Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 19: March 27-31, 2008
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Another exciting week of the Israeli Basketball Super League saw the top teams separate themselves from the pack as Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and Hapoel Holon registered win, while Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem, Nahariya and Ramat Gan all went down. Defending champion Maccabi won 90-69 over Ramat Gan in a game that was moved up to Thursday. Maccabi big men Terence Morris and Nikola Vujcic showed they are ready for the Euroleague Quarterfinal Playoffs clash with AXA FC Barcelona with big games. Morris led the champs with 20 points and 8 boards, while Vujcic posted 12 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. On Sunday, Holon rolled over Gilboa/Afula 77-64 and took advantage of Jerusalem’s stunning loss to open a three-victory lead on the cup winners. Hapoel was upset at home by Ironi Ashkelon 77-82. It was Ashkelon’s third straight win over Jerusalem this season. Meanwhile Oded Kattash collected his first win as the new head coach of Galil Elyon 73-83 over struggling Nahariya.
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv showed no mercy against Ramat Gan in a 90-69 win on Thursday. The main attraction of the game was the return to courts of Tal Burstein. The three-time Euroleague champion spent 10 minutes on the floor and finished his 2007/08 debut with 9 points – including 2 three-pointers. The visitors surprised by taking a small early lead leading 29-38 at halftime despite Burstein's appearance in the second quarter. However Alex Garcia and Terence Morris showed aggressiveness on defense and together with Will Bynum led the champs on a 7-0 run early in the third quarter. David Bluthenthal nailed a triple to give Maccabi the lead on the way to a 57-54 yellow-and-blue advantage entering the deciding quarter. Morris and Garcia then put an end to Ramat Gan’s upset hopes. Five points in a row by Garcia made it 74-62, on the way to a 33-15 third quarter and another Maccabi win. Morris led the champs with 20 points and 8 boards, Yotam Halperin and Nikola Vujcic scored 12 each as Halperin added 9 assists and Vujcic finished his 28 minutes on court close to a triple double with 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Brian Tolbert led the losing side with 19 points and Ori Itchaki added 17.
Ironi Ashkelon defeated Hapoel Jerusalem for the third time this season and second in the Israeli capital 77-82 on Sunday. The loss dropped Hapoel a 10-9 record, but head coach Dan Shamir’s side is still in fourth place. Hapoel had the better start with an 11-4 lead, but Yariv Yatzkan led Ashkelon to a 17-21 difference after one quarter. Hapoel made the next run, 16-2 on the way to a 42-35 lead at half time, but Ashkelon waited for its chance to strike back. Steve Burtt Jr. and Chris Massie carried Ashkelon to within 1 point of Hapoel and Yuval Na'aimi, who's on loan to Ashkelon from Hapoel, tied it with a triple entering the last quarter, 57-57. Sharon Shason was in a day he would like to forget missing all of his 9 shots from the field. He was on court as Ashkelon made a 0-7 run to take a 71-77 lead with a little over a minute to play. Hapoel tried to save its pride, but Timmy Bowers's attempt was blocked as Ashkelon celebrated for the third time this season against Hapoel. Erez Marckovich led Hapoel with 15 points and nine rebounds, Bowers added 12 and Orien Greene had 11. Yatzkan led Ashkelon with 17, Cory Carr had 15 and Na'aimi 14.
LAST GAME GAME 19
March 27-31, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | Mar. 24 | Maccabi vs. Ramat Gan | 90-69 | | Mar. 23 | Bnei Hasharon vs. Rishon | 69-59 | | Mar. 23 | H. Holon vs. Gilboa/Afula | 77-64 | | Mar. 23 | Hapoel Jer. vs. Ashkelon | 77-82 | | Mar. 23 | Nahariya vs. Galil Elion | 73-83 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 20
April 6-7, 2008 | | Day | Match | | Apr. 6 | amat Gan vs. Galil Elion | | Apr. 6 | Eldan Ashkelon vs.Nahariya | | Apr. 7 | Gilboa/Afula vs. Hapoel Jer. | | Apr. 6 | Rishon Lezion vs. H. Holon | | Apr. 6 | Maccabi Elite vs. Hasharon |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv | 19 | 15 | 4 | 1745 | 1528 | | 2 | Bnei Hasharon | 19 | 14 | 5 | 1523 | 1404 | | 3 | H. Holon | 19 | 13 | 6 | 1571 | 1431 | | 4 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 19 | 10 | 9 | 1580 | 1579 | | 5 | Nahariya | 19 | 9 | 10 | 1555 | 1566 | | 6 | Ramat Gan | 19 | 9 | 10 | 1664 | 1710 | | 7 | Ashkelon | 19 | 8 | 11 | 1576 | 1691 | | 8 | Gilboa/Afula | 19 | 6 | 13 | 1502 | 1596 | | 9 | Galil | 19 | 6 | 13 | 1597 | 1743 | | 10 | M. Rishon | 19 | 5 | 14 | 1493 | 1558 |
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Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv
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