![2022 Varsity Boys Basketball Team win first District Championship in school history]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1646936387/denverjdsorg/kjvdkbjui9eeskrjull1/DSC089322.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1646936387/denverjdsorg/kjvdkbjui9eeskrjull1/DSC089322.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1646936387/denverjdsorg/kjvdkbjui9eeskrjull1/DSC089322.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1646936387/denverjdsorg/kjvdkbjui9eeskrjull1/DSC089322.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1646936387/denverjdsorg/kjvdkbjui9eeskrjull1/DSC089322.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1646936387/denverjdsorg/kjvdkbjui9eeskrjull1/DSC089322.jpg","width":2200}])
- Athletics
- Upper Division
(Photo was taken by Avital Rotbart
- immediately after the 2022 DJDS Varsity Boys won the 5280 League District Championship on February 26th, 2022 )
By Matan Halzel, Varsity Boys Basketball Assistant Coach
For the first time in program and school history, our Denver Jewish Day School Varsity Boys Basketball Team was crowned as the 5280 League District champions. On February 26th, 2022 at 8 PM, our Tigers faced the defending state champions, Belleview Christian, and defeated them handily, 57-43.
This was the first basketball district championship secured in Herzl, RMHA, DCJE, and DJDS history. In a stretch where history has been made the prior two seasons by the Varsity Boys Basketball Teams, it was fitting that yet another piece of history was made during the 2022 season. The game was won as a collective team effort with 4 players scoring 10 points or more, led by rising sophomore Keenan Winnerman, who scored 17 points.
Back row (left to right): Assistant Coach - Matan Halzel (Class of 2012), Head Coach - Michael Foonberg, 22 - Ilan Schinagel, 35 - Chase Coughlan, 30 - Andrew Zimmerman, 11 - Aaron Daniel, 31 - Jonathan Noam, 23 - Keenan Winnerman, 15 - Avi Friedman, 1 - Noah Williamson, Assistant Coach - Todd Tyrell, Assistant Coach - Sam Rotbart (Class of 2010)
Front row (left to right): 13 - Avi Cohn, 33 - Ben Brunschwig, 32 - Gavin Foonberg, 3 - Lev Friedman, 00 - David Romershteyn
Our Tigers finished their season with a stunning 17-3 record, and they also were placed as high as #5 in the Colorado 1A Coaches poll multiple times this season. Unfortunately, their season came to a crashing halt in the Sweet 16, where they lost 48-43 to Caprock Academy in the Regional Championship Game.
Although our Tigers were so close yet again to clinching a spot in the Colorado 1A State Tournament for the first time in school history, this year's star-studded team has a lot to be incredibly proud of. For starters, two DJDS players - juniors Gavin Foonberg and Andrew Zimmerman - both made the 5280 League All 1st-Team. This marks the first time in school history that two players and teammates have received this prestigious honor.
DJDS Junior Gavin Foonberg, #32
Gavin averaged 20 points per game, 9.5 assists per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 3.9 steals per game. The points, assists, and steals per game are all new season records. What stands out the most about Gavin's record-setting stat line is that his 9.5 assists per game led the entire state of Colorado. Not just in the Class 1A, but all classes, 1A through 5A. Gavin recorded a staggering 171 assists in 18 games played this season. To put this number into perspective, those 171 assists recorded this season are more than any other DJDS player's assist totals over the span of their entire career. Gavin's statline easily marks the greatest statistical basketball season by any player in DJDS history.
DJDS Junior Andrew Zimmerman, #30
Andrew Zimmerman averaged 19.1 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 1.5 steals per game. Andrew's rapid ascension to all League 1st-Team status has been noteworthy - averaging 2.8 points per game his freshman year, then 7.8 points per game his sophomore year, to now averaging 19.1 points per game his junior year.
Coming off of three straight Sweet 16 appearances the past three seasons, the future for the DJDS Varsity Boys Basketball Program remains very bright. They should be a pre-season Class 1A favorite for the upcoming 2022-23 season, and surely will have their sights set on protecting their District title and advancing to the State Tournament for the first time ever. Congratulations on yet another record-setting season, Tigers!