Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 16: March 9-10, 2008
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Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv came one shot short of losing its third home game in seven games, but a last second shot by Tre Simmons fell short and the perennial champs recorded a thrilling 85-84 win over Hapoel Holon. Omri Casspi was the shining star as Maccabi improved to 12-4 with the come-from behind win. Casspi posted 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. This week presented two more games that were decided by a single basket, all in favor for the home team. Ironi Nahariya earned another close home win, 76-74, over Gilboa/Afula while Ironi Ashkelon beat Ironi Ramat Gan 93-92. Bnei Hasharon stayed one win behind Maccabi with an 11-5 record after a 73-86 win on the road against Rishon Lezion as Jason Williams scored 27 points. On Monday night Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem collected another road win with an 89-97 win at Galil Elyon behind a good debut by newly signed Orien Green.
It’s not often that Maccabi loses a home game in general, and especially in the Israeli league. On Sunday night it came close to registering a third home defeat in seven days. After losing double-digit leads in the fourth quarter to both Bnei Hasharon and Olympiacos, Maccabi found the energy to come back from behind against Hapoel Holon and somehow avenge a loss from the first round. Maccabi eventually won 85-84, but saw the visitors take a double-digit lead already in the second quarter. Head coach Zvika Sherf kept Vonteego Cummings on the bench for 40 minutes and got only five minutes on court from Nikola Vujcic, who's still not fully recovered from his injury. In addition Yotam Halperin was out of focus with an index of -7, and Holon wasn't shy to take advantage of that. Maccabi took a 19-14 lead, but saw Holon run 0-14 before the first-quarter buzzer behind Tre Simmons's and P.J. Tucker's dominance. Omri Casspi in another big game helped Maccabi to make it 25-31 after 10 minutes, but saw Tucker in every spot on the court on the way to a 31-44 Holon lead. Maccabi used a series of turnovers by the visitors to register 6 easy points in fast breaks and hit the break down only 45-49. Holon made it a 10-point game again before Derrick Sharp and Terence Morris answered with a 10-0 run and gave the lead back to Maccabi. From this point the teams were glued to each other. Tucker with another big play made it 81-84 with a minute left, but Casspi fixed a missed layup by Will Bynum to bring Maccabi within 1. Sharp was the savior once again with a steal and 2 points from the line, before Simmons went for the win with a difficult last second shot and missed. Morris had another double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, Casspi posted 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks, Sharp finished with 14 points and Bynum had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. On the other side Tucker became the third visiting player in a week to score 30 points or more when he compiled 30 points and 12 rebounds, Simmons added 20 and Moran Roth contributed 12 points with 6 assists. Elton Brown in his debut with Holon added 7 points and 4 rebounds in eight minutes.
Hapoel Jerusalem earned its third road win of the season after a tough battle with Hapoel Galil Elyon that lasted more than three quarters. Hapoel saw a big debut game by newly signed point guard Orien Green, who finished the game with 12 points, 5 assists and big plays when needed, on the way to an 89-97 win. Galil stormed from the start and took a 21-11 lead thanks to Gili Mosinzon. The hosts were still in control at the end of the first quarter, 28-18. Jai Lewis and Or Eitan kept the locals' lead in the low teens, but Timmy Bowers and Sharon Shason fired up before half time, to make it 51-48 after 20 minutes. Galil saw the visitors cut the lead, only to take off again and once again see Hapoel breathing down its neck thanks with big plays by Guy Pniny. A three-pointer by Jayson Wells gave Hapoel the lead for the first time since the early minutes, and enter the last quarter up 66-67. Shason added another ace from long range, Wells hit shot after shot and Pniny scored 10 fourth-quarter points to mark Hapoel's dominance. Green's three-pointer made it a 10-point game for Jerusalem and the visitors continued to climb to a 17-point lead on the way to the win. Pniny scored a season-high 25 for Jerusalem, Shason had 18 on 5 shots from downtown and 7 rebounds, Green had 12 points and 5 assists, Wells scored 12 as well and Bowers collected 11. Aaron Nixon led Galil with 17 points, Mike Campbell added 16, Mosinzon had 15 and 6 turnovers and Clif Brown had 13 points with 8 rebounds.
LAST GAME GAME 16
March 9-10, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | Mar. 9 | Ashkelon vs. Ramat Gan | 93-92 | | Mar. 10 | Galil Elion vs. Hapoel Jer. | 89-97 | | Mar. 9 | Nahariya vs. Gilboa/Afula | 76-74 | | Mar. 9 | Rishon Lezion vs. Hasharon | 73-86 | | Mar. 9 | Maccabi Elite vs. H. Holon | 85-84 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 17
March 16-17, 2008 | | Day | Match | | Mar. 16 | Maccabi Elite vs. Ashkelon | | Mar. 16 | Hapoel Holon vs. Rishon | | Mar. 16 | Hasharon vs. Nahariya | | Mar. 16 | Gilboa/Afula vs. Galil Elion | | Mar. 16 | Hapoel Jer. vs. Ramat Gan |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Maccabi | 16 | 12 | 4 | 1459 | 1301 | | 2 | B. Hashron | 16 | 11 | 5 | 1286 | 1201 | | 3 | Ramat Gan | 16 | 9 | 7 | 1438 | 1456 | | 4 | Hapoel J. | 16 | 9 | 7 | 1337 | 1323 | | 5 | H. Holon | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1324 | 1212 | | 6 | Nahariya | 16 | 9 | 7 | 1327 | 1324 | | 7 | Ashkelon | 16 | 6 | 10 | 1324 | 1430 | | 8 | M. Rishon | 16 | 5 | 11 | 1276 | 1306 | | 9 | Galil | 16 | 5 | 11 | 1381 | 1502 | | 10 | Gilboa/Afula | 16 | 4 | 12 | 1280 | 1377 |
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Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv
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