CAI Hoops Finishes Regular Season With Rout of Emanuel

The Agudath Israel Men's Club Basketball team closed out it's 2009-10 regular season with a 60-42 thumping of Temple Emanuel -- and a three-game win streak. The win avenged a three-point loss about a month ago when CAI fell to the E-Men 43-40.

In the win, center David Kerner (pictured, top) continued his hot streak with 15 points. Richie Dicker (bottom picture) added 14. All but two of the eleven men who showed up got on the scoreboard and those that didn't made other contributions to the cause.

Agudath Israel gets a bye week as the league takes its President's Day/School Vacation hiatus for February. But CAI returns to action in the playoffs on Thursday, February 25th. Pairings and times have not been announced, but Agudath Israel is likely the 4th seed in Division B and will face top-ranked B'nai Shalom of West Orange, whom CAI has never beaten this year. Continue to visit this blog for official details.

CAI Outplays JCC-West Orange, 47-35; Two in a Row!

With a formula of patient play on offense, low turnovers and a flawless 2-3 on defense, the CAI Men's Club basketball team won its second straight game, 47-35, over JCC-West Orange. David Kerner (right) picked up where he left off from last week's sensational effort with a double-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds. Steve Eitman connected for 12 points including two go-ahead three pointers.

CAI was down 21-19 at the half but solid zone defense kept JCC-WO from making - and eventually taking - shots from beyond 10 feet. CAI has not had a two-game win streak since winning the Jerusalem Division championship in 2008.

Agudath Israel goes for three in a row when it faces Temple Emanuel on Thursday, February 11 at 8:15 pm. Emanuel notched its only win four weeks ago against CAI, a game Agudath let slip away in the last two minutes.

CAI Defeats JCC-Whippany; Snaps 13-game Losing Streak

The Agudath Israel Men's Club Basketball team got a huge monkey off its back on January 28, defeating the JCC-Whippany team, 51-44. The win snaps a 5-game losing streak on the season and a 13-game losing streak dating back to last year's campaign.

In the win, David Kerner (pictured) poured in 15 points in arguably his best game in a CAI uniform. He also added 10 boards and 4 blocks. Steve Eitman netted 20, including 4 key free throws down the stretch.

"It was vintage CAI basketball, the kind that won us the championships in '07 and '08," said team general manager Adam Shandler. "Work the ball around for good shots, clock control, low turnovers. It didn't hurt that Kerner was relentless on the boards."

CAI played sound, disciplined ball with minimal turnovers and only had one five-minute dry spell on offense. Defensively, the team held JCC-W to three points in the final four minutes.

Agudath Israel is back on the court on Monday night, 7 pm, for a rematch with JCC-West Orange. CAI fell to JCC-WO four weeks ago by two points, after clawing back from a 16-0 deficit.

CAI Loses Heartbreaker to Temple Emanu-El, 43-40

CAI Hoops got all the breaks for 48 minutes of their contest with Temple Emanuel on Monday, January 4. Alas, some final minute turnovers and an inability to score in the last two minutes led to a 43-40 loss and 0-4 record on the season. Richie Dicker (right) poured in 16 points in the loss including three 3-pointers while David Kerner kept up his consistency with 10 points.

CAI Hoops has a bye week the week of January 11th but will next take on B'nai Shalom on the 18th at 8:15 pm.

CAI Comeback Against JCC W.O. Falls Short

The Agudath Israel Men's Club Basketball Team was hoping for just one victory in 2009. Alas, despite a post-Hannukkah Maccabean effort it was not meant to be. CAI lost a heartbreaker 40-38 to the JCC of West Orange.

JCC-W.O. opened up the contest with a 14-0 run. But CAI closed the gap with a 9-2 run of its own with about 10 minutes left in the first half to make the score 16-9. Always reliable center David Kerner struggled with foul trouble forcing the team to go small in certain scenarios but Stu Markon proved a worthy stand-in tonight for Kerner.

With the JCC-W.O. up by as much as 12 points in the second half, CAI put a few runs together led by the fast break scoring of Richie Dicker and Jay Adlersberg. But it was two transition baskets and two key free throws by David Lurie (right) that cut the JCC-W.O. lead to 2 points. With four seconds left, CAI had the chance to tie it but the team's old bugaboo - turnovers - reared its ugly head. All in all this was a great second half effort and the team looks to build on this moral victory when it faces Temple Emanuel on Monday night, January 4th.

Richie Dicker (left) led all CAI scorers tonight with 16, including three 3-pointers.

