Junior Jake Yanofsky was one of three double-digit scorers for Tenafly, which picked up its third straight win, 62-46, over NV/Old Tappan on Tuesday night.
TENAFLY – In the first quarter it was like basketball before analytics. Tenafly started two big guys, was throwing bounced entry passes into the post and if that did not lead to a shot from inside the paint the Tigers would kick it out and try it again. They were also down by two points after the first quarter of Tuesday night’s Big North National Division opener against Northern Valley/Old Tappan.
There were notably fewer drop steps and a whole lot more tear drops as Tenafly switched to a four-guard, five-out at times approach and it was especially effective in the second half of a 62-46 victory, Tenafly’s third straight after a 1-2 start to the season.
“There were three or four minutes in the second quarter when we did really well [with the four-guard arrangement] and that is something that our assistant John Cornet always talks about and the rest of us all agree, that when something is working, don’t change it,” said Tenafly head coach Jeff Koehler. “If things are going to well, we aren’t changing it. I am the worst at this because I just figure that they are 15, 16 and 17 year old kids and that they don’t get tired. They do, but with the timeouts in this game I thought they had even rest and we kept them out there.”
The fourth guard in was freshman Adin Goldschneider and in there were no subs in the second half until he cramped up late in the fourth quarter having scored a game-high 21 points, a career high that is not going to hold up too long.
Old Tappan had just taken its largest lead of the game, 20-13 with 2:20 left in the second quarter, after Evan Brooks finished a fastbreak, Nick Lewin made a 3-pointer and then Goldschneider added four points in 10 seconds for a 7-0 run that reeled the Golden Knights right back in.
Isaac Shrager knocking down one of his four 3-pointers on the way to a team-high 19 points for Old Tappan.
Lewin made a 3 just before the halftime buzzer to give Tenafly a 24-23 lead, Old Tappan took its last lead when Brooks put back a missed shot for the first points of the third quarter and there was one second half tie at 28-all after Isaac Shrager knocked down one of his four 3-pointers on the way to a team-high 19 points for Old Tappan.
Goldschneider then hit a short jumper to put Tenafly back in front for good with 4:31 to go in the third quarter.
“I started to feel like our team was coming together. Jake [Yanofsky] was making shots, Nick [Lewin], Yuval [Guttman], Dan [Regev], everybody had confidence and we went on a run,” said Goldschneider, whose twin brother Jonas is also in the program. “This is what I was hoping for. I know I have to work for everything I get, playing time, shots, so that is what I have been doing; just trying to work hard and fit in with the team.”
Goldschneider’s baby jumper kicked off a 12-2 run that put the Tigers in front by double digits for the first time at 40-30 with 1:47 left in the third. Yanofsky finished off that charge with a 3-pointer from the wing and Goldschneider’s baseline drive gave the Tigers a 12-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
“We went four guards and Coach Koehler says that if its working that is what we are keeping. That is what happened tonight. Everyone on the team is capable of winning a game for us, but tonight four guards is what was working and that is what we kept,” said Yanofsky, a junior. “We are on a three-game win streak now and we needed it. It’s big for us. Now we have a lot of confidence, a lot of energy and that is what this team thrives off of.”
Old Tappan is off to a rough start against what has been one of the toughest schedules played by a public school through the first two-plus weeks of the season. The Knights are 2-6 with losses against the likes of parochial power St. Joseph Regional, reigning Group 3 state champion Ramapo and perennial contenders Ridgewood and Wayne Valley.
Nick Lewin knocked down two 3s for Tenafly, which imrpoved to 4-2.
The Knights have some firepower with Shrager and his sweet left-handed shooting stroke, and Brooks (13 points) a Division 1 football player and tremendous all-around athlete. Juniors Nick Holloway (7 points and Dylan Drullinski combined for 9 points against Tenafly and David Brennan, a promising freshman and a starter, rounded out the scoring with 5 points.
Tenafly, which is playing without senior captain Reilly Benowitz die to a broken wrist, put up 38 points after halftime and shared the ball in the process. Goldschneider scored 13 of his high 21 in the second half and made three 3-pointers and he was joined in double digits by Yanofsky (15 points, 12 in the second half) and Regev, who was the Tigers’ lone post presence for the final 20 minutes or so, added 10.
Lewin (8 points) made two second quarter 3s as Tenafly found its rhythm and senior Yuval Guttman (6 points) provided a steady hand at the point and also made all 4 of his fourth quarter free throws. Zack Shammash also made a field goal for Tenafly, which is now 4-2 on the season.
“I love this team, I really do. They are good guys, they don’t mind if I push them and they seem to like each other, too, and that is a big thing,” said Koehler. “When you have Aidin coming in as a freshman and they just take him in and make him one of their brothers, that’s when you know the chemistry is there and we will see how far we can take it.”
FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT CLICK HERE. TO BUY A COLLECTOR'S PRINT OF THIS STORY PLEASE VISIT 4-FeetGrafix.com.
