32 | APRIL 16 • 2020 

sports HIGHlights

NMLS#2289
brought to you in partnership with 

BY STEVE STEIN 
quick hits

This was the 59th season for the 
Brotherhood-Eddie Jacobson
B’
nai B’
rith bowling league. It 
was the 45th season for the B’
nai 
B’
rith basketball league.
 Each league experienced a 
first last month when its season 
ended earlier than planned. Blame 
the COVID-19 public health scare 
and resulting social-distancing 
measures.
The last weekly Brotherhood-Eddie Jacobson bowling night was March 
9. Five weeks of regular-season competition and three weeks of playoffs 
at 300 Bowl in Waterford remained for the 18 teams.
The four B’
nai B’
rith basketball teams had one week of regular-season 
play and one week of playoffs to go at the Jewish Community Center of 
Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield. The teams last played March 8.
Starting dates for the weekly B’
nai B’
rith golf league at the Links 
of Novi and the weekly Inter-Congregational Men’
s Club Summer 
Softball League at diamonds in West Bloomfield are up in the air.
Each league is scheduled to begin competition in May.

Over and Out ...
FJA Seniors Lament 
Loss of Final Season

Spring sports shut down because of 
COVID-19 pandemic.

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
E

lisha Cooper really 
wanted to play soccer 
this spring for Frankel 
Jewish Academy.
The spread of COVID-19, 
which has caused a public 
health crisis around the world 
and the cancellation of high 
school spring sports in the 
state by the Michigan High 
School Athletic Association, 
closed the curtain on that 
chapter of Cooper’
s life.

This was going to be 
Cooper’
s fourth year as a 
starting defender on the FJA 
girls soccer team.
“That was the plan,” the 
senior said. 
After missing about half 
of the FJA girls basketball 
season this winter because 
of a concussion, Cooper was 
cleared to play the final few 
basketball games and in the 
soccer season.

JOSH BIRNBERG

 GREY FAMILY
BLACKMAN FAMILY

COOPER FAMILY

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Mitch Blackman, Elisha Cooper, Josh 
Birnberg, Eli Grey.

Success wasn’
t measured on the 
scoreboard this season for the Frankel 
Jewish Academy boys basketball team.
First-year coach Nehemiah 
Crowder said he wanted to change the 
team’
s culture, and he felt he did that 
even though FJA finished 6-14.
The culture change was giving 
everyone on the team a chance to play, 
Crowder said, so the Jaguars won’
t find 
themselves again in the predicament 
they were in going into this season.
Only one player — Ethan Maustyn
— entered this season with substantial 
varsity basketball experience.
“A lot of our guys went straight into 
the fire. Our learning curve was steep,” 
Crowder said. “All our guys gave it all 
they had, even those who never envi-
sioned themselves playing at the varsity 
level.”
Crowder said freshman point guard 
Merrick Michaelson was a bright 
spot.
“Merrick wants to get better and 
learn the game. He soaks up coaching 

like a sponge,” Crowder said.
Two players who were struggling 
academically got themselves back on 
track in the classroom and were able to 
play in part of the season.
They also were success stories, 
Crowder said.
“Playing basketball gave them some-
thing to work for,” he said. “They knew 
if they met our standards, we’
d have 
their back.”
Crowder also praised his players’
 
parents, “who always put their kids 
first.”
Maustyn (11.6 points per game) and 
Michaelson (8.1 points per game) were 
the Jaguars’
 leading scorers.

FRANKEL JEWISH ACADEMY

FJA boys 
basketball team