Macs Enjoy Impressive Start

The Macs, in their first season in the Skyline conference, have rolled to an impressive 7-4 start. It’s been a very exciting season thus far, with a number of close games and an incredible level of play. The Yeshiva fans have responded to their team’s strong effort and consequently have been delighted witness an impressive 5-1 home record, with a 7-4 record overall and (6-3 conference).

The Macs started off their season at the United States Merchant Military Academy Nov. 21. The game was close, but the Marines pulled away at the end. The game was closer than the final score (72-58), but the early loss served to motivate the team, as they continued to win six out of their next seven games. Yeshiva’s home opener saw the Macs pull off a victory over a hot shooting Old Westbury. Led by co-captains Yossi Gev and David Neiss, the team also continued by blowing out Polytechnic on the road and a crowd pleaser against Mt. St. Mary’s at home. The Mt. St. Mary’s game saw the MSAC reach decibel levels not traditionally heard in Yeshiva sports. The crowd was brought to their feet with gravity defying alley-oops (for a definition of alley oop, see Palefsky, Nachum), three pointers, and a block into the year 3000 by crowd favorite Tuvy Meyer. These three games concluded Yeshiva’s inaugural week into the Skyline conference, and resulted in Gev being named the year’s first player of the week, with a 26.3 point per game average on 60 percent shooting. Congratulations Yossi.

The Macs continued their winning streak with a big victory over preseason conference favorite, Manhattanville, who took the early lead, but Palefsky, point guard Dov Weiner, and Neiss all had big games hitting the crucial shots at the end of the game. However, after the Manhattanville game, the third in just five days, the Macs found themselves coming up just a little too short, losing a non-conference heartbreaker against Baruch, 72-66 after a bruised Neiss suffered one too many injuries and was forced to sit out the second half.

But much to conference opponent SUNY Maritime’s chagrin, Neiss was able to return just two days later, providing for a game leading 21 points as the Macs gave the home crowd a very special Chanukah gift. Continuing the generous spirit, Yeshiva just kept on giving, proceeding to hand out a 104-78 blowout over SUNY Purchase a few days later.

The last few games of the semester were somewhat more disappointing as the Macs finished losing two out of their last three games. The team lost an away game to Old Westbury and beat Mt. St. Vincent, historically a fierce rival, at home. Unfortunately tough scheduling once again played a role, as Yeshiva played four games in just seven days. As a result, the team fell apart in the second half against St. Joe’s in the fourth game, blowing a hard earned thirteen point second half lead.

The team looks forward to the second half of the season and has high hopes to finish competing for the conference title. They will be traveling to Los Angeles over the upcoming break to showcase their talents to the West Coast Jewish community and to bask in both the warmth of sunny California, as well as in the enjoyment of their own accomplishments. We look forward to watching the Macs continue their quest for the title, resuming January 17th away, and returning home to the MSAC to avenge themselves against the Merchant Marines February 3rd.