The Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Rams were the 47-43 winner over the Independence Home School Lions when they last played one another back in February of 2023, but their luck changed this time around. Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy opened the new year with a less-than-successful 64-54 defeat to Independence Home School. While losing is never fun, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Kansas basketball rankings (they are ranked 528th, while Independence Home School is ranked 213th).
Several Rams players turned in solid performances, despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Riley Ellis, who scored 19 points. Ellis scored a full 35.2% of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy's points, the fourth time in a row he's earned more than a third of the team's points. The team also got some help courtesy of Naftali Tilove, who scored 13 points.
Leading Independence Home School to victory were Joe Young and Sam Egger. Young scored 14 points, while Egger scored 14 points. Philip Cresswell was another key contributor, scoring nine points.
This is the second loss in a row for Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and nudges their season record down to 1-4. As for Independence Home School, the win (which was their sixth in a row) raised their record to 6-1.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy will stay at home for another game and welcome The Daniel Academy at 8:00 p.m. on January 9th. The Daniel Academy is hoping to put an end to a three-game streak of away losses. Independence Home School won't have much time to rest: their next match is against Ozanam at 4:30 p.m. on January 5th. Ozanam is strutting with some offensive muscle, as they've averaged 53.9 points per game.
