Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 21: April 13-14, 2008
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Only three days after securing its place in the Euroleague Final Four, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv had a letdown and a pick-me-up in a wild, come-from-behind overtime win over rival Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday night in the Israeli League. Maccabi trailed by as many as 20 and was down 14 in the fourth quarter before storming back for a 113-111 win at Nokia Arena. Hapoel, which was missing point guard Dror Hagag who stayed home with illness, used a hot-shooting second period to build a big lead and coasted for much of the game from that point. However Maccabi stormed back in the closing minutes and with some timely plays from David Bluthenthal, Will Bynum and Terence Morris was able to force overtime. Then Maccabi raced ahead, Hapoel came back to tie and Yotam Halperin iced the game from the line. Bynum led the Maccabi charge with 29 points, while Erez Markovic recorded 23 points and 16 rebounds for Hapoel in defeat. The result combined with Bnei Hasharon’s 75-90 loss to Holon saw Maccabi return to first place in the league with a 16-5 record. But next week Maccabi travels to Holon, now tied for second with Bnei Hasharon at 15-6, for a top-of-the-table clash. Holon has already defeated Maccabi at home this season. In other games, Ashkelon beat Ramat Gan on the road 100-104 after overtime, Ironi Nahariya defeated Rishon Lezion on the road 76-94 and Galil Elyon earned its third win in a row since Oded Kattash took over with an 85-91 win at Gilboa/Afula.
Maccabi enjoyed the better start, but couldn't make a run. Halperin connected from long range, but picked up two fouls as Maccabi took a 28-24 lead. Hapoel finished the first quarter with a 0-5 run to take a narrow lead after 10 minutes. Jerusalem connected on 5 of its first 6 three-point attempts on the way to a 30-40 lead and Ramel Curry added one more to shock Maccabi with a 35-52 lead. The champs woke up with an 11-2 run to make it an 8-point game, but the visiting side countered with the next 6 points. Still a Tal Burstein triple made 49-60 at the break. Maccabi started the second half with aggressive defense, but had trouble rebounding. Hapoel's shooting slipped, but Markovic’s dominance of the offensive glass kept the visitors in control. His 13th offensive board of the half resulted in a point from the line that made it 83-91 with less than two minutes to play. Maccabi switched to full court pressure as Morris came up with a big steal and a dunk to make it a 4-point game. Hapoel climbed again to 7 before Bluthenthal kept the game alive with a three and Bynum hit twice from the line to make it just a 2-point game. Timmy Bowers hit just one from the line before Omri Casspi set up Bluthenthal to tie it at 96-96 with 11 seconds to go. Orion Greene in a huge coast-to-coast put Hapoel back on top, but Morris and Bynum combined on a nifty in-bounds play to tie the score and send the game to overtime. Bynum scored the first 4 overtime points. Guy Pniny and Timmy Bowers turned the score over, but Casspi with 4 points and Bynum with a three made it 111-105. Hapoel came back this time and tied it on Pniny's triple, 111-111 with 30 seconds on the clock. Halperin decided to take the game on his shoulders, slashed and drew a foul. He sank both shots with 7 seconds on the clock, and when Greene tried to recreate his basket from the end of the fourth quarter, came Morris to change his shot and seal a thrilling win. Bynum finished with 29 points and 5 assists, Halperin scored 18 including 8 free throws without a miss and 6 assists, Bluthenthal added 15, Casspi had 14 and Morris finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. For Jerusalem, Jamie Arnold finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, Bowers scored 24 and dished 8 assists, Markovic had 23 points and 16 rebounds, Curry scored 13 and Pniny finished with 11.
LAST GAME GAME 21
April 13-14, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | Apr. 13 | Ramat Gan vs. Ashkelon | 100-104 | | Apr. 13 | Gilboa/Afula vs. Galil Elion | 85-91 | | Apr. 13 | Rishon Lezion vs. Nahariya | 76-94 | | Apr. 13 | Maccabi Elite vs.Hapoel Jer | 113-111 | | Apr. 14 | Bnei Hasharon vs. H. Holon | 75-90 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 22
April 21-22, 2008 | | Day | Match | | Apr. 21 | Bnei Hasharon vs. R. Gan | | Apr. 21 | H. Holon vs. Maccabi Elite | | Apr. 22 | Hapoel Jer. vs. Rishon | | Apr. 21 | Nahariya vs. Gilboa/Afula | | Apr. 21 | Galil Elion vs. Ashkelon |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 21 | 16 | 5 | 1936 | 1718 | | 2 | Bnei Hasharon | 21 | 15 | 6 | 1677 | 1572 | | 3 | H. Holon | 21 | 15 | 6 | 1768 | 1596 | | 4 | Ashkelon | 21 | 10 | 11 | 1780 | 1878 | | 5 | Nahariya | 21 | 10 | 11 | 1736 | 1742 | | 6 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 21 | 10 | 11 | 1769 | 1773 | | 7 | Ramat Gan | 21 | 9 | 12 | 1850 | 1913 | | 8 | Galil | 21 | 8 | 13 | 1787 | 1914 | | 9 | Gilboa/Afula | 21 | 7 | 14 | 1668 | 1765 | | 10 | M. Rishon | 21 | 5 | 16 | 1659 | 1759 |
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Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv
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