Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
Ninth-ranked Afula (2-5) gave a tough game to second ranked Hapoel Jerusalem (6-1) on Saturday. Hapoel Jerusalem managed to secure only two-point victory 80-78. However their fans expected much easier game. H.Jerusalem made 21-of-25 free shots (84.0 percent) during the game. 25 personal fouls committed by H.Afula helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Americans were the main players on the court. It was a great evening for point guard Jared Harper (178-1997, college: Auburn) who led his team to a victory scoring 28 points and 4 assists. Jeremy Morgan (198-1995, college: UNI) helped adding 10 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side Jalen Lecque (194-2000, college: NC State) responded with 22 points and 4 assists (made all of his nine free throws !!!). Hapoel Jerusalem have an impressive series of five victories in a row. H.Jerusalem maintains second place with 6-1 record having just one point less than leader H.Tel-Aviv. H.Afula at the other side keeps the ninth position with five games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. H.Jerusalem are looking forward to face H.Be’er Sheva (#8) in Beer Sheva in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. H.Afula will play at home against I.Ness Ziona and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Ironi Nes-Ziona managed to get a second victory, breaking the series of two consecutive losses. This time they won against tenth-ranked Kiryat Ata in Nes Ziyona 97-82. It’s especially surprising that the victory came too easily and 15-point difference suggests that Ironi Nes-Ziona is in a good shape to leave the bottom place. It was an exceptional evening for American Bryce Brown (190-1997, college: Auburn) who led the winners and scored 23 points and 5 assists. Yair Kravitz accounted for 13 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. American Chris Smith (206-1999, college: UCLA) came up with 12 points and 8 rebounds for Kiryat Ata in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. I.Ness Ziona (2-5) moved-up to ninth place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Kiryat Ata. I.Ness Ziona will play against H.Afula (#9) on the road in the next round. Kiryat Ata will play against E.Netanya and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Holon was also quite interesting. Leader Hapoel Tel-Aviv (6-0) played at the court of 5th ranked Hapoel Holon (4-2). Hapoel Tel-Aviv managed to secure a 4-point victory 72-68 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Hapoel Holon. Marcus Foster fired 23 points for the winners. Hapoel Tel-Aviv’s coach Dimitris Itoudis used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Jalen Adams produced 16 points and 5 rebounds for lost side. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Hapoel Tel-Aviv. H.Tel-Aviv keeps a position of league leader. Loser Hapoel Holon dropped to the sixth place with two games lost. H.Tel-Aviv will meet at home H.Gilboa Galil (#12) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. H.Holon will play against Bnei Hertzeliya (#4) in Hod Hasharon and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
In the last two games of round 7 H.Haifa was destroyed by H.Gilboa Galil on the opponent’s court 100-81. E.Netanya unfortunately lost to Bnei Hertzeliya in a home game 80-85.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 12 points and 5 rebounds by Bar Timor of H.Tel-Aviv.
H.Gilboa Galil – H.Haifa 100-81
There was a minor upset in Gan Ner where 11th ranked Hapoel Haifa (1-5) was crushed by thirteenth ranked H.Gilboa Galil (2-5) 100-81 on Friday. H.Gilboa Galil made 19-of-23 free shots (82.6 percent) during the game. H.Gilboa Galil had a 16-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American guard Ishmael El-Amin (189-1998, college: URI) fired 34 points (!!!) for the winners. The former international point guard Gil Beni (180-1998) chipped in 8 points, 7 rebounds and 14 assists. American guard Cameron Young (195-1996, college: Quinnipiac) produced 17 points (made all of his nine free throws !!!) and the other American import point guard Kenny Boynton (188-1991, college: Florida) added 11 points respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Hapoel Haifa’s coach rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. H.Gilboa Galil moved-up to ninth place, which they share with 3 other teams. H.Haifa lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the thirteenth position with five games lost. H.Gilboa Galil will meet league’s leader H.Tel-Aviv in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. H.Haifa will play against H.Galil Elion (#7) in Kfar Blum and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
H.Haifa: C.Young 17+1reb+2ast, K.Boynton 11+2reb+3ast, D.Rosenbaum 11, A.Gershon 10+2reb+2ast, J.Gant 10+3reb, W.Workman 9+2reb
H.Gilboa Galil: I.El-Amin 34+1reb+2ast, G.Lavy 17+8reb+2ast, L.Amsalem 17+5reb, B.Moore 16+4reb+2ast, G.Beni 8+7reb+14ast, T.Peled 3
gschID: 1196041
E.Netanya – Bnei Hertzeliya 80-85
Very predictable result when sixth ranked Bnei Hertzeliya (5-2) defeated on the road bottom-ranked E.Netanya (1-6) 85-80 on Saturday. Bnei Hertzeliya looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Americans were the main players on the court also this time. Forward Xavier Sneed (196-1997, college: Kansas St.) fired 20 points and 5 assists for the winners. Forward Josh Hawley (202-1996, college: Tarleton St.) chipped in 8 points and 13 rebounds. Forward Bryce Washington (203-1996, college: Louisiana) produced a double-double by scoring 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and guard Carlos Marshall Jr (198-1999, college: Santa Clara) added 17 points and 7 rebounds respectively for lost side. E.Netanya’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Bnei Hertzeliya moved-up to fourth place. E.Netanya lost their fifth game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the bottom position with six games lost. Bnei Hertzeliya will meet at home H.Holon (#6) in the next round. E.Netanya will play against Kiryat Ata (#11) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
