May 24, 2012
Israeli League, Game 11: February 18, 2007
Will Bynum - Maccabi Elite Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv remained perfect in the Israeli League after an easy home win over Ironi Ashkelon on Sunday night, while Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem struggled at home against Afula/Gilboa before squeaking out a thrilling 103-98 win to improve to 7-3, good enough for third place in the standings. Meanwhile, Bnei Hasharon suffered a surprising loss at Rishon Lezion, 78-58. The cup finalists combined for only 19 points in the second and third quarters as the locals took over the game and recorded their second win a row. Brian Tolbert had 20 points for the winners with only 2 missed shots, while Lee Nailon led the losing side with 16 points. Ironi Nahariya got back on the winning track after four straight losses with a key 77-84 road win at Ironi Ramat Gan. The visitors took over the game in the second quarter and never looked back as five players scored in double digits led by veteran Barak Peleg with 18. Darryl Wilson led Ramat Gan with 22.

Maccabi recovered from two straight losses at Nokia arena – first in the national cup and then in the Euroleague – with a one-sided 107-73 win over Ironi Ashkelon. Coach Neven Spahija was happy to see Simas Jasaitis finally get back to scoring shape and allowed some rest for Nikola Vujcic who played only 20 minutes. It was the same Vujcic who scored the first bucket of the night, as Maccabi quickly took a 12-3 lead. Marcus Hatten carried his team back to the game, 21-16, but Jasaitis scored behind the arc to set the first quarter margin at 24-16. Hatten collected 11 points, but once he went to take a rest, Maccabi took over. Yaniv Green and Jasaitis led a 17-4 run, which gave Maccabi a 20-point lead, and Tal Burstein set the halftime score at 61-39 from the line. The second half was only for protocol as Maccabi continued to squash the visitors and extend the lead. Will Bynum and Lior Eliyahu carried Maccabi in those minutes, and the last set the final score with a jumper 107-73. Bynum and Eliyahu led Maccabi with 20 points each, Vujcic added 16, Green 12 and Jasaitas 11. Hatten scored 20 for Ashkelon.

Hapoel had a much tougher task. Gilboa/Afula arrived to the capital as the classic underdog, but gave a worthy fight before losing 103-98 in a high tempo game. Jurica Golemac had a huge second half to finish with a memorable triple-double of 15 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. Yehu Orland had an exceptional night with 8 three-pointers on 16 attempts to almost upset Hapoel. The visitors took a surprising 2-11 lead already after 3 minutes. Hapoel woke up in time, but still finished the first quarter down 26-27. Mario Austin gave his team the lead for the first time early in the second with 4 straight points, but Gilboa/Afula didn't let go. Orland scored his first three-pointer just before halftime to keep his team on top, 45-48. Gilboa/Afula kept on pushing and took another 8-point lead, but then Golemac stepped up. His three-pointer gave the lead back to Hapoel and a series of assists fueled a 24-6 Hapoel run for an 82-70 lead early in the fourth. That's when Orland woke up again. He scored another three and from that point on, until he fouled out with less than a minute to go, he added 6 more three-pointers – a total of 21 points out of the 26 Gilboa/Afula scored in those minutes. His last one made it a one-point game, 97-96. Terrence Morris gave Hapoel a 3-point lead before Orland missed from long range and fouled out. Golemac secured the win from the line with two shots that set the final score on 103-98. Six Hapoel players scored in double-digits led by Austin with 20, Dror Hagag and Guy Pnini scored 16 each, Timmy Bowers had 14 and Morris 11. Orland finished the game with 24 points. Former Hapoel star Tunji Awojobi posted 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, and Jermaine Hall added 16 without a miss from the field and Avi Sukar had 13 points and 10 assists.


LAST GAME GAME 11 - January 18-19, 2007
DayMatchResult
Feb. 18Hapoel Migdal vs. Hapoel Gilboa/Afula 103 - 98
Feb. 18Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv vs. Ironi Ashkelon 107 - 73
Feb. 18Maccabi Rishon Letsion vs. Bnei Hashron 78 - 58
Feb. 19Hapoel Galil Elion vs. Gindi Givat95 - 92
Feb. 18Ironi Ramat Gan vs. Ironi Iscar Nahariya 77 - 84
NEXT GAME GAME 12 - February 25, 2007
DayMatch
Feb. 25Hapoel Gilboa/Afula vs. Ironi Ramat Gan
Feb. 25Ironi Iscar Nahariya vs. Hapoel Galil Elion
Feb. 25Gindi Givat Shamuel vs. Maccabi Rishon
Feb. 25Bnei Hashron vs. Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Feb. 25Ironi Ashkelon vs. Hapoel Migdal


STANDINGSTGWLP+P-
1Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 10100957775
2Bnei Hashron 1183974925
3Ironi Iscar Nahariya 1165963873
4Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem 1073897902
5Maccabi Rishon Letsion 1156877930
6Hapoel Galil Elion 114710091025
7Hapoel Gilboa/Afula 1147928972
8Ironi Ashkelon 1147893981
9Gindi Givat Shamuel 11389661030
10Ironi Ramat Gan 11389521003
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv

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