The Bet Shalom youth basketball team, known as BESTY, enters the play-offs in the Jewish Organization Synagogue League (JOSL) this month seeking its third consecutive championship.

The team, led by Bryan Erickson, the captain, won the championship in its division in 2006 and repeated last year. The squad competes with more than a dozen other teams from other synagogues and Jewish youth organizations in the Twin Cities area. The games are played Sunday afternoons at the Sabes Jewish Community Center (JCC) in St. Louis Park.

This year’s team had a 7-1 record during the regular season, losing only one game in overtime. It finished strong with a three-game winning streak after its overtime loss.

Other key members on the team include Sam Brickwedde, Max Laureano, and Michael Belkin.

The team is coached by Bet Shalom member Marshall Tanick, who is completing his fifth season coaching BESTY.

“We have had some outstanding players in the past, especially on the two championship teams,” said Mr. Tanick. “But this year’s team has a number of extraordinary athletes, who are very skilled on offense and play hard, disciplined defense.”

The team is organized by youth coordinator Wendy Hemingway, who has helped put together this year’s outstanding team, with oversight by Rabbi David Locketz and encouragement from Rabbi Norman Cohen, two of the team’s biggest supporters.

Bryan’s brother, Matt, and Mr. Tanick’s son, Ross, were key performers on the two championship teams before they went off to college. Bryan, this year's team captain, played on both championship teams, along with three other members of this year's team. New additions this season include Zach Richter, Sam Bonderman, and Mike Fiedler, who have played key roles in starting games and as reserves off the bench.

“We have a deep team this year, and a number of good reserve players,” Mr. Tanick said. Several of the key players, including Bryan and Sam, will be completing their eligibility this year. But the BESTY outlook is good because many of the team members are high school underclassmen and, hopefully, will return to the team next season.

Play-off competition begins on Sunday, May 11, 2008 and runs through the rest of the month. The games are open to the public, and the team encourages attendance from Bet Shalom members and supporters.

More information about the league and the upcoming play-offs can be accessed at the JOSL website at: http://www.sabesjcc.org.