Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 11: January 27-28, 2008
|
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv recaptured the top of the standings in the Israeli Basketball League after Matchday 11. Maccabi traveled to a tough road game at Galil Elyon and won 84-90 as Marcus Fizer scorer 22 points in 22 minutes and Esteban Batista added 16 points in 16 minutes. The defending champs used a road loss by Bnei Hasharon at Hapoel Jerusalem to take over the top spot with an 8-3 record. Hapoel's 75-66 victory without the injured Jaime Arnold and Sharon Shason, tied the records of both teams on 7-4. In other action around the league, Ironi Ramat Gan surprised Hapoel Holon with a close 97-96 home win thanks to 21 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists from Brian Tolbert, Ironi Nahariya used a buzzer-beater by Otis Hill to save its home game against Rishon Lezion with a 79-78 win while Afula/Gilboa scored its first home win of the season by defeating Ironi Ashkelon 95-79 as Tunji Awojobi posted 23 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
Maccabi traveled to a tough road game at Galil Elyon and won 84-90 as Marcus Fizer scorer 22 points in 22 minutes and Esteban Batista added 16 points in 16 minutes. Maccabi took a quick 0-6 lead, but saw Gili Mosinzon keep Gail within 17-19 after 10 minutes. The lead changed hands several times before Aaron Nixon scored 4 in a row to give the locals a 33-26 lead halfway through the second quarter. Nikola Vujcic showed it's not smart to get the champs angry and carried Maccabi to a 0-13 run, enough to finish the first half with a 38-47 advantage. Maccabi used Fizer's size in the paint and reached its first double-digit lead of the night, but right before the third quarter buzzer Mosinzon joined Yogev Ohayon to close the gap to 68-70. A cat and mouse game developed and every time Maccabi opened a 7- to 9-point lead, Galil found a way to move closer. However the hosts never took over the game. Ohayon was still on fire and added 10 points in the deciding quarter, including a big three-pointer that made it 84-86 with a minute to go. Derrick Sharp drove, and it seemed Ohayon stripped the ball clean from his hands but then came a call on a Clif Brown foul. Sharp didn't blink, hit twice from the line and after Ohayon missed a tough lay up, Yotam Halperin in another big day set the final score. Fizer led Maccabi with 22 points in 22 minutes, Halperin added 19 points with 4 assists, Esteban Batista celebrated 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Vujcic finished with 12 points and 5 assists. Mosinzon led Galil with 21 points, and behind him were Ohayon and Mike Campbell with 17 points each.
Hapoel Jerusalem's 75-66 victory over Bnei Hasharon without the injured Jaime Arnold and Sharon Shason brought the club within one win of the leaders. The injuries didn't stop a heroic performance of the home team, which kept Bnei Hasharon down 75-66. Bnei Hasharon itself had Meir Tapiro and Ndudi Ebi not in full shape, while during the game Hapoel's center - Erez Markovic broke his nose. The tense atmosphere was felt in the game that showed a lot of toughness and sometimes some unnecessary roughness. Bnei Hasharon took an early 2-7 lead, but saw Hapoel come back to a 17-15 lead after one quarter. Dror Hagag stepped up towards the closing minutes of the first half to give Hapoel a 38-34 advantage by half time, as the team needed the halftime break after an aggressive half. Hapoel played small ball while Bnei Hasharon tried to use its advantage in mass and height. The hosts maintained their lead to enter the last quarter with a 3-point advantage, and then came the knock out. Guy Pniny scored three times in a row from long range, and doubled the number of the total three-pointers he had in the night, to give Hapoel a 67-57 lead. Bnei Hasharon made one last push, but Ramel Curry hit another three to seal the deal. Pniny led the way with 24 points, Markovic scored 13 with 12 rebounds while Curry enjoyed 10 points. Ebi led Bnei Hasharon with 18 points, Jason Williams scored 12 and Erez Katz, who was Hapoel's captain in the 2004 ULEB Cup trophy season, had 12 for Bnei Hasharon.
LAST GAME GAME 11
January 27-28, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | Jan. 27 | Gilboa/Afula vs. Ashkelon | 95-79 | | Jan. 27 | Hapoel Migdal vs. Hasharon | 75-66 | | Jan. 28 | Ramat Gan vs. Hapoel Holon | 97-96 | | Jan. 27 | Galil Elion vs. Maccabi Elite | 84-90 | | Jan. 27 | Irony Iscar vs.Rishon Lezion | 79-78 |
| | |
NEXT GAME GAME 12
February 10, 2008 | | Day | Match | | Feb. 10 | Eldan Ashkelon vs. Irony I | | Feb. 10 | Rishon vs. Galil Elion | | Feb. 10 | Maccabi E. vs. Ramat Gan | | Feb. 10 | Hapoel Holon vs. Hapoel J. | | Feb. 10 | Hasharon vs. Gilboa/Afula |
|
| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv | 11 | 8 | 3 | 1002 | 907 | | 2 | Bnei Hasharon | 11 | 7 | 4 | 895 | 847 | | 3 | Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem | 11 | 7 | 4 | 911 | 870 | | 4 | Irony Iscar Naharya | 11 | 6 | 5 | 918 | 932 | | 5 | Irony Ramat Gan | 11 | 6 | 5 | 994 | 985 | | 6 | Hapoel Holon | 11 | 6 | 5 | 888 | 831 | | 7 | Rishon Lezion | 11 | 4 | 7 | 858 | 873 | | 8 | Eldan Ashkelon | 11 | 4 | 7 | 915 | 998 | | 9 | Hapoel Gilboa/Afula | 11 | 4 | 7 | 892 | 945 | | 10 | Altshuler Saham Galil Elion | 11 | 3 | 8 | 962 | 1047 |
|
|
|
Yarone Arbel, Jerusalem
|