Every Tuesday morning at 7:20 ET Nachum Segal will present Elliot Weiselberg on JM in the AM to deliver the Yeshiva League Sports (YLS) Update. Tune in for the latest Yeshiva League Spring Sports information, as well as, the occasional update on other sports happenings in the Jewish world. The transcription for this morning’s update is below.

We at the JM in the AM Sports Update would like to wish all of our loyal listeners a very happy 2019. However, before we leap into the new secular year, we have some last bits of unfinished 2018 business to wrap up. Straight ahead on the Tuesday Morning JM in the AM Sports Update, Boys JV hockey sees two teams combine to play 4 of 5 games on the week, turn-about is fair play in Boys Varsity Hockey, more upsets in Boys Varsity Basketball and YDE continues a yearly tradition in Boys JV Basketball. All that and more, happy January folks, I’m Elliot Weiselberg.

For the last two years, the JV Basketball playoffs have generally ended the way that most people believed it would, with the two best teams meeting to determine the champion. For the most part, any drama that has occurred has done so in the early rounds and, more specifically, has involved the DRS Wildcats and the YDE Thunder. In each of the last 2 postseasons, DRS has entered as the East 3 seed, and YDE has entered as the East 6 seed, and in each of the last 2 postseasons, the underdog Thunder have gone into the Greenhouse, and pulled off the upset. It may not be the playoffs, yet, but this past week, YDE showed that they may still have some first-round fire, knocking off DRS, 55-45. The win drops DRS to 6-3, and into 4th place, with HAFTR’s thrilling last second three point buzzer beater, 52-50 overtime win over Shaare Torah, while for YDE, it improves their record to 3-5, and keeps their slim postseason hopes alive. Out West, JEC took 2 on the week, over Kushner and Maor, to give them a 2-game cushion over Heschel in the race for the last playoff spot, but Heschel has winnable games in-hand, and will look to make use of them over the next month.

Yeshiva League historians will tell you that the 2018-2019 season has exhibited an unprecedented level of competitiveness in Varsity Basketball. With at least 75% of the season completed, 16 of the 20 teams find themselves within 3 games of the top seed, and 1 game of a playoff berth, and in a twist that has not been seen in recent memory, neither champion in either division will finish the season with less than 3 losses. If Wednesday and Thursday night are any indicator, that number is in danger of climbing. This past Wednesday, the DRS Wildcats took a 35-9 lead over the Magen David Warriors, and almost watched it all slip away, needing overtime to overcome the defending champions, 77-71. The very next night, the same situation almost played itself in reverse, as the Rambam Ravens came within inches of burying the Wildcats, before DRS pulled out a 69-67 win in double overtime. The win bumps DRS back toward the top of the standings board, a win ahead and a loss behind Magen David, and a meeting between the two on the other side of Winter Break. Behind them is a massive group of 5 teams, brought closer together by a Flatbush 56-39 blowout of HAFTR. Out West, a 4-way tie in first place as Heschel, SAR, TABC and Frisch all sit at 7-3 by virtue of Frisch’s 54-46 win over Hillel. Behind them, 5 teams battle for 2 spots as we head down the home-stretch to the postseason.

Varsity Hockey’s postseason picture comes into focus, after a week of 8 contests, none more important than the rematch between HANC and Magen David. Two weeks after HANC upended the Warriors 6-4, Magen David gained revenge, downing the Hurricanes, 6-3, on Long Island. The win caps off Magen David’s season at 5-9, two points ahead of HANC. The Hurricanes, however, have two games left against Kushner and North Shore, and only need a win against one of them to leap over the Warriors, and into the 5th and final East postseason slot.

Finally, in JV Hockey, only five games on the week, four of them involving either DRS or Rambam. After dispatching of Magen David, the Wildcats completed a season sweep of the Ravens downing them, 3-1. Both teams would be in action in inter-conference battles this weekend, with both coming out on the losing end, as TABC blanked Rambam, 5-0, and a Frisch squad, in desperate need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, found a way to get there, with under 20 seconds left in overtime, knocking off DRS 3-2. DRS’ loss, their third on the season, ends their run at the Eastern Division crown. Instead, the North Shore Stars will enjoy the top seed in the East, and Home-Court Advantage into the semifinals.

And that was your Tuesday Morning JM in the AM Sports Update, I’m Elliot Weiselberg.