The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
Sixth-ranked Hapoel Holon (11-10) was very close to win a game against second ranked Maccabi Tel-Aviv (18-3) in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Maccabi Tel-Aviv managed to secure only three-point victory 89-86. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a good game for American power forward Trevion Williams (206-2000, college: Purdue) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Jimmy Clark III (191-2001, college: Duquesne, agency: Diamond Sports) contributed with 18 points for the winners. Maccabi Tel-Aviv’s coach Oded Kattash used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American point guard DJ Cooper (183-1990, college: Ohio) answered with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 assists for H.Holon. Maccabi Tel-Aviv have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 18-3 record having 2 victories less than leader H.Tel-Aviv. H.Holon lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with ten games lost. M.Tel-Aviv are looking forward to face H.Galil Elion (#9) in Kfar Blum in the next round and are hoping to win another game. H.Holon will play at home against M.Ramat Gan and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Hapoel Jerusalem (16-5) against twelfth ranked Afula (7-14) on Friday night. Visiting Hapoel Jerusalem was edged by Afula in a tough game in Afula 82-84. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Hapoel Jerusalem. American players dominated the game. Guard JCovan Brown (190-1990, college: Texas) stepped up and scored 25 points and 8 assists for the winners and Justyn Mutts chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds. The best for the losing side was center Austin Wiley (211-1999, college: Auburn) with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds. Hapoel Jerusalem’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. H.Afula moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Kiryat Ata and E.Netanya. H.Jerusalem at the other side keeps the third position with five games lost. H.Afula will play against bottom-ranked H.Haifa (#14) on the road in the next round. H.Jerusalem will play against E.Netanya (#11) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Winner League top team – Hapoel Tel-Aviv (20-3) added another victory to their record on Saturday. This time they beat fifth ranked Bnei Hertzeliya (12-9) in Hod Hasharon 95-91. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Bnei Hertzeliya. Johnathan Motley nailed 22 points and 6 rebounds (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) for the winning side. Elijah Stewart came up with 28 points for Bnei Hertzeliya in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Hapoel Tel-Aviv have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. H.Tel-Aviv maintains first place with 20-3 record. Loser Bnei Hertzeliya dropped to the fourth position with nine games lost. They share it with M.Ramat Gan. H.Tel-Aviv will meet H.Gilboa Galil (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Bnei Hertzeliya will play against Kiryat Ata (#13) and hope to secure a win.
There were no big surprises in other games of round 21: H.Gilboa Galil beat E.Netanya on the road 83-66. M.Ramat Gan lost to H.Galil Elion on its own court 81-83. I.Ness Ziona managed to outperform H.Haifa in Nes Ziyona 99-89. Kiryat Ata managed to beat H.Be’er Sheva at home 84-79. H.Gilboa Galil was crushed by H.Tel-Aviv on the opponent’s court 94-74.
The most impressive performance of 21th round was 24 points and 6 rebounds by Antonio Blakeney of H.Tel-Aviv.
