Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 13: February 17-18, 2008
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Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv showed its pride Sunday night with a big 85-101 road win over Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem. Maccabi showed up without the injured Nikola Vujcic and Marcus Fizer, while Hapoel missed Timmy Bowers who's in the USA for personal reasons. However while the champs found a wide cover for the missing big guys in a must-see performance by Terence Morris and a big second half from Lior Eliyahu, the cup holder couldn't find someone to fill in for its missing guard. Maccabi dominated the boards in the first half and out-rebound Hapoel 39-49. Morris had a big part in that as he finished the first half with a double-double already on his way to an 18-point, 17-rebound and 3-blocked shot performance. Guy Pniny led Hapoel with 18 points. In other games around the league, Bnei Hasharon stayed close to Maccabi with a 70-60 home win over the last in the standings, Ironi Ashkelon, behind a triple-double from Meir Tapiro who posted 10 points, 10 assists and 13 rebounds. Ironi Ramat Gan beat Rishon Lezion 98-93 at home and Galil Elyon beat Ironi Nahariya at home after overtime 80-75.
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv showed its pride Sunday night with a big 85-101 road win over Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem. Hapoel went first on the board with a lay up by Sharon Shason, but Maccabi's front line of Esteban Batista and Terence Morris soon put the visitors on top. Three-pointers from David Bluthenthal and Morris made it 12-18, but Guy Pniny and Shason worked hard to help Hapoel regain. Morris had the final word of the quarter with a power play in the paint, to give Maccabi a 27-28 lead after 10 minutes. Midway through the second period, Will Bynum came off the bench hot and delivered 8 points, a big alley-hoop pass to Morris and another assist for a Derrick Sharp three-pointer as Maccabi went up 44-49. Bynum continued to show presence, only now on the negative side with some bad decisions, but Maccabi still entered the break up 51-55. Hapoel took the game to a 60-60 tie before Vonteego Cummings nailed back-to-back long range threes from the top of the key and Yotam Halperin beat the shot clock before dishing a pass on the fast break for a Lior Eliyahu slam, as Maccabi took a 60-70 lead with 3:17 to play in the third. Eliyahu added another dunk, a layup and a big assist to Morris with the buzzer to write Maccabi's biggest lead yet, 64-76 after three quarters. With the fourth quarter comeback from the cup finals still in everyone's minds, Hapoel tried to make a miracle again, but Eliyahu continued his good game and the locals missed too many chances to cut the lead. With five minutes on the clock, Maccabi shut down the game. Casspi nailed another three, Morris threw down a power dunk and Sharp nailed a killing three-pointer to make it 75-94. Casspi added another dunk and finished an alley-hoop to make it a 20-point game before Hapoel narrowed the gap in the closing seconds. Morris led Maccabi with 18 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, Bynum added 17 points, Casspi shinned with 12 points and 7 rebounds, Eliyahu added 10 points and 9 rebounds, Esteban Batista had 10 points and 8 rebounds while David Bluthenthal scored 10. Pniny led Hapoel with 18 points, Jaime Arnold posted 17 points and 8 rebounds, Dror Hagag had 13 points and 10 assists and Shason and Ramel Curry scored 12 points apiece.
LAST GAME GAME 13
February 17-18, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | Feb. 17 | Hasharon vs. E. Ashkelon | 70-60 | | Feb. 18 | Gilboa/Afula vs. H. Holon | 79-93 | | Feb. 17 | Hapoel Jer. vs. Maccabi Elite | 85-101 | | Feb. 17 | Irony Ramat Gan vs. Rishon | 98-93 | | Feb. 17 | Galil Elion vs. Nahariya | 80-75 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 14
February 24-25, 2008 | | Day | Match | | Feb. 24 | Ashkelon vs. Galil Elion | | Feb. 24 | Nahariya vs. Irony Ramat | | Feb. 24 | Rishon vs. Hapoel Jer. | | Feb. 24 | Maccabi E. vs.Gilboa/Afula | | Feb. 25 | Hapoel Holon vs. Hasharon |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv | 13 | 10 | 3 | 1214 | 1057 | | 2 | B. Hashron | 13 | 9 | 4 | 1046 | 975 | | 3 | H. Holon | 13 | 8 | 5 | 1075 | 985 | | 4 | Ramat Gan | 13 | 7 | 6 | 1157 | 1189 | | 5 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 13 | 7 | 6 | 1071 | 1065 | | 6 | Nahariya | 13 | 7 | 6 | 1084 | 1079 | | 7 | Galil | 13 | 5 | 8 | 1111 | 1190 | | 8 | M. Rishon | 13 | 4 | 9 | 1019 | 1040 | | 9 | Gilboa/Afula | 13 | 4 | 9 | 1039 | 1119 | | 10 | Ashkelon | 13 | 4 | 9 | 1042 | 1159 |
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Sunday, February 17, 2008
Yarone Arbel, Jerusalem
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