Agudath Israel falls to 0-3 on the season with this loss and 0-11 dating back to the 2008-09 season.

JCC-Whippany Holds Off CAI, 39-30

The CAI Men's Club basketball team went bucket for bucket in the first half, but poor shooting and turnovers resulted in a 39-30 loss to the JCC team of Whippany Thursday night. Center David Kerner (left) led all scorers with 12 points, including his first career three-pointer. Greg Adler scored 8.

Playing a successful 2-3 zone for most of the second half, CAI held JCC-W to 3-of-12 shooting. But Agudath could not capitalize on their opponent's misses.

"Defensively I thought we really held our own," said team general manager Adam Shandler in a post-game press conference that only he attended. "We made them work for every shot and even when they scored we challenged them. But you can't miss the opportunities that we did and expect to win the game."

At halftime, JCC-Whippany led 18-16.

CAI Hoops is now 0-2 on the season and 0-10 dating back to last year. "Am I worried?" asked Shandler to no one in particular. "Not at all. I've seen some of the competition in our division and believe that, if we're healthy and have our top guys in there, we'll get some Ws."

Agudath was without starting point guard Richie Dicker and three-point ace Steve Eitman tonight. The team will have to get its first win without Larry Dodyk (hand) and Jay Baranker (knee) who are out for the season due to injury.

CAI gets a short weekend break then its back to action on Monday night at 8:15 for a contest against JCC of West Orange.

CAI Drops First Game of the Season to B'nai Shalom

The CAI Men's Club Basketball team played a hard game but couldn't stop the hot shooting of B'nai Shalom, losing 58-48. In the game played at JCC of West Orange on Monday night, December 7, Agudath Israel dropped its 9th straight dating back to last season when it finished the 2008-09 campaign at 0-8.

"I would say we are the Nets of the JCC Temple League, but the Nets have won a game this year," said team general manager and small forward Adam Shandler, who was not present at the game.

Richie Dicker paced CAI with 14 points while Steve Eitman netted 13. David Kerner brought down 20 rebounds in the loss. Agudath Israel takes the floor again on Thursday, December 17 in a battle versus the JCC-Whippany team at 8:15 pm.

CAI Men's Club Basketball Announces 2009-10 Schedule

The CAI Men's Club begins its 2009-2010 basketball campaign on Monday, December 7th, at 7 pm. The team will take on B'nai Shalom at the JCC of Metrowest in West Orange. Agudath Israel, which went 0-8 last season, is looking for its first win since winning its second straight Jerusalem Division championship in 2008.

CAI will be led on the floor by last year's scoring leaders, center David Kerner and power forward Steve Eitman (pictured). Rich Gilbert returns from a thumb injury to provide depth at both guard and forward and Richie Dicker will run the point for another season. Marc Weinstein will coach this year's team and Adam Shandler will retain general management duties.

Come support your CAI Men's Club Basketball team! All games will be played at the JCC on Northfield Road in West Orange.

Monday, December 7, vs. B'nai Shalom, 7 pm

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Thursday, December 17, vs. JCC-Whippany, 8:15 pm

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Monday, December, 21, vs. JCC-West Orange, 8:15 pm

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Monday, January 4, vs. Temple Emanu-El, 7 pm

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Week of January 11 BYE WEEK

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Monday, January 18, vs. B'nai Shalom, 8:15 pm

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Thursday, January 28, vs. JCC-Whippany, 7 pm

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Monday, February 1, vs. JCC-West Orange, 7 pm

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Thursday, February 11, vs. Temple Emanu-El, 8:15 pm

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Week of February 15 BYE WEEK

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Thursday, February 25 - "B" Division Playoffs (Time TBD)

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Monday, March 1 - Division Final (Time TBD)

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Monday, March 8 - "A" vs. "B" Championship (Time TBD)

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Monday, March 15 - ALL-STAR GAME

CAI Basketball Ends Season With Loss, 0-8 Record

In 2007 CAI Men's Club Basketball won its first JCC Temple League Championship.

In 2008, the team won its second.

2009 is being labeled as "The Year of Giving Back."

The team closed out its 2008-2009 getting thumped by Temple Ner Tamid of Bloomfield, 88-45. Agudath Israel suited up six players who hustled their brains out, but a hot-shooting TNT squad and an injury to CAI's leading scorer Steve Eitman put the game well out of reach. The loss brought Agudath's record down to a lowly 0-8, cemented a last place finish in the Jerusalem Division and kept the team from reaching the playoffs for the first time in its three year history.

Co-captain Adam Shandler, who will be handing off full control of the team to Marc Weinstein, believes there were many factors that led to this forgettable season. "Our core nucleus of players, those guys that give us steady offense every Thursday night, weren't able to participate until late in the season due to other conflicts. Bob Dale, our big man who led us to the two titles, only made one game, which hurt, but I can understand his other obligations. We also got hit with the injury bug. Swingman Rich Gilbert dislocated a thumb against the JCC team and point guard Jay Lubetkin tweaked an ankle mid-season."

But the season was not a total loss, as Shandler explains. "We got two new rookies in Bobby Epstein and Adam Tekel who made some nice contributions, and Marc Weinstein and Mitch Gilbert, without question, are the Most Improved Players on the team. Both doubled their scoring output from last year. In spite of being out of reach in some games, I was able to get everybody in, so everyone got ample playing time and hopefully had a lot of fun."

Pictured above, from left to right, are co-captain Marc Weinstein, David Kerner, Jay Baranker, Steve Eitman, Richie Dicker and co-captain Adam Shandler.

The Agudath Israel Men's Club Basketball Team looks to return to its winning ways next winter. The 2009-10 season begins just after Thanksgiving.

JCC Team Hands CAI 69-51 Loss

Is the CAI Men's Club Basketball team in danger of becoming the 2008 Detroit Lions of the JCC Temple League? After coming off a 69-51 loss to the JCC Team and falling to 0-7 on the year, all signs are pointing in that direction. Tonight, CAI put forth one of its best efforts of the year, and were only down by six points at the half. But the JCC Team was able to overcome strong efforts by Steve Eitman and David Kerner to keep Agudath winless.


CAI will have a chance to go 1-7 (and become the 2007 Miami Dolphins of the JCC League) next Thursday, February 26 at 8:15 pm. The team will face Temple Ner Tamid of Bloomfield in a make-up game originally scheduled for January 22nd. Regardless of the outcome of next week's game, it appears CAI will miss the playoffs for the first time in its three year membership in the league. At least we get the #1 draft pick!

Men's Club Hoops Falls to Etz Chaim, 0-6

The CAI Men's Club Basketball Team matched it's season-high in points with 63. Unfortunately, they let up 87, to Etz Chaim, in their February 12 match-up. CAI falls to 0-6 on the season, and with two games left, is in danger of missing the Jersualem Division playoffs. Steve Eitman (right) led CAI with 25 points.

On a bright note, each one of the seven players got in the scorebook and logged significant minutes. A great hustle by everyone on the team! We just ran into a buzzsaw in Etz Chaim. Our next game is Thursday night, February 19, 7 pm against the JCC Team. Come on out and root us to a victory at the JCC in West Orange!

CAI Hoops Falls to Temple Shalom

Well, the good news is our team reached a new season high in points. Bad news? We still lost, 68-63 to Temple Shalom of Succasunna, and fall to 0-5 on the year. Steve Eitman led all Agudath scorers with 21 points, David Kerner followed with 14. Perhaps we could have used a little help from Tamir Goodman (pictured.)


The Men's Club Basketball Team guns for its first win of the year next Thursday, February 12, 7:00 pm, when it takes on Etz Chaim at the West Orange JCC. Come on out and root us on!

Jan 22 Basketball Game CANCELLED

Due to a malfunction with one of the backboard motors at the JCC, CAI's game against Temple Ner Tamid, scheduled for Thursday, Jan 22, will be cancelled. (This is no doubt due to several of Mitch Gladstein's dunk attempts gone awry.) Additional information about a make-up game will follow as we hear from the commissioner. Unless otherwise informed, Agudath Israel will not be in action again until Thursday, February 5th when the team takes on Temple Shalom of Morris County.

CAI Men's Club Basketball Update

Our three-peat campaign is in jeopardy! The Agudath Israel Men's Club Basketball Team is having its struggles against Jerusalem Division competition this year. We've amassed a lowly 0-4 record after falling to the JCC Team by a score of 59-41. Some bright spots in this last game included some nifty experiments with the give-and-go and baseline screens on offense and surprisingly effective 2-1-2 zone defense in the second half. Center David Kerner, pictured, recorded his fourth straight game as CAI's leading scorer with 13. Captain Adam Shandler had 12 and Rich Gilbert, who played all five positions on the floor at one time or another charted 8.

Our next game is Thursday, January 22 at 8:15, at the West Orange JCC.