Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

There were just four rounds played in Regular Season of Winner League and we can clearly see which teams will fight for top positions and which will try to avoid bottom places. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 4 in the Winner League took place in Afula. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of 5th ranked Afula (2-4) to seventh ranked Kiryat Ata (2-1) 76-73 in the game for the fifth place. American players dominated the game. Worth to mention a great performance of guard James Batemon (185-1997, college: LMU) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 6 assists. Forward Amin Stevens (203-1990, college: FAMU) contributed with 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Guard Marcellus Earlington (201-2000, college: San Diego) replied with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for H.Afula. Kiryat Ata moved-up to fifth place. Newly promoted H.Afula dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. Kiryat Ata are looking forward to face H.Be’er Sheva (#11) in Beer Sheva in the next round where they are favorite. H.Afula will have a break next round.
Hapoel Eilat‘s fans can celebrate the first win of their team after two consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as they defeated much higher ranked Afula (2-4) on the road game in Afula 94-80. Worth to mention a great performance of American swingman Sacar Anim (196-1997, college: Marquette) who helped to win the game recording 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Andrew Smith who added 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks during the contest. At the losing side naturalized Argentinian swingman Lucas Goldenberg (196-1993) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. Hapoel Eilat (1-2) left bottom position moving up to eighth place, which they share with Bnei Hertzeliya and H.Galil Elion. Newly promoted H.Afula dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. H.Eilat will play against higher ranked H.Tel-Aviv (#4) in Tel Aviv in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. H.Afula will have a break next round.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv‘s fans can celebrate the first win of their team.The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in Hod Hasharon, where they outplayed Bnei Hertzeliya (1-2) 94-74 on Monday. The winners were led by Roman Sorkin who had that evening a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Even 14 points and 5 rebounds by Reggie Lynch did not help to save the game for Bnei Hertzeliya. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending champion (1-0) left bottom position moving up to seventh place. Bnei Hertzeliya at the other side dropped to the eighth position with two games lost. They share it with H.Galil Elion and H.Eilat. M.Tel-Aviv’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tel Aviv .

In the last two games of round 4 H.Galil Elion beat H.Haifa on the road 88-71. H.Holon destroyed H.Be’er Sheva on its own court 103-80.
The most impressive performance of 4th round was 8 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals by Spencer Weisz of H.Afula.

H.Afula – H.Eilat 80-94

Hapoel Eilat‘s fans can celebrate the first win of their team after two consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as they defeated much higher ranked Afula (2-4) on the road game in Afula 94-80. H.Eilat made 21-of-25 charity shots (84.0 percent) during the game. They brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of American swingman Sacar Anim (196-1997, college: Marquette) who helped to win the game recording 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Latvian-American power forward Andrew Smith (205-1992, college: Liberty) who added 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks during the contest. At the losing side naturalized Argentinian swingman Lucas Goldenberg (196-1993) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds and American guard Marcellus Earlington (201-2000, college: San Diego) scored 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Hapoel Eilat (1-2) left bottom position moving up to eighth place, which they share with Bnei Hertzeliya and H.Galil Elion. Newly promoted H.Afula dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. H.Eilat will play against higher ranked H.Tel-Aviv (#4) in Tel Aviv in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. H.Afula will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
H.Eilat: S.Anim 21+6reb+4ast, E.Stewart 18+4reb+1ast, D.Booker 17+2reb+5ast, A.Smith 14+11reb+2ast, L.Jonatan 9+5reb+1ast, A.Or 7+2reb+2ast
H.Afula: M.Earlington 17+5reb+4ast, L.Goldenberg 15+10reb+1ast, C.Shelton 12+4reb+4ast, N.Avivi 12+5reb, C.Stanley 10+2reb+5ast, S.Weisz 8+9reb+4ast

