Storm Report: Basketball and Hockey

As the first quarter of the Spring Semester has come to a close, let’s look back at TABC’s most exciting sports moments and where each team stands. Here is a recap of the respective seasons of the JV and Varsity basketball teams as well as that of the JV and Varsity Hockey team.

Basketball

Coming into the season many had high hopes for the Varsity Basketball team as TABC was fresh off of its first finals appearance. Early on in the season, it looked as if the basketball team would live up to the hype as the Storm snatched several decisive victories Yet, as the season went on, the team started to struggle and three straight losses in December (two at the hands of Frisch and one from Hanc) caused the team dropped to a subpar 5-in-6 record.

Talk quickly changed from championship hopes to potential playoff elimination as nothing seemed to click for the Storm basketball squad. However, when the going got tough the tough certainly got going and the team responded with three crucial victories- against MTA, Heschel, and Ramaz, respectively- to end of the season and secure the third seed in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the winning streak ended there and on February 15, without captain Eli Harcsztark, the varsity basketball team lost to the Waterbury Wolfpack. Although the game was tight for much of its duration, the Wolfpack’s three point shooting was too much for the Storm as TABC lost by six points in their only playoff game.

Despite the early playoff exit, TABC’s varsity squad was still able to accomplish a lot over the season and the Juniors of the team have already started looking to next year.

As Alex Ostrin, star forward of the basketball team, put it, “While I was really disappointed with the playoff loss this year, I can’t wait to get right back into it next year”

Despite a tough season, there is plenty of good basketball to come in the upcoming season.

HOCKEY

The TABC varsity hockey team featured another talented TABC team that had the potential to contend for the championship.

Furthermore, the Storm had just signed star defenseman Netanel Kramer to a one year, 15 million dollar deal and as ET Dubin, a junior defenseman on the team, said, “Kramer helped provide a much needed spark on the defensive end”.

The season started off strong for the hockey team as they jumped out an early record of 5-0. However, on December 7, the Storm hit a major roadblock when they were manhandled by the Sar Sting in the weather center in a lopsided 6-to-nothing loss. Fortunately, the Storm were unfazed and finished the season without losing another game; this translated into a 13-and-1 record as well as the number one seed in the conference.

In the playoffs, the TABC hockey team enjoyed a first round bye before defeating the Rambam Ravens in a decisive 3-to-nothing victory. Unfortunately, that would be the last win of the season for the Storm as they were shut out against the Frisch Cougars in a two-to-nothing loss.

Although the season ended in a disappointing manner, the hockey team, like the basketball team still took away plenty from the season.

As Netanel Kramer put it, “The comrodarity on the team was unparalleled to anything I have ever been a part of. Even though I was only on the team for one year, it felt like I had been here forever.”

Even though the season did not end in ideal fashion, the Storm hockey team still accomplished plenty and formed a brotherhood that will last for life.