E.Netanya: B.Washington 28+10reb+5ast, C.Marshall Jr. 17+7reb+1ast, I.Moshkovitz 15+5reb+3ast, I.Shavit 7+6reb, R.Paretsky 6+1reb+2ast, E.Romero 4+2reb+3ast
Bnei Hertzeliya: X.Sneed 20+4reb+5ast, E.Burg 15+2reb+1ast, J.Clark III 15+3reb+3ast, J.Hawley 8+13reb+1ast, C.Silva 8+7reb+6ast, D.Francis 7+5reb+3ast
gschID: 1196042
I.Ness Ziona – Kiryat Ata 97-82
Bottom-ranked Ironi Nes-Ziona managed to get a second victory, breaking the series of two consecutive losses. This time they won against tenth-ranked Kiryat Ata in Nes Ziyona 97-82. It’s especially surprising that the victory came too easily and 15-point difference suggests that Ironi Nes-Ziona is in a good shape to leave the bottom place. I.Ness Ziona players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American Bryce Brown (190-1997, college: Auburn) who led the winners and scored 23 points and 5 assists (made all of his nine free throws !!!). International guard Yair Kravitz (195-1999, agency: Avi Zilberman) accounted for 13 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side. Four Ironi Nes-Ziona players scored in double figures. American Chris Smith (206-1999, college: UCLA) came up with 12 points and 8 rebounds and Angolan forward Silvio de Sousa (206-1998, college: Chattanooga) added 15 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Kiryat Ata in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. I.Ness Ziona (2-5) moved-up to ninth place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Kiryat Ata. I.Ness Ziona will play against H.Afula (#9) on the road in the next round. Kiryat Ata will play against E.Netanya and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Kiryat Ata: C.Lewis 15+1reb+4ast, S.de Sousa 15+5reb, C.Smith 12+8reb+3ast, Y.Sznaiderman 8+4reb+1ast, R.Adam 8+3reb+2ast, Y.Amiram 7+3reb
I.Ness Ziona: B.Brown 23+5ast, D.Edge 17+3reb+2ast, R.Turell 16+1reb+2ast, J.Van Tubbergen 14+7reb, Y.Kravitz 13+5reb+6ast, I.Segev 6+9reb+5ast
gschID: 1196044
H.Jerusalem – H.Afula 80-78
Ninth-ranked Afula (2-5) gave a tough game to second ranked Hapoel Jerusalem (6-1) on Saturday. Hapoel Jerusalem managed to secure only two-point victory 80-78. However their fans expected much easier game. H.Jerusalem made 21-of-25 free shots (84.0 percent) during the game. 25 personal fouls committed by H.Afula helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Americans were the main players on the court. It was a great evening for point guard Jared Harper (178-1997, college: Auburn) who led his team to a victory scoring 28 points and 4 assists. Jeremy Morgan (198-1995, college: UNI) helped adding 10 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side Jalen Lecque (194-2000, college: NC State) responded with 22 points and 4 assists (made all of his nine free throws !!!) and guard Armaan Franklin (193-2000, college: Virginia) scored 24 points. Hapoel Jerusalem have an impressive series of five victories in a row. H.Jerusalem maintains second place with 6-1 record having just one point less than leader H.Tel-Aviv. H.Afula at the other side keeps the ninth position with five games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. H.Jerusalem are looking forward to face H.Be’er Sheva (#8) in Beer Sheva in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. H.Afula will play at home against I.Ness Ziona and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
H.Afula: A.Franklin 24+3reb, J.Lecque 22+4reb+4ast, J.Tokoto 8+4reb, G.Levy 8+4reb, J.Mutts 7+14reb+5ast, E.Harel 4
H.Jerusalem: J.Harper 28+4reb+4ast, J.Morgan 10+5reb+1ast, D.Ogbeide 10+4reb, N.Dovrat 9+2reb, K.Carrington 8+2reb+4ast, C.Johnson 6+8reb+2ast
gschID: 1196046
H.Holon – H.Tel-Aviv 68-72
The game in Holon was also quite interesting. Leader Hapoel Tel-Aviv (6-0) played at the court of 5th ranked Hapoel Holon (4-2). Hapoel Tel-Aviv managed to secure a 4-point victory 72-68 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Hapoel Holon. American Marcus Foster (191-1995, college: Creighton) fired 23 points for the winners. The former international guard Bar Timor (191-1992, agency: Avi Zilberman) chipped in 12 points and 5 rebounds. Hapoel Tel-Aviv’s coach Dimitris Itoudis used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American Jalen Adams (191-1995, college: UConn) produced 16 points and 5 rebounds and the other American import center Marcus Bingham Jr (213-2000, college: Michigan St.) added 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks respectively for lost side. Four H.Holon players scored in double figures. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Hapoel Tel-Aviv. H.Tel-Aviv keeps a position of league leader. Loser Hapoel Holon dropped to the sixth place with two games lost. H.Tel-Aviv will meet at home H.Gilboa Galil (#12) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. H.Holon will play against Bnei Hertzeliya (#4) in Hod Hasharon and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
H.Holon: J.Adams 16+5reb+3ast, E.Mitrou-Long 11+5reb+3ast, M.Bingham Jr. 10+8reb+1ast, M.Kyser 10+6reb, I.Zalmanson 8+3reb, Y.Ziv 8+3reb+4ast
H.Tel-Aviv: M.Foster 23+2reb+2ast, B.Timor 12+5reb+3ast, O.Blayzer 11+2reb, B.Caboclo 8+4reb, T.Ginat 5+8reb, N.Yaacov 4+3reb+5ast
gschID: 1196047