May 24, 2012
Israeli League, Game 9: January 27-28, 2007
Nikola Vujcic - Maccabi Elite Defending champion Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv came close to suffering its first Israeli League loss of the season on Sunday, but held on for a tough road win at newcomer Afula/Gilboa 94-96 to remain perfect after nine weeks. Three days before the first leg of the ULEB Cup eighthfinals, Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem showed its home court is still a fortress with a 104-85 win over Maccabi Rishon Lezion on the way to a 6-3 record and the third spot in the standings. Givat Shmuel earned its second win of the season and its first since opening night with a shocking 94-78 home over Ironi Nahariya. Moshe Brenner led Givat Shmuel with 23 points on 75% shooting from the field. Galil Elyon showed it still has a say with a big road win over Ironi Ashkelon, 92-102. Tre Simmons excelled with 33 points for the winners, while Kenny Adeleke had 20 points and 12 rebounds, enough to outplay Ashkelon's Marcus Hatten who had 27 points and 6 assists. Erez Katz scored only 8 points, but nailed a game-winning three point shot to give Bnei Hasharon a 92-90 home win over Ironi Ramat Gan. Bnei Hasharon climbed to 7-2 in the standings, while Ramat Gan dropped to 3-6 despite having five players in double-digits.

After losing by 2 points in its Euroleague game on Thursday night in Ljubljana, Maccabi came up clutch down the stretch and escaped from a very tough road game with a 94-96 win over Afula/Gilboa. The home team, in its first season in the Basketball Super League, had the ball down by two with 9.5 seconds remaining, but Nikola Vujcic stole the in-bound pass to secure Maccabi's win. The visitors took a 0-4 lead, but Afula took advantage of Vujcic's two personal fouls to take a 26-23 lead after 10 minutes. Coach Neven Spahija went deep to his bench, and used a very long rotation to see a 0-9 run toward the end of the first half, but Afula recovered in time to take a 51-49 lead at halftime. The teams stayed close to each other, and Maccabi held a 70-72 lead after three quarters, ready for the final 10 minutes to decide the battle. Whenever Maccabi tried to make a run, Afula showed great character and stayed close behind. Vujcic, with a three-point play made it 89-92 with 50 seconds to play, but Afula came back to minus one. Lior Eliyahu's put back made it 94-91 with 14 seconds to play, but forgot to foul on the other end and saw Yehu Orland tie the score with a crazy shot. Derrick Sharp scored two from the line and with the final play Vujcic was alert to save the game. Vujcic led Maccabi with 23 points, Will Bynum added 19 points and some key points in the closing minutes, Eliyahu contributed 18 and Yotam Halperin scored 10 points. Jermaine Hall led Afula/Gilboa with 25 points and Tunji Awojobi had 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Hapoel maintained a perfect home record against Rishon Lezion. Hapoel dominated the game from the opening tip on the way to a 104-85 win. Hapoel stormed out and raced to a 23-13 lead. The first quarter finished with Hapoel leading 31-20, but the big news was the injury of Rishon's top scorer, Reggie Moore, who sprained his ankle and didn't return. Meir Tapiro and Timmy Bowers led Hapoel to a 61-37 halftime lead and the game was basically done. Brian Tolbert was the only player who stepped up to save some of Rishon's pride. After three quarters he already had 28 points and his team cut the margin to 76-60. Rishon's coach, Gilad Katz, got his second technical foul of the night in the last quarter and was ejected, which only made it easier for Hapoel to cruise for the win. Erez Markovic led six players in double-digits with 18 points, Guy Pnini added 17, Terrence Morris finished with 15 points, Bowers made 14, Mario Austin scored 13 and Tapiro had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Tolbert led the way for Rishon with 33 points.


LAST GAME GAME 9 - January 28-29, 2007
DayMatchResult
Jan. 28Hapoel Migdal vs. Maccabi Rishon 104 - 85
Jan. 28Ironi Ashkelon vs. Hapoel Galil Elion 92 - 102
Jan. 28Bnei Hashron vs. Ironi Ramat Gan 92 - 90
Jan. 28Gindi Givat Shamuel vs. Ironi Iscar94 - 78
Jan. 28Hapoel Ikhud vs. Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 94 - 96
NEXT GAME GAME 10 - February 11, 2007
DayMatch
Feb. 11Hapoel Gilboa/Afula vs. Ironi Iscar
Feb. 11Gindi Givat Shamuel vs. Ironi Ramat Gan
Feb. 11Bnei Hashron vs. Hapoel Galil Elion
Feb. 11Ironi Ashkelon vs. Maccabi Rishon Letsion
Feb. 11Hapoel Migdal vs. Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv


STANDINGSTGWLP+P-
1Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 990850702
2Bnei Hashron 972826764
3Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem 963794804
4Ironi Iscar Nahariya 954805710
5Ironi Ashkelon 945746798
6Ironi Ramat Gan 936779816
7Maccabi Rishon Letsion 936723798
8Hapoel Galil Elion 936831843
9Hapoel Gilboa/Afula 936744795
10Gindi Givat Shamuel 927771839
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Yarone Arbel, Euroleague.net

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