Last Wednesday, the MTA Lions traveled to Livingston to take on the Kushner Cobras. The Lions entered the contest still searching for their first victory, while the Cobras were celebrating their senior night at home. After a close first 16 minutes, MTA went on a huge second half run to seemingly put the contest away, but Kushner fought back and made it a game again late. However, the Lions were able to hold off the Cobras, 55-40, and capture their first W of the season.
The first period started out slowly for both teams, but MTA was able to assert itself through the playmaking of senior PG Koby Wolk. Wolk not only was able to make his mark by scoring, but also by facilitating for his teammates. The Lions jumped out to a 7-point lead to close the quarter. In the second period, however, the Cobras were able to string together several stops, and slowly chip into MTA’s lead. The Lions went into the locker rooms up 19-17.
MTA came out with a newfound fire to start the second half. Dominant team defense, nine points in the third quarter from senior guard Doniel Baron, and both seven points and numerous rebounds in the period by junior center Josh Treuhaft, enabled the Lions to stretch their lead to 40-25.
Entering the fourth, the Lions could smell their first victory, and they would continue their commanding run, extending their lead all the way to 25. However, Kushner would not give up. As the period neared its halfway mark, the Cobras embarked on a huge run of their own, cutting the deficit to single digits. Searching for answers out of a timeout, senior guard Mikey Elishaev took matters into his own hands, and proceeded to hit back-to-back threes to put the game on ice. The Lions would go on to win by a final score of 55-40.
Baron scored a team-high 14 points. Treuhaft had a major impact in the paint, and notched 13 points and 12 boards. Wolk demonstrated his intelligent passing abilities all game, and finished with a phenomenal 12 assists. MTA will look to make it two in a row next Sunday against Heschel, while Kushner will try to bounce back against TABC on Tuesday.
Stat Credit: Elisha Cohen (MTA '24)