Israeli League, Regular Season, Game 23: April 27-28, 2008
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Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv fell from the top spot in the Israeli League on Sunday when it lost 88-87 at Ironi Nahariya. Ashante Johnson’s basket with 30 seconds left proved to be the winner after Alex Garcia came up short for Maccabi in the closing seconds. The defending champs slipped to 16-7, while Hapoel Holon, which blasted Ironi Ramat Gan 120-74, climbed to 17-6. Bnei Hasharon could also jump ahead of Maccabi if it beats Hapoel Jerusalem on Monday. It was Maccabi’s second straight Israeli League loss and third in the last four games – all by a single basket. In Sunday’s other games, surging Rishon Lezion scored its second straight road win, this time at Galil Elyon, 82-84, to climb out of last place, while Ironi Ashkelon downed Gilboa/Afula 83-82 to stay strong in the race for the fourth spot. Gilboa/Afula dropped to last place at 7-16.
Maccabi arrived to Nahariya with big desire to start a new winning streak and finish the last weeks of the season with some momentum, but found a home team that needed the win just as much to stay strong in the race for the Final Four. Nahariya gained its third win in a row since head coach Roni Bosani took over and sent Maccabi to do some more thinking before leaving for the Euroleague Basketball Final Four in Madrid. Nahariya took the early lead and finished the first quarter with a 24-18 lead. Yotam Halperin and Alex Garcia carried Maccabi back and despite the locals hitting from long range, the teams entered the break tied at 47-47. Will Bynum and David Bluthenthal found their rhythm as Maccabi built a 9-point lead, but soft defense allowed Nahariya to get back in the game and enter the last quarter down only 64-70. Maccabi went up by 8, but saw Ashante Johnson hit his fourth three-pointer as Nahariya stormed back to 80-81. Bynum made it a 5-point game, but Nahariya slashed to the rim to finish a 6-0 spurt entering the last minute. Nikola Vujcic with a lay up put Maccabi on top, but Johnson nailed his last bucket with 30.6 on the clock, 88-87. Garcia had the last chance for Maccabi, but he missed as Nahariya gained control on the ball and secured another key win. Johnson led the winners with 22 points, while Otis Hill added 15 and Adrian Pledger 11. Halperin shinned for Maccabi with 20 points and 8 assists, Bluthenthal added 20 points and Vujcic and Bynum scored 11 each.
LAST GAME GAME 23
April 27-28, 2008 | | Day | Match | Result | | Apr. 27 | Hapoel Holon vs. Ramat Gan | 120-74 | | Apr. 28 | Hapoel Jer. vs. B. Hasharon | 77-69 | | Apr. 27 | Nahariya vs. Maccabi Elite | 88-87 | | Apr. 27 | Galil Elion vs. Rishon Lezion | 82-84 | | Apr. 27 | Ashkelon vs. Gilboa/Afula | 83-82 |
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NEXT GAME GAME 24
May 5, 2008 | | Day | Match | | May 5 | Ramat Gan vs.Gilboa/Afula | | May 5 | Rishon Lezion vs. Ashkelon | | May 5 | Maccabi Elite vs.Galil Elion | | May 5 | Bnei Hasharon vs.Nahariya | | May 5 | H. Holon vs. Hapoel Jer. |
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| STANDINGS | TG | W | L | P+ | P- | | 1 | Hapoel Holon | 23 | 17 | 6 | 1989 | 1769 | | 2 | Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv | 23 | 16 | 7 | 2122 | 1907 | | 3 | Bnei Hasharon | 23 | 15 | 8 | 1821 | 1729 | | 4 | Nahariya | 23 | 12 | 11 | 1908 | 1909 | | 5 | Ashkelon | 23 | 12 | 11 | 1950 | 2043 | | 6 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 23 | 11 | 12 | 1921 | 1924 | | 7 | Ramat Gan | 23 | 10 | 13 | 2004 | 2108 | | 8 | Galil | 23 | 8 | 15 | 1952 | 2085 | | 9 | M. Rishon | 23 | 7 | 16 | 1825 | 1916 | | 10 | Gilboa/Afula | 23 | 7 | 16 | 1830 | 1932 |
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Yarone Arbel, Tel Aviv
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