lead lasted until the end of the third quarter when the Cougars stole the scoreboard by two points. At times, Frisch extended its lead by up to seven points, but by the mid-fourth quarter, the Firehawks were back up by nine points, staring at the championship trophy.

Then, with just under one minute to play, Shalhevet attempted to run the clock by wasting time. Defensive fouls by the Cougars resulted in 14 foul-shot points for the Firehawks, who attained a free-throw shooting percentage at a team record of 85 percent. Without it, they probably would not have won.

Interviewed by YU broadcasters on the live feed, Firehawk Coach Colin Jamerson was asked why he hadn’t called a time-out in the game’s last minutes. He replied that he likes the players to rely on themselves and each other as much as possible.

Players said that was one of their favor-ite things about their coach.

“I love playing for him,” said Jojo, “be-cause he will let you play your game and give you freedom, and at the same time instruct you to make you a better player.”

After being presented with the cham-SLRQVKLS� WURSK\� DQG� GRRU�VL]H� ÀUVW�SODFH�EDQQHU��WKH�WHDP�KHDGHG�EDFN�WR�/RV�$QJH-les that night and was welcomed to school with a breakfast party in the foyer.

Rabbi Segal said it was an important moment for the school.

“While I would prefer to think the com-munity would base their judgement of us by the happy, pasionate and knowledge-able alums we are producing or the middot of our students, I know that winning this LV��LQ�PDQ\�ZD\V��WKH�ÀQDO�VWHS�LQ�PDNLQJ�6KDOKHYHW� D�PDLQVWUHDP� RSWLRQ� LQ� WKH� /$�Orhodox community,” Rabbi Segal said. “It’s just the reality.”

4SPECIAL EDITION MARCH 2013 THE BOILING POINT

Victory at Sarachek makes Firehawks national champs

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JUMP: Pointguard Ari Wachtenheim made a jumpshot in YU’s auditorium.

STEAL: Senior Jojo Fallas stole the ball to make a basket.

PHOTO: YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

Continued from Page 1

SCORE: Eitan Rorthman and Ari Wachtrenheim defended the ball and the lead.

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PHOTO: YESHIVA UNIVERSITYPHOTO: YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

VP

After Cornell, Fallas would like to play pro in IsraelSenior defensive guard Jojo Fallas, Firehawk co-captain and Sarachek MVP, answered quesions from Features Editor Alexa Fishman.