E.Netanya – H.Gilboa Galil 66-83
The game between closely ranked teams ended with tenth ranked H.Gilboa Galil‘s (9-13) road victory over 11th ranked E.Netanya (7-14) 83-66 on Monday. H.Gilboa Galil dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to E.Netanya‘s 26. H.Gilboa Galil looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The former international forward Gur Lavi (198-2001, agency: BIG) nailed 28 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and American guard Ishmael El-Amin (189-1998, college: URI) accounted for 26 points. Four H.Gilboa Galil players scored in double figures. American forward Bryce Washington (203-1996, college: Louisiana) came up with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import guard Kyler Edwards (193-1999, college: Houston) added 14 points and 5 rebounds respectively for E.Netanya in the defeat. E.Netanya’s coach tested ten players seeing no chance for a win. H.Gilboa Galil moved-up to ninth place, which they share with H.Galil Elion. E.Netanya at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the eleventh position with 14 games lost. They share it with Kiryat Ata and H.Afula. H.Gilboa Galil will meet at home league’s leader H.Tel-Aviv in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. E.Netanya will play against H.Jerusalem (#3) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
H.Gilboa Galil: G.Lavi 28+9reb+1ast, I.El-Amin 26+3reb+1ast, B.Moore 12+7reb+4ast, E.Childs 11+7reb+2ast, P.Scruggs 6+2reb+2ast, N.Misgav 0+4reb+13ast
E.Netanya: B.Washington 14+8reb+4ast, K.Edwards 14+5reb+3ast, A.Isaac 12+3reb, R.Paretsky 9+4reb+4ast, I.Moshkovitz 6+4reb+3ast, E.Romero 5+10reb+1ast
gschID: 1196139
M.Ramat Gan – H.Galil Elion 81-83
There was an upset when 4th placed Ramat Gan (12-9) was edged at home by tenth ranked Galil Elion (9-13) 83-81 on Monday. H.Galil Elion looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by M.Ramat Gan‘s players. Canadian guard Marcus Carr (188-1999, college: Texas) nailed 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and American Rawle Alkins (197-1997, college: Arizona) accounted for 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Four Galil Elion players scored in double figures. American point guard Kendale McCullum (184-1996, college: Lewis) came up with 19 points and 5 assists and the former international Adam Ariel (193-1994) added 19 points and 5 rebounds respectively for M.Ramat Gan in the defeat. H.Galil Elion moved-up to ninth place, which they share with H.Gilboa Galil. Loser Ramat Gan keeps the fourth position with nine games lost. They share it with Bnei Hertzeliya. H.Galil Elion will meet at home league’s second-placed M.Tel-Aviv in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. M.Ramat Gan will play against H.Holon and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
H.Galil Elion: M.Carr 18+5reb+4ast, L.Goldenberg 17+3reb+2ast, R.Alkins 15+6reb+5ast, L.Freeman 12+8reb+3ast, T.Asayag 9+5reb+6ast, L.Carreira 5+3reb+3ast
M.Ramat Gan: A.Ariel 19+5reb, K.McCullum 19+1reb+5ast, R.Huber 18+1reb+3ast, L.Muhammad 9+3reb, A.Crawford 7+5reb+1ast, I.Miles 7+7reb+1ast
gschID: 1196140
H.Afula – H.Jerusalem 84-82
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Hapoel Jerusalem (16-5) against twelfth ranked Afula (7-14) on Friday night. Visiting Hapoel Jerusalem was edged by Afula in a tough game in Afula 82-84. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Hapoel Jerusalem. American players dominated the game. Guard JCovan Brown (190-1990, college: Texas) stepped up and scored 25 points and 8 assists for the winners and forward Justyn Mutts (201-1999, college: Virginia Tech, agency: Pensack Sports) chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds. The best for the losing side was center Austin Wiley (211-1999, college: Auburn) with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds and point guard Jared Harper (178-1997, college: Auburn) scored 13 points and 6 assists. Four H.Jerusalem players scored in double figures. Hapoel Jerusalem’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. H.Afula moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Kiryat Ata and E.Netanya. H.Jerusalem at the other side keeps the third position with five games lost. H.Afula will play against bottom-ranked H.Haifa (#14) on the road in the next round. H.Jerusalem will play against E.Netanya (#11) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
