Unbelievable Aces Win

With two straight wins and three victories in their last four games, the boys varsity basketball team is heating up at the right time of year.

Entering this week the Aces were coming off of a tough stretch of four games in five days, having beaten CICS-Ellison 38-32 on the road last Tuesday and falling at Holy Trinity 62-59, despite coming back from 22 down.

On Sunday the Aces defeated Yeshiva at Fairview (where the Aces remain undefeated, by the way). The team led by 11 at half and by as many as 17 in the third. Yeshiva clawed their way back in the fourth quarter, but the Aces proved too strong and sealed the game in the final minute to win by 6. ICJA was led by senior Ethan Frank with 13 points. Senior Isaac Gordon added 11, and junior Daniel Otani added 10.

On Wednesday, the Aces headed to St. Benedict. With memories of last year’s dramatic last-minute win still fresh, this year’s game proved equally exciting. St. Benedict jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, and the Aces stormed back with their press to take the lead before halftime. St. Ben’s again charged out of the gate after half and the Aces found themselves down by 8 midway through the fourth quarter. But junior Josh Goldrich hit two big three’s, and suddenly it was a one-point game with 13 seconds to go. It seemed the Aces would fall just short after they failed to score after getting a turnover and fouled St. Ben’s with 3.5 seconds to go and no timeouts. But after a St. Ben’s FT made it a 2-point game, junior Daniel Otani took the inbounds pass, raced to half court, and fired a half court shot that rattled through the rim for the win.

The Aces will look to build on their momentum this coming Saturday night when they head up to Deerfield to take on their old rival with a new name, Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. Then senior night on Monday night will feature a rematch vs. CICS-Ellison. The team is hoping for large crowds at both games – so come early, wear blue, and bring your Aces spirit!