April 6, 2012 | 5:20 am

Jewish HS Wrap-up 2011/12

Posted by Jeremy Fine

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The YULA Panthers finish the 2011-2012 season as the #1 team in the Jewish Hoops America National Top 25.

Dave Winik’s squad, led by seniors Jack Gindi, Yisroel Solomon, Matt Reich and Gavriel Stark, defeated SAR, 45-35, Monday in the final of the Sarachek Tournament, avenging an overtime loss to the Sting last month and a loss in last year’s Sarachek final.

Frisch had spent one week in the top spot after its victory over previous #1 SAR in the Yeshiva League championship game. Both YULA (27-7) and SAR (29-5) overtook Frisch at the top of the poll after the Cougars (24-7) fell to Shalhevet in the Sarachek quarterfinals and to North Shore in the 5th Place game.

YULA’s season included a 10-1 record against other Jewish high schools and titles at all four tournaments they played in: the Cooper Invitational in Memphis, where they beat MTA in the semifinals and Ida Crown in the final; the Milken Classic, the Hillcrest Christian Holiday Tournament and Sarachek.

The Panthers held the top spot in the rankings for most of the season until their loss to SAR in Los Angeles last month. MTA’s 3rd place finish at Sarachek gave the Lions the #4 ranking in the poll. Shalhevet, which lost to YULA in overtime in the semifinals,  jumped three spots to #7.

Jewish Hoops America tracks 80 boys high school teams around the United States and Canada and the rankings are determined by a panel of voters across North America. 

Previous #1 Ranked Teams

2011 - Flatbush Falcons
2010 - Tarbut vTorah Lions
2009 - HANC Hurricanes
2008 - Ida Crown Aces
2007 - YULA Panthers

1.YULA/Los Angeles,CA (11)............27-7

2.SAR/Bronx,NY. ..............................29-5

3.Frisch/Paramus,NJ….........................24-7

4.MTA/New York,NY….....................21-7

5.North Shore HA/Great Neck,NY…...23-8

6.Magen David/Brooklyn,NY…............17-7

7.Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA…..............18-11

8.DRS/Lawrence,NY….........................17-7

9.Ida Crown/Chicago,IL….....................17-13

10.Ramaz/New York,NY…...................21-6

11.Beren Academy/Houston,TX….........28-9

12.Milken/Los Angeles,CA….................16-8

13.Yavneh Academy/Dallas,TX…..........25-11

14.Cooper Yeshiva/Memphis,TN…........27-5

15.JEC/Elizabeth,NJ…...........................16-9

16.New Community Jewish/LA ,CA…....17-11

17.Weinbaum Yeshiva/Boca,FL…...........14-10

18.Fasman Yeshiva/Skokie,IL…..............14-11

19.HAFTR/Cedarhurst,NY…..................11-12

20.Chicagoland Jewish/Chicago,IL….......11-15

21.Donna Klein JA/Boca ,FL*................15-4

22.Denver JDS/Denver,CO….................15-7

23.San Diego JA/San Diego,CA…..........14-11

24.Hillel/Deal,NJ….................................9-11

25.Shaare Torah/Brooklyn,NY…...........10-13

Others receiving votes: TABC, 11; Herzliah, 10; Jewish Day School-MD, 7;  Maimonides, 5; Valley Torah, 5; Beth Tfiloh, 3; Or Chaim Toronto, 3;  Hyman Brand HA-Kansas, 2; JCHS-San Francisco, 2.