H.Afula: J.Brown 25+2reb+8ast, S.Cohen III 18+7reb+1ast, J.Mutts 15+11reb+1ast, J.Tokoto 8+7reb+3ast, N.Avivi 8+1reb, M.Lutati 8+2reb+5ast
H.Jerusalem: Y.Zoosman 15+2reb+1ast, J.Harper 13+2reb+6ast, A.Wiley 13+11reb, K.Carrington 11+3reb+4ast, J.Morgan 9+1reb+4ast, J.Smith 7+8reb
gschID: 1196141
H.Haifa – I.Ness Ziona 89-99
Very predictable result when seventh ranked Ironi Nes-Ziona (10-11) won against on the road bottom-ranked Hapoel Haifa (2-19) 99-89 on Saturday. I.Ness Ziona outrebounded H.Haifa 53-32 including a 35-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. I.Ness Ziona looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American swingman Jake Van Tubbergen (201-1998, college: GVSU) nailed a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds for the winning side and Panamanian-American forward Ricardo Lindo Jr (203-2000, college: GWU) accounted for 20 points and 7 rebounds. American forward DeAndre Pinckney (203-2000, college: Southern Miss) came up with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 11 rebounds and the other American import point guard Matt Coleman III (188-1998, college: Texas) added 15 points and 6 assists respectively for H.Haifa in the defeat. Five I.Ness Ziona and four H.Haifa players scored in double figures. I.Ness Ziona maintains seventh place with 10-11 record. H.Haifa lost ninth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 19 lost games. I.Ness Ziona will meet H.Be’er Sheva (#8) in the next round. H.Haifa will play against H.Afula (#12) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
I.Ness Ziona: J.Van Tubbergen 35+16reb+1ast, R.Lindo Jr. 20+7reb+1ast, B.Brown 13+8reb+6ast, D.Edge 11+2reb+6ast, I.Segev 10+7reb+5ast, T.Ben Moshe 5+2reb
H.Haifa: D.Pinckney 29+11reb+3ast, M.Coleman III 15+4reb+6ast, J.Gant 14+2reb+2ast, D.Rosenbaum 12+2reb+3ast, A.Gershon 8+3reb+2ast, G.Noyovitch 6+4reb+1ast
gschID: 1196142
M.Tel-Aviv – H.Holon 89-86
Sixth-ranked Hapoel Holon (11-10) was very close to win a game against second ranked Maccabi Tel-Aviv (18-3) in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Maccabi Tel-Aviv managed to secure only three-point victory 89-86. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a good game for American power forward Trevion Williams (206-2000, college: Purdue) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Jimmy Clark III (191-2001, college: Duquesne, agency: Diamond Sports) contributed with 18 points for the winners. Maccabi Tel-Aviv’s coach Oded Kattash used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American point guard DJ Cooper (183-1990, college: Ohio) answered with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 assists and the former international guard Yiftah Ziv (191-1995, agency: Avi Zilberman) added 18 points and 5 assists in the effort for H.Holon. Five M.Tel-Aviv and four H.Holon players scored in double figures. Maccabi Tel-Aviv have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 18-3 record having 2 victories less than leader H.Tel-Aviv. H.Holon lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with ten games lost. M.Tel-Aviv are looking forward to face H.Galil Elion (#9) in Kfar Blum in the next round and are hoping to win another game. H.Holon will play at home against M.Ramat Gan and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
M.Tel-Aviv: J.Clark III 18+4reb+3ast, T.Williams 14+13reb+2ast, R.Jokubaitis 13+4reb+4ast, L.Randolph 12+3reb+3ast, R.Sorkin 12+2reb+1ast, M.Shayok 6+1reb+1ast
H.Holon: Y.Ziv 18+2reb+5ast, J.Alston 15+4reb+1ast, D.Cooper 13+4reb+13ast, N.Artzi 11+3reb, M.Kyser 8+6reb, M.Davis Jr. 8+1reb+2ast
gschID: 1196143
Kiryat Ata – H.Be’er Sheva 84-79
