After 5 rounds played we can already see who rules in the National League and who belongs to weaker ones. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
The most surprising game was the first loss of H.Afula (4-1) on the court of sixth ranked M.Ramat Gan on Tuesday night. Visitors were edged by M.Ramat Gan 70-67. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of H.Afula. 26 personal fouls committed by H.Afula helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American guard Kevin Capers (188-1993, college: FSC, agency: BIG) stepped up and scored 16 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and guard Eidan Alber (192-2000, agency: Avi Zilberman) chipped in 14 points and 9 rebounds. M.Ramat Gan’s coach Yaniv Burger used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American Jimmy Hall (203-1994, college: Kent St.) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds. M.Ramat Gan (3-2) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with M.Raanana and E.Netanya. H.Afula at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. They share it with M.Rishon and M.Ma’ale Adum.. M.Ramat Gan is looking forward to face M.Rehovot (#11) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. H.Afula will play against H.Hevel Modi’in (#14) and is hoping to win this game.
National League top team – E.Ashkelon (5-0) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat eighth ranked H.Ramat Gan (2-3) 92-82. American power forward Thomas Gipson (202-1993, college: Kansas St.) nailed 18 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and Sagiv David accounted for 14 points and 8 assists. E.Ashkelon’s coach Avi Sukar allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American guard Stedmon Lemon (198-1992, college: JCSU) came up with 26 points and 4 assists for H.Ramat Gan in the defeat. Undefeated E.Ashkelon have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 5-0 record. H.Ramat Gan lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with I.Nahariya and M.Haifa. E.Ashkelon will play against M.Ma’ale Adum. (#3) in Ma’ale Adumim in the next round, which may be the game of the day. H.Ramat Gan will play at home against E.Netanya (#5) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked H.Hevel Modi’in (0-5) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to third ranked M.Ma’ale Adum. (4-1) 102-63 on Tuesday evening. The best player for the winners was Ido Shabat who scored 20 points and 8 assists. Omer Sade produced 13 points and 5 rebounds for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for M.Ma’ale Adum.. They moved-up to second place, which they share with M.Rishon and H.Afula. H.Hevel Modi’in lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. M.Ma’ale Adum. will meet at home league’s leader E.Ashkelon in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. H.Hevel Modi’in will play against the league’s second-placed H.Afula (#2) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 5: Ramat Hash. lost to E.Netanya on the opponent’s court 78-86. E.Shomron unfortunately lost to M.Raanana in a home game 75-83. M.Haifa recorded a loss to I.Nahariya on the road 73-87. M.Rishon defeated M.Rehovot on its own court 86-71.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 15 points and 10 rebounds by Rakeem Buckles of M.Rishon.
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E.Ashkelon – H.Ramat Gan 92-82
National League top team – E.Ashkelon (5-0) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat eighth ranked H.Ramat Gan (2-3) 92-82. E.Ashkelon players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. American power forward Thomas Gipson (202-1993, college: Kansas St.) nailed 18 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and forward Sagiv David (198-1992) accounted for 14 points and 8 assists. Four E.Ashkelon players scored in double figures. E.Ashkelon’s coach Avi Sukar allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American guard Stedmon Lemon (198-1992, college: JCSU) came up with 26 points and 4 assists and the other American import Storm Warren (211-1988, college: LSU) added 20 points and 7 rebounds respectively for H.Ramat Gan in the defeat. E.Ashkelon have