Lions Weather the Storm: Ganjian’s 26 Carries #2 NSHA Past #3 Katz 59–48

The Storm hit first, but the Lions finished it. #2 North Shore Hebrew Academy fell behind by 12 in the first quarter, then closed the game on a 16–2 run to beat #3 Katz Yeshiva, 59–48, in Saturday night’s Tier II Semifinal on Court 2. NSHA is headed to the Tier II Championship.

Katz came out hot. Liad Cohen hit a three and made three free throws, Nir Ovaknin scored three baskets, and Ethan Stern‘s three at the buzzer made it 22–10 after one quarter. The Lions chipped away in the second. Rafi Ganjian hit two threes and Justin Levian beat the halftime buzzer with another, and Katz led 31–26 at the break.

The second half was a battle. Aaron Rahmani hit two threes in the third quarter, and the game was tied at 33 and again at 38. Katz led 46–43 with six minutes left after Dean Wasserman‘s basket. Then Ganjian hit a three to tie it, Asher Nassim hit another to give NSHA the lead, and the Lions never trailed again. Ganjian scored inside, Levian added a basket, and Ganjian made four free throws in the final minute.

Ganjian led everyone with 26 points, including three threes and 7 free throws. Nassim added 14 and Levian 11. Cohen led Katz with 18 points, and Stern and Ovaknin had 9 each.

Up next: NSHA plays for the Tier II Championship on Sunday at 12:00 PM against the winner of tonight’s Heichal vs. JEC semifinal. Katz plays for third place at 9:30 AM.

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