Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 8: December 16-17, 2007
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 Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv is back on the winning track after a rare two-game losing streak in the Israeli League. Maccabi scored a convincing 82-102 road win at Ashkelon to climb to a 5-2 record and regain some confidence. The perennial champs now trail league-leading Bnei Hasharon by one win. Bnei Hasharon put on a defensive clinic as it topped Ironi Nahariya 68-83 in Monday’s game. Meir Tapiro scored 31 and the visitors’ defense held Nahariya to 21 second-half points to secure the win. Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem continues to struggle on the road, this time suffering a surprising 96-90 loss at Ramat Gan. Hapoel Galil Elyon suffered another home loss, 74-87 to Gilboa/Afula, and dropped to 2-6. Cedrick Banks scored 14 as Rishon Lezion shocked Hapoel Holon 67-56.
Maccabi Tel Aviv scored a convincing 82-102 road win at Ashkelon to end a two-game slide. Maccabi didn't wait long before taking an 8-21 lead and finished the first quarter up by16-25. Ashkelon turned things around and built a 33-30 lead, but Maccabi set things straight behind a big contribution off the bench from Alex Garcia on the way to a 43-52 halftime lead. The hosts fought back once again and tied the game at 59-59, but Maccabi pulled away and led 66-77 heading into the fourth quarter. The champs continued to hit from long range, and with big intensity kept increasing the gap all the way to a 20-point win. Marcus Fizer and Derrick Sharp scored 18 points each with Sharp nailing all of his shots from long range, David Bluthenthal added 13, Terence Morris scored 12 with 10 rebounds while Garcia had 11. Steve Burtt led Ashkelon with 21 points while Wayne Wallace scored 16 with three blocks.
Hapoel, without the recently dismissed Marcus Slaughter, had some frontline problems after Jaime Arnold suffered an injury early and both teams relayed on their guards to make it 32-30 after one quarter. Sharon Shason battled Ramat Gan's Rob Brown on the way to a 44-52 Hapoel lead at halftime. Ramat Gan came back with big energy from the locker room and a 14-5 run put them back on top. The lead continued to swing from side to side and by the end of the third Hapoel led 72-74. Arnold came back in the fourth, but seemed limited. Brian Tolbert carried the hosts to enter the closing minutes with the lead. With 24 seconds on the clock and Hapoel down 91-90, Tolbert drove to the rim and scored a clutch basket. Hapoel tried to save the day, but was inefficient on its way to a third league loss. Ori Itchaki led the winners with 24 points, while Tolbert had 19. Dror Hagag carried Hapoel with 22 points, Guy Pnini added 15 while Shason scored 13 with 6 rebounds and Timmy Bowers had 10.
Hapoel Galil Elyon suffered another home loss, 74-87 against Gilboa/Afula. The score was close for the majority of the game. Galil took a 27-24 first-quarter lead after a three-pointer by Doron Sheffer, but the visitors, led by former ULEB Cup winner Tunji Awojobi, kept pushing back and finished the first half up 46-47. The lead kept swinging from side to side, but an offensive drought on Galil's side allowed the visiting team to make a small run and enter the last quarter leading 58-66. Jermaine Hall dominated the boards and allowed Gilboa/Afula to take a decisive 62-78 lead, which was enough to secure the win. Clif Brown led Galil with 15 points and 6 rebounds, Gili Mosinzon and Or Eitan scored 11 points each while Jai Lewis and Doron Sheffer had 10 each. Hall scored 20 and Gur Porat added 18 for the winning side.
LAST GAME GAME 8
December 16-17, 2007 | | Day | Match | Result | | Dec. 16 | Ashkelon vs. Maccabi Elite | 82-102 | | Dec. 16 | Rishon Lezion vs. Holon | 67-56 | | Dec. 17 | Naharya vs. Bnei Hasharon | 68-83 | | Dec. 16 | Galil Elion vs. ilboa/Afula | 74-87 | | Dec. 16 | Irony Gan vs. Hapoel Migdal | 96-90 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 9
January 13, 2008 | | Day | Match | | Jan. 13 | Hapoel Migdal vs. Eldan | | Jan. 13 | Gilboa/Afula vs. Irony Gan | | Jan. 13 | Hasharon vs. Galil Elion | | Jan. 13 | Hapoel Holon vs. Naharya | | Jan. 13 | Maccabi Elite vs. Rishon |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Bnei Hasharon | 8 | 6 | 2 | 659 | 609 | | 2 | Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem | 8 | 5 | 3 | 642 | 614 | | 3 | Irony Iscar Naharya | 8 | 5 | 3 | 700 | 663 | | 4 | Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv | 7 | 5 | 2 | 631 | 584 | | 5 | Eldan Ashkelon | 8 | 3 | 5 | 673 | 729 | | 6 | Hapoel Holon | 8 | 4 | 4 | 608 | 583 | | 7 | Hapoel Gilboa/Afula | 8 | 3 | 5 | 628 | 670 | | 8 | Rishon Lezion | 8 | 3 | 5 | 638 | 638 | | 9 | Altshuler Saham Galil Elion | 8 | 2 | 6 | 714 | 784 | | 10 | Irony Ramat Gan | 7 | 3 | 4 | 613 | 632 |
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Monday, December 17, 2007
Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv
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