Macs slay Knights! Cooper Macs Squeak by Y-G-Dubs

In front of their home crowd, the Cooper Yeshiva High School Macs delivered one of the most thrilling nail biters of the tournament, edging out the Yeshiva of Greater Washington Knights 67–65 in a Tier III showdown that had fans on their feet until the final buzzer.

The Macs found themselves in trouble early, falling behind as YGW’s Akiva Ravin erupted for 18 points in a dominant first half. His quick drives and tough finishes at the rim had the Knights in control, while teammates T. Jacobson (14 points) and D. Tyberg (7 points) added key buckets to build a steady lead.

But Cooper refused to fold. The second half marked a dramatic shift in momentum as Jack Kampf took over offensively, pouring in a game-high 26 points. His clutch shooting and ability to create under pressure ignited the Macs’ comeback, bringing the home crowd roaring back into the game.

Supporting Kampf’s heroics was Eli Weisfogel, who added 16 points with several timely jumpers, and Ben Freiden, who chipped in 13 while setting the tone with his energy and composure. Jonah Siegel contributed 8 points and helped keep the offense steady through the Knights’ aggressive defensive sets.

Perhaps the unsung hero of the night, though, was Gavi Lichter. His relentless defense — including multiple key stops in the closing minutes — was instrumental in shutting down YGW’s late push. Lichter’s hustle on both ends helped seal the narrow victory as Cooper clamped down in the final seconds.

As the buzzer sounded, the Macs’ bench erupted, celebrating a win that was equal parts grit, heart, and resilience. After trailing early, Cooper’s ability to regroup and execute down the stretch proved the difference — and earned them a well-deserved spot in the next round of the Tier III bracket.

For the hometown fans, it was pure basketball magic — a reminder that in March Madness-style tournaments, it’s not how you start, but how you finish.

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