gschID: 1147206

Bnei Hertzeliya – M.Tel-Aviv 74-94

Maccabi Tel-Aviv‘s fans can celebrate the first win of their team.The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in Hod Hasharon, where they outplayed Bnei Hertzeliya (1-2) 94-74 on Monday. M.Tel-Aviv dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Bnei Hertzeliya‘s 40. They outrebounded Bnei Hertzeliya 51-24 including a 37-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. M.Tel-Aviv looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The winners were led by the former international power forward Roman Sorkin (210-1996, college: Oregon) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and the former international Rafi Menco (200-1994, agency: Avi Zilberman) supported him with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Even 14 points and 5 rebounds by American center Reggie Lynch (207-1994, college: Minnesota) did not help to save the game for Bnei Hertzeliya. Naturalized American Adrian Banks (191-1986, college: Arkansas St.) added 13 points and 4 assists for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending champion (1-0) left bottom position moving up to seventh place. Bnei Hertzeliya at the other side dropped to the eighth position with two games lost. They share it with H.Galil Elion and H.Eilat. M.Tel-Aviv’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tel Aviv .
Top scorers:
M.Tel-Aviv: R.Sorkin 21+10reb+2ast, J.Rivero 17+4reb+1ast, R.Menco 10+11reb+2ast, M.Omer 9+2reb+3ast, J.Webb III 9+11reb, T.Blatt 8+9ast
Bnei Hertzeliya: R.Lynch 14+5reb+1ast, W.Workman 13+2reb+1ast, A.Banks 13+2reb+4ast, F.Bourdillon 9+1reb+2ast, A.Thomas 9+1reb, R.Boatright 6+3ast

gschID: 1147207

H.Haifa – H.Galil Elion 71-88

There was a small surprise when twelfth ranked Galil Elion (1-2) beat on the road 9th ranked Hapoel Haifa (1-3) 88-71 on Wednesday. H.Galil Elion dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Hapoel Haifa‘s 28. The winners were led by the former international point guard Roi Huber (188-1997) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 assists and Lior Carreira (196-1997) supported him with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Five Galil Elion players scored in double figures. Galil Elion’s coach Barak Peleg used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. Even 16 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists by American point guard Mike McGuirl (188-1998, college: Kansas St.) did not help to save the game for H.Haifa. Point guard Amit Gershon (191-1995, agency: Avi Zilberman) added 20 points for lost side. Galil Elion left bottom position moving up to eighth place, which they share with Bnei Hertzeliya and H.Eilat. Loser Hapoel Haifa dropped to the eleventh position with three games lost. They share it with H.Be’er Sheva. H.Galil Elion will meet at home bottom-ranked H.Jerusalem (#13) in the next round where they are favorite. H.Haifa will play against Bnei Hertzeliya and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
H.Galil Elion: L.Carreira 20+10reb+2ast, R.Huber 20+3reb+11ast, A.Lotan 16+7reb+2ast, M.Ruina 12+12reb+3ast, J.Feldeine 10+2reb+2ast, D.Rosenbaum 5+1reb
H.Haifa: A.Gershon 20+2reb, M.McGuirl 16+9reb+7ast, J.Davis 11+2reb+4ast, L.Gur 8+4reb+1ast, O.Avital 6+2ast, J.Stormo 4+9reb

gschID: 1147208

H.Holon – H.Be’er Sheva 103-80

Very expected game when 9th ranked Hapoel Beer Sheva (1-3) was smashed on the road by top-ranked Hapoel Holon (2-0) 103-80 on Thursday. H.Holon made 24-of-30 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 H.Be’er Sheva turnovers. H.Holon looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The winners were led by international forward Netanel Artzi (197-1997) who scored that evening 25 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and American guard Nick Johnson (191-1992, college: Arizona) supported him with 19 points and 6 assists. Four Hapoel Holon players scored in double figures. Even 20 points and 5 rebounds by the former international swingman Egor Koulechov (196-1994, college: Florida, agency: Avi Zilberman) did not help to save the game for H.Be’er Sheva. American forward Jakeenan Gant (203-1996, college: Louisiana) added 12 points and 8 rebounds for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. H.Holon moved-up to third place, which they share with H.Tel-Aviv. Loser Hapoel Beer Sheva dropped to the eleventh position with three games lost. They share it with H.Haifa. H.Holon will meet league’s leader M.Ramat Gan on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. H.Be’er Sheva will play against Kiryat Ata (#5) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
H.Holon: N.Artzi 25+6reb+1ast, N.Johnson 19+1reb+6ast, H.Vanwijn 13+10reb+3ast, Y.Hanochi 11+8reb+2ast, J.Smith 10+5reb, S.Dawson 9+5reb+7ast
H.Be’er Sheva: E.Koulechov 20+5reb+1ast, G.Sherfield 15+1reb+1ast, J.Gant 12+8reb+2ast, J.Shuchman 9+5reb+6ast, L.Gilad 8+2reb, P.Roy 7+1reb+4ast