Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 14: February 24-25, 2008
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Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem both needed to work hard before gaining another victory to keep the momentum going in the Israeli League. Maccabi, trailed at home with five minutes to go, but rallied to beat Gilboa/Afula 82-74 behind a big game from Omri Casspi, who posted 20 points and 6 rebounds. Meanwhile, After leading by as many as 27 points in the third quarter, Hapoel needed a wild three-pointer from Guy Pniny in the closing seconds to gain a road win at Rishon Lezion 84-87. Jamie Arnold was Hapoel’s go-to guy with 17 points and 17 boards. In other games around the league Ironi Ashkelon trashed Galil Elyon 115-89 to tie records with the losing side at 5-9. Steve Burtt and Yuval Naimi combined for 52 points and 11 assists to pace the winners. And Ironi Ramat Gan scored a big win on the road against Nahariya 82-89 to reach an 8-6 record tied with Hapoel. Michael Kuebler scored 18 for to pace Ramat Gan.
Earlier this month Maccabi faced Gilboa/Afula in the national cup semi-finals and had to leave a lot of sweat behind before reaching the goal. On Sunday, the visitors gave another worthy battle to Maccabi, but once again saw the champs carry out an 82-74 win. Maccabi scored on an incredible 72% of its field goals from two-point range, but was able to open a gap only in the closing minutes. In the first quarter it was Amit Ben-David and Adam Hall who gave the visiting side a surprising 20-26 lead after one quarter. Gur Porat held Gilboa's lead during the second quarter, until Omri Casspi and Terence Morris stormed back, but only to enter the break down 38-41. A series of downtown hits by Derrick Sharp and Yotam Halperin finally tied the teams on 60-60 but it wasn't enough to break the underdog's spirit. Reavon Couveil made it 66-68 Gilboa with five minutes on the clock, but then came a 10-0 Maccabi run, which left Gilboa shocked, and let Maccabi collect another league win. Casspi was the top scorer with 20 and 6 rebounds, Morris added 17 points and 11 rebounds, Sharp collected 16 while Halperin had 15 points and 4 assists. Jermaine Hall led the losing side with 14, Porat and Hanan Coleman scored 11 and Ben-David finished with 10.
Two days before its crucial road game against Besiktas in the ULEB Cup, Hapoel added a second road win to its record with a thrilling 84-87 victory at Rishon Lezion. Guy Pniny showed how to do it by nailing a wild three-point shot at the buzzer, after Rishon came back from a 27-point difference early in the third. Hapoel jumped on its opponent right from the start and with a 0-11 run late in the first quarter took a 12-25 lead after 10 minutes. Ramel Curry and Timmy Bowers kept on pushing the paddle and brought Hapoel to the halftime break with a 25-48 lead, which developed to 30-57 in the early minutes of the third quarter. Cedrick Banks led Rishon on a 16-0 run, but it didn't stop there. Rishon made it all the way to a 4-point game with 10 minutes on the clock, after a 32-9 run. The locals completed the run by taking a 75-71 lead, but Jaime Arnold and Dror Hagag put Hapoel on top again. Rishon tied the game at 84-84 from the line, and in its last possession Hapoel's set was jammed. Three Rishon players somehow didn't catch the loose ball, and Pniny with an off-balance jumper nailed a three-pointer with the buzzer. Arnold finished with a monster 17 points and 17 rebounds double-double, Bowers scored 15, Curry and Pniny had 13 each and Sharon Shason added 11. Banks led Rishon with 25 points, Bryant Markson scored 20 and Jerel Blassingame contributed 17.
LAST GAME GAME 14
February 24-25, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | Feb. 24 | Ashkelon vs. Galil Elion | 115-89 | | Feb. 24 | Nahariya vs. Ramat Gan | 82-89 | | Feb. 24 | Rishon Lezion vs.Hapoel Jer. | 84-87 | | Feb. 24 | Maccabi Elite vs. Gilboa | 82-74 | | Feb. 25 | H. Holon vs. Bnei Hasharon | 75-68 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 15
March 2-3, 2008 | | Day | Match | | Mar. 2 | H. Holon vs. Eldan Ashkelon | | Mar. 2 | Gilboa/Afula vs. Rishon | | Mar. 2 | Nahariya vs. Hapoel Jer. | | Mar. 2 | Ramat Gan vs. Galil Elion | | Mar. 2 | Maccabi Elite vs. Hasharon |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Maccabi Elite | 14 | 11 | 3 | 1296 | 1131 | | 2 | B. Hashron | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1114 | 1050 | | 3 | H. Holon | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1150 | 1053 | | 4 | Ramat Gan | 14 | 8 | 6 | 1246 | 1271 | | 5 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 14 | 8 | 6 | 1158 | 1149 | | 6 | Nahariya | 14 | 7 | 7 | 1166 | 1168 | | 7 | Ashkelon | 14 | 5 | 9 | 1157 | 1248 | | 8 | Galil | 14 | 5 | 9 | 1200 | 1305 | | 9 | M. Rishon | 14 | 4 | 10 | 1103 | 1127 | | 10 | Gilboa/Afula | 14 | 4 | 10 | 1113 | 1201 |
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv
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