There was an upset when higher ranked Hapoel Beer Sheva (9-12) lost on the road to thirteenth ranked Kiryat Ata (7-14) 84-79 on Sunday. American Chris Smith (206-1999, college: UCLA) nailed a double-double by scoring 19 points and 13 rebounds for the winning side and Angolan forward Silvio de Sousa (206-1998, college: Chattanooga) accounted for 20 points and 9 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Panamanian guard Iverson Molinar (193-1999, college: MSU) came up with 31 points and 7 assists and American forward Justin McKoy (203-2001, college: Hawaii) added 16 points and 6 assists respectively for H.Be’er Sheva in the defeat. Four H.Be’er Sheva players scored in double figures. Hapoel Beer Sheva’s coach tested ten players, but that didn’t help to avoid defeat in this game. Kiryat Ata moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with H.Afula and E.Netanya. Loser Hapoel Beer Sheva keeps the eighth position with 12 games lost. Kiryat Ata will meet higher ranked Bnei Hertzeliya (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. H.Be’er Sheva will play against I.Ness Ziona and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kiryat Ata: S.de Sousa 20+9reb, C.Smith 19+13reb+1ast, L.O’Reilly 13+2reb+3ast, T.King 9+1reb+1ast, Y.Sznaiderman 8+3reb+2ast, Y.Levin 7
H.Be’er Sheva: I.Molinar 31+4reb+7ast, J.McKoy 16+2reb+6ast, R.Zipper 12+5reb, S.Iorio 10+2reb+3ast, M.Santos-Silva 4+3reb, I.Flaisher 3+4reb+1ast
gschID: 1196144
Bnei Hertzeliya – H.Tel-Aviv 91-95
Winner League top team – Hapoel Tel-Aviv (20-3) added another victory to their record on Saturday. This time they beat fifth ranked Bnei Hertzeliya (12-9) in Hod Hasharon 95-91. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Bnei Hertzeliya. H.Tel-Aviv dominated down low during the game scoring 64 of its points in the paint compared to Bnei Hertzeliya‘s 42. H.Tel-Aviv had a 27-15 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when H.Tel-Aviv made 7 blocks. American center Johnathan Motley (207-1995, college: Baylor) nailed 22 points and 6 rebounds (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) for the winning side and the former international Tomer Ginat (204-1994, agency: Avi Zilberman) accounted for 13 points and 9 rebounds. American guard Elijah Stewart (196-1995, college: USC) came up with 28 points and Gabonese Chris Silva (206-1996, college: S.Carolina) added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Bnei Hertzeliya in the defeat. Four H.Tel-Aviv and five Bnei Hertzeliya players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Hapoel Tel-Aviv have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. H.Tel-Aviv maintains first place with 20-3 record. Loser Bnei Hertzeliya dropped to the fourth position with nine games lost. They share it with M.Ramat Gan. H.Tel-Aviv will meet H.Gilboa Galil (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Bnei Hertzeliya will play against Kiryat Ata (#13) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
H.Tel-Aviv: J.Motley 22+6reb+1ast, M.Foster 17+2reb+2ast, M.Bingham Jr. 16+6reb+1ast, A.Blakeney 14+1reb+1ast, T.Ginat 13+9reb+3ast, Y.Madar 7+5reb+7ast
Bnei Hertzeliya: E.Stewart 28+3reb+2ast, E.Burg 15+4ast, C.Silva 15+5reb+4ast, D.Francis 10+5reb+5ast, J.Meeks 10+4reb+5ast, F.Bourdillon 6+1ast
gschID: 1196145
H.Tel-Aviv – H.Gilboa Galil 94-74
Everything went according to plan when first ranked Hapoel Tel-Aviv (20-3) outplayed 10th ranked H.Gilboa Galil (9-13) in Tel Aviv 94-74 on Wednesday. H.Tel-Aviv made 20-of-26 free shots (76.9 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 H.Gilboa Galil turnovers and outrebounded them 32-19 including 23 on the defensive glass. American guard Antonio Blakeney (193-1996, college: LSU) nailed 24 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and the former international Tomer Ginat (204-1994, agency: Avi Zilberman) accounted for 10 points and 6 rebounds. Four Hapoel Tel-Aviv players scored in double figures. American guard Ishmael El-Amin (189-1998, college: URI) came up with 16 points and the other American import forward Ben Moore (203-1995, college: SMU) added 15 points respectively for H.Gilboa Galil in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the seventh consecutive win for Hapoel Tel-Aviv. H.Tel-Aviv maintains first place with 20-3 record. Newly promoted H.Gilboa Galil dropped to the ninth position with 13 games lost. They share it with H.Galil Elion. H.Tel-Aviv will again meet H.Gilboa Galil (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. H.Gilboa Galil will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
H.Tel-Aviv: A.Blakeney 24+6reb+2ast, B.Timor 12+2ast, B.Caboclo 11+6reb, T.Ginat 10+6reb+3ast, I.Wainright 10+4reb+1ast, O.Blayzer 8+3reb+1ast
H.Gilboa Galil: I.El-Amin 16+1ast, B.Moore 15+2ast, E.Childs 10+3reb, G.Lavi 8+4reb+2ast, P.Scruggs 7+4reb+2ast, G.Beni 7+4reb+1ast
gschID: 1258923
