Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 26: May 14-15, 2008
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Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv finally ended its record four-game Israeli League losing streak with a 95-69 home win over Gilboa/Afula on Wednesday. This result sentenced the losing side to last place in the standings and relegation from the top league. Esteban Batista led the Maccabi charge with 18 points and 7 rebounds. On Thursday, Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem remained alive in the race for a spot in the Israeli final four after a 93-89 overtime win over Ironi Nahariya. Hapoel needs to win next week and for both Nahariya and Ironi Ashkelon to lose in order not to finish the season earlier than expected. Hapoel Holon beat Galil Elyon 93-84 in overtime thanks to 21 points and 11 rebounds from Elton Brown to secure the first spot in the standings at the end of the regular season. Nitzan Hanochi drilled 29 points as Bnei Hasharon beat Ironi Ashkelon 84-76 despite an injured line up, and will face Maccabi in the semifinals, after beating the champs three times during the regular season. Also Thursday, Ironi Ramat Gan defeated Rishon Lezion 120-79 as Ori Itchaki scored 27 to lead seven Ramat Gan scorers in double figures.
Maccabi was looking to gain some confidence back and end its losing streak at Nokia arena against the must-win-to-survive visitors from Gilboa/Afula, but a big night by Esteban Batista and great accuracy from long range – 13 hits in 50% – resulted in a 95-69 win. Maccabi stormed right from the start as Omri Casspi was everywhere and David Bluthenthal came off the bench to hit from long range and get Maccabi ahead 24-15 after 10 minutes. Batista started to collect points and was quickly joined by Alex Garcia and Derrick Sharp on the way to a 52-35 half time lead. Maccabi saw Terence Morris finish a fast break with a big dunk and Bluthenthal hit his third three-pointer of the night. Another run early in the fourth set the difference on 29 and decided the visitors' fate. Batista finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Bluthenthal added 16, Garcia 13 and Yotam Halperin 10. Lamont Jones led the losing side with 18.
Hapoel Jerusalem had a must-win-to-survive game itself in order to stay in the run for the final four and needed a last minute come back in the fourth quarter and an overtime to keep Ironi Nahariya down 93-89 and postpone the final outcome for next week. Hapoel hit 22 of 26 free throws against a poor night by Nahariya from the line when only 11 out of 26 shots went in on its side. Guy Pniny carried Hapoel in the first quarter to an early 8-point lead before Jamie Arnold set the first quarter score at 25-19. Nahariya made a run to get only 1 point behind, but Pniny fixed it for Hapoel and with a three that made it 43-35 at halftime. Otis Hill and Ido Kozikaro started to collect points in the paint and give Nahariya its first lead of the night late in the third, before Timmy Bowers made it 66-65 Hapoel with one quarter to play. Nahariya's big men didn't stop their run as Hapoel found itself down 66-73 behind a 0-8 run. The lead changed hands before Kozikaro in a big play and an additional point by Barak Peleg made it 76-80 for Nahariya with 21.2 seconds on the clock. Bowers stepped up to score 5 free throws in 6 attempts in the last seconds and use a turnover by Kozikaro to send the game to overtime tied at 81-81. Sharon Shason stepped up with two long-range hits, the latter set the score on 92-88, and after Matan Naor missed from long range, the game was sealed. Arnold and Pniny scored 20 each, Bowers added 19 and Dror Hagag scored 11 for Hapoel. Hill led Nahariya with 21 points, Ido Kozikaro added 18 with 9 rebounds and Peleg and John Gilchrist scored 11 each.
LAST GAME GAME 26
May 15, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | May 15 | Ramat Gan vs. Rishon Lezion | 120-79 | | May 15 | Maccabi Elite vs. Gilboa | 95-69 | | May 15 | B. Hasharon vs. Ashkelon | 84-76 | | May 15 | Hapoel Holon vs. Galil Elion | 93-84 | | May 15 | Hapoel Jer. vs. Nahariya | 93-89 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 27
May 20, 2008 | | Day | Match | | May 20 | Nahariya vs. Ramat Gan | | May 20 | Galil Elion vs. Hapoel Jer. | | May 20 | Eldan Ashkelon vs.H. Holon | | May 20 | Gilboa/Afula vs. Hasharon | | May 20 | Rishon vs. Maccabi Elite |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Hapoel Holon | 26 | 19 | 7 | 2263 | 2040 | | 2 | Bnei Hashron | 26 | 17 | 9 | 2056 | 1959 | | 3 | Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv | 26 | 17 | 9 | 2380 | 2153 | | 4 | Nahariya | 26 | 14 | 12 | 2176 | 2149 | | 5 | Ashkelon | 26 | 13 | 13 | 2210 | 2306 | | 6 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 26 | 13 | 13 | 2198 | 2200 | | 7 | Ramat Gan | 26 | 12 | 14 | 2307 | 2367 | | 8 | M. Rishon | 26 | 9 | 17 | 2071 | 2195 | | 9 | Galil Elion | 26 | 9 | 17 | 2187 | 2332 | | 10 | Gilboa/Afula | 26 | 7 | 19 | 2058 | 2205 |
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Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv
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