May 24, 2012
Israeli League, Game 13: March 3-4, 2007
Sharon Shason - Maccabi Tel Aviv Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem added another win to their record in the 13th week of the Israeli League. Maccabi didn't sweat on the road in a 75-98 win over Givat Shmuel, while Hapoel let a 20-point lead in the last quarter slip away before topping Bnei Hasharon 87-85. Gilboa/Afula ended a two-game losing streak with a key road win at Ironi Ashkelon, 83-90. The result marked Ashkelon's fifth straight loss. Marcus Hatten's 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists weren't enough to stop the fall. Six players scored in double-digits for the winning side, led by Tunji Awojobi with 18 points. Ironi Ramat Gan topped Galil Elyon in a thriller 93-95. The visitors took the lead in the first half, but Galil climbed back midway through the third quarter as the teams went neck-to-neck till the final seconds. Moran Roth, who was cut by Galil earlier this season, had his revenge when he made the last two decisive shots from the line, giving Ramat Gan another big road win. Jai Lewis scored 20 points in the first half and finished with 28 and 10 rebounds, while John Allen added 22 points and 7 assists and Roth had 18. Tre Simmons led Galil with 21 points and was followed by Omri Casspi with 17. Ironi Nahariya collected its second road win in a row with a 71-74 triumph at Rishon Lezion. Jeff Greer was the hero after stroking the game-winner from downtown. Raviv Limonad led the way with 17, while Bryant Markson had 25 points for Rishon .

Maccabi traveled to Givat Shmuel and collected another win, 75-98, to keep a perfect 13-0 record. For three quarters, the champs didn't make a meaningful run and Givat Shmuel was strong in the game. The locals took a surprising 10-2 lead early in the game, but Yotam Halperin, a starter tonight after three straight DNPs, carried Maccabi back. Maccabi maintained a small lead, but Givat Shmuel finished the half down 38-41 after Boo Davis nailed back-to-back three pointers. Davis added another downtown bomb early in the third to restore Givat Shmuel's narrow lead, but Nikola Vujcic, who had 2 points in the first half, took control and scored 12 out of Maccabi's next 14 points. Maccabi finished the third quarter with a 61-67 lead and entering the last quarter decided the game. Vujcic was joined by Sharon Shason who had a great game, as Maccabi took a double-digit lead and doubled it in 4 minutes. The visitors won the last quarter 14-31 and added another win to the streak. Moshe Brenner had 17 points to lead Givat Shmuel. Shason had a big night with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 17 minutes, Vujcic had a total of 23 points while three players – Halperin, Lior Eliyahu and Tal Burstein had 10 each.

Hapoel hosted Bnei Hasharon for a rematch of the national cup final, which Hapoel won easily. For more than 30 minutes it seemed to be the same this time, but Bnei Hasharon showed great character and came back before losing by 2. Last week Bnei Hasharon was down a big margin against Maccabi, and also came back to minus 2 and had a chance to send the game to overtime before losing. Hapoel made a 13-2 run in the first quarter to take a 16-point lead and finish the first 10 minutes up 26-14 score. Bnei Hasharon's game was a total mess and Hapoel showed no mercy on the way to a 19-point difference. Bnei Hasharon finally woke up to finish the half down 50-37. The cat and mouse run continued in the third. Whenever Bnei Hasharon came back to 12-13 point difference, Hapoel made a run to make sure no comeback would take place. Entering the last quarter Hapoel held a 73-54 lead and the game seemed done. But Bnei Hasharon's full-court pressure defense caught Hapoel off guard. Soon Jason Williams made it a 6-point game halfway through the last quarter. Then Mario Austin committed a flagrant foul, which allowed Bnei Hasharon to get to 86-85 on another big triple by Williams. Bnei Hasharon still had a chance to take the lead and later on to tie after Guy Pnini made just 1-of-2 from the line, but failed twice and Hapoel earned another win. Timmy Bowers with a big game for Jerusalem with 23 points, Pnini scored 19, Austin 13 and Dror Hagag added 10. Cookie Belcher led Bnei Hasharon with 19, Williams had 18, while Lee Nailon scored 14 and Ousmane Cisse 10.


LAST GAME GAME 13 - March 4, 2007
DayMatchResult
Mar. 4Ironi Ashkelon vs. Hapoel Gilboa/Afula 83 - 90
Mar. 4Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem vs. Bnei Hashron 87 - 85
Mar. 4Gindi Givat Shamuel vs. Maccabi Elite75 - 98
Mar. 4Maccabi Rishon Letsion vs. Ironi Iscar71 - 74
Mar. 4Hapoel Galil Elion vs. Ironi Ramat Gan 93 - 95
NEXT GAME GAME 14 - March 11, 2007
DayMatch
Mar. 11Hapoel Gilboa/Afula vs. Hapoel Galil Elion
Mar. 11Ironi Ramat Gan vs. Maccabi Rishon
Mar. 11Ironi Iscar Nahariya vs. Maccabi Elite
Mar. 11Gindi Givat Shamuel vs. Hapoel Migdal
Mar. 11Bnei Hashron vs. Ironi Ashkelon


STANDINGSTGWLP+P-
1Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 121201149942
2Bnei Hashron 138511511106
3Ironi Iscar Nahariya 137611271039
4Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem 1183984987
5Hapoel Galil Elion 135811971210
6Maccabi Rishon Letsion 135810281087
7Ironi Ramat Gan 135811491176
8Hapoel Gilboa/Afula 135810981157
9Gindi Givat Shamuel 134911241208
10Ironi Ashkelon 12489761071
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv

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