Lions Cool the Heat: #1 CESJDS Rolls Past Hillel Pittsburgh 47–27 Into the Tier III Final

The top seed found its footing and never let go. #1 CESJDS fell behind early, then held #5 Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh to 11 points in the second half and won 47–27 in Saturday night’s Tier III Semifinal on Court 3.

Pittsburgh started fast. Caleb Knoll scored on the opening play, Ashi Itskowitz and Zach Itskowitz scored twice each, and the Heat led 10–5 after one quarter and 12–5 early in the second. Then the Lions went to work. Tani Kastan and Dylan Shank hit threes, Shank made two free throws and hit another three to tie it at 16, and CESJDS scored the last 10 points of the half. Kastan’s basket at the buzzer made it 21–16 at the break.

Shank kept going in the third. He hit a three and scored two more baskets, and the Lions led 33–23 after three. Pittsburgh scored just four points in the fourth quarter. Zach Berman hit a three, Sam Olin, Caleb Berman and Theo Pearlman scored, and Lev Kotler‘s three with five seconds left closed it out.

Shank led everyone with 18 points, including three threes. The CESJDS defense held the Heat without a three all night (0 for 14). Ashi Itskowitz led Pittsburgh with 11 points, and Zach Itskowitz, who scored 28 against Fasman on Friday, had 8.

Up next: CESJDS plays #7 MGP for the Tier III Championship on Sunday at 10:45 AM. Hillel Pittsburgh plays Rochelle Zell for third place at 9:15 AM.

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