Special to the Reporter

The Northwest Yeshiva High School (NYHS) class 1B boys basketball team improved to 9-3 with recent victories over Puget Sound Adventist, 62-56, and Rainier Christian Academy, 62-47.

As they have all season, the Lions’ two captains led the way.

Against Puget Sound Adventist, small forward Joe Benoliel continued his impressive senior campaign, scoring a game-high 25 points, while junior point guard Evan Kaufthal nearly registered a triple-double with 15 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.

In the locals’ win over Rainier Christian Academy, Kaufthal led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds and Benoliel had 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

NYHS currently ranks 13th out of 81 class 1B schools in the WIAA State RPI rankings.

The Lions head coach is 1992 Mercer Island High School graduate Steve Bunin.