Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 17: March 16-17, 2008
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One week before the end of the second round of play, there were no big upsets in the Israeli League as Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv hosted Ironi Ashkelon from the lower part of the table and cruised to a 108-81 win, while Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem edged Ironi Ramat Gan 90-85 after trailing for three quarters and Bnei Hasharon earned another home win. Yotam Halperin led six Maccabi scorers in double figures with 15 points as the defending champs improved to 13-4 – one win more than second place Bnei Hasharon and three more than Hapoel, which was led by Guy Pniny’s 26 points and 5 assists in its win. Bnei Hasharon got its 12th win behind an 84-81 home win over Ironi Nahariya after a tough battle and another big performance by Meir Tapiro who recorded 15 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Meanwhile Gilboa/Afula beat Galil Elyon in a key match 84-70 despite 20 points and 7 assists by Yogev Ohayon.
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv cruised to a 108-81 win over Ironi Ashkelon on Sunday. Omri Casspi scored 9 first-quarter point and led Maccabi to a 30-22 lead, despite a some big plays by Steve Burtt, who came strong off the bench. Yuval Na'aimi showed his set of skills and after four minutes in the second quarter, the visitors took a shocking 37-38 lead. However Will Bynum and Derrick Sharp set things straight and by halftime Maccabi led 55-45. Yotam Haperin found his spot with a big third quarter and after Lior Eliyahu connected a big dunk with a three pointer Maccabi took a 14-point difference, 79-65. Chris Massie picked up points in the paint to calm things down, but when Sharp and Vonteego Cummings hit triples the deal was done and Maccabi cruised to a 27-point win. Halperin was the top scorer with 15 points, Casspi added 14, Sharp scored all of his 12 points from long range without a miss and Esteban Batista, Cummings and Nikola Vujcic added 11 each. Massie had 23 with 10 rebounds for Ashkeon and Na'aimi added 17.
Hapoel hosted one of the biggest hits of the league this season, Ironi Ramat Gan, in a game that could have a lot of say in the Final Four picture at the end of May. The visitors led for three quarter before Hapoel took over with a 12-0 run and maintained the lead till the 90-85 win. Already after four minutes the visitors took a 6-12 lead, and finished the first quarter up 19-27. Brian Tolbert hit from long range to make a double-digit lead for Ramat Gan, but Guy Pniny and Timmy Bowers woke up in time to make it just a 7-point game at halftime, 40-47. Jason Wells with a good start of the third quarter brought Hapoel within 1 point, but the visiting side found the coolness to keep their lead up and enter the last period of the game up 62-65. Now, when the game was on the line, Hapoel found once again the path to win it. Wells and Dror Hagag led a 12-0 run to take a 76-70 lead. Still Ramat Gan wasn't ready to give up yet. Rob Brown and Tolbert put up a fight, but saw Pniny connect a big three-pointer and 2 from the line to secure Hapoel's 90-85 win. Pniny paced Jerusalem with 26 points and 5 assists, Jaime Arnold and Wells scored 14 each and Bowers had 11. Tolbert with 27 points, Jerome Beasley with 20 and Brown with 17, 8 rebounds and 5 assists led the losing side.
LAST GAME GAME 17
March 16-17, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | Mar. 16 | Maccabi Elite vs. Ashkelon | 108-81 | | Mar. 17 | Hapoel Holon vs. Rishon | 95-81 | | Mar. 16 | Hasharon vs. Nahariya | 84-81 | | Mar. 16 | Gilboa/Afula vs. Galil Elyon | 84-70 | | Mar. 16 | Hapoel Jer. vs. Ramat Gan | 90-85 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 18
March 23-24, 2008 | | Day | Match | | Mar. 23 | Ashkelon vs. Hapoel Jer. | | Mar. 23 | Ramat vs. Gilboa/Afula | | Mar. 23 | Galil Elyon vs. Hasharon | | Mar. 23 | Nahariya vs. Hapoel Holon | | Mar. 23 | Rishon vs. Maccabi Elite |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv | 17 | 13 | 4 | 1567 | 1382 | | 2 | B. Hashron | 17 | 12 | 5 | 1370 | 1282 | | 3 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 17 | 10 | 7 | 1427 | 1408 | | 4 | H. Holon | 17 | 11 | 6 | 1419 | 1293 | | 5 | Nahariya | 17 | 9 | 8 | 1408 | 1408 | | 6 | Ramat Gan | 17 | 9 | 8 | 1523 | 1546 | | 7 | Ashkelon | 17 | 6 | 11 | 1405 | 1538 | | 8 | M. Rishon | 17 | 5 | 12 | 1357 | 1401 | | 9 | Gilboa/Afula | 17 | 5 | 12 | 1364 | 1447 | | 10 | Galil | 17 | 5 | 12 | 1451 | 1586 |
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Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv
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