Pioneer Spirit

hey're in class from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with only a 45-minute break for lunch. So for the players on the Akiva Hebrew Day School boys basketball team, basketball was more than just a game this past winter. "It was a good feeling knowing I'd get a chance to play some hoops with the guys after a long day," said Zack Herman, a team co-captain along with fellow senior Etan Berman. Herman is 5-foot-11 and Berman is 5-7. Both Southfield residents are 18 and they were members of the Akiva basketball team since the eighth grade. This is Herman's 12th year at Akiva; Berman has been at the Lathrup Village school since seventh grade. "Basketball was fun, sure, and it was great being on the team, but education remained our top priority. Basketball was a privilege," said Herman, who plans to attend the University of Michigan or Wayne State University in the fall. Berman said playing on the team allowed him to meet many fellow Akiva students and he enjoyed the school spirit which was generated when the Pioneers played in front of their fans in their home gym. "Plus, having the responsibility of leadership because I was a captain will help me in the future," said Berman, who says he will be studying in Israel for the next year or two. Ken Kohn, a patent trademark copyright attorney in the medical and bio-technology fields, coached the blue-and-gold clad Pioneers for the second consecutive season. The 41-year-old Oak Park High School (where he was an allleague tennis player) and University of Michigan grad guided Akiva to one victory. The schedule included Jewish Community Center and church teams and other private schools. One game against a homestudy school was featured on the nationwide CNN Headline News network. In addition, the Akiva squad flew to New York City in midMarch to participate in a four-day invitational tournament. Akiva finished fourth of four teams (two
PHOTOSBYGLEN NTR IEST

squads were from New York and one from Toronto), but Berman was named Akiva's most valuable player in the tournament. "The team played extremely well in New York City. Plus, we took in the east side of the city, the New York Stock Exchange and every kosher eating establishment along the way," Coach Kohn said. 'That weekend was a lot of fun for me because, for a few days, I was a coach and not an attorney who was also coaching."

extensive back therapy early in "Because of the size of our the season. While the other boys school (350 boys and girls in the were practicing their shot, Ozzie nursery through 12th grade), was stretching his back." there were very few seniors and Geoff Dworkin, a senior guard, even less height on our team," and Michael Stark, a talented Kohn said. "But as the season eighth-grader, were Avika's oth- progressed, we made up for our er starters. Rounding out the ros- deficiencies with team play." ter were Avi Newman, Jonathon Kohn and his wife, Marilyn, Nussbaum, Josh Skarf, Erie have four children. Three of them Skoczulas, Shlomo Winkler and attend Akiva. El David Wolkinson.

"Basketball was fun, but education remained our top priority."

Zack Herman
Twelve boys in grades 8-12 were on the Akiva roster. The team practiced for up to two hours every Wednesday and Sunday. "Zack (Herman) was our leading rebounder," Kohn said. "He outrebounded and at times outscored opponents who were twice his size. Etan (Berman) was our floor captain and second leading scorer. He has the skills and drive to play on any local varsity basketball team. "Our leading scorer was David Yolkut, the son of Rabbi Morton Yolkut. David averaged more than 20 points a game and he had an 18point first quarter against Eton Academy of Birmingham. David is a sophomore who will lead our team for the next two years. "Ozzie Chelst was our 5-10 center. He played with more heart than any player on the team and was an effective rebounder, even against Eton Academy's 6-8 center. "Ozzie underwent

Akiva basketball team co-captains were Zack Herman and Etan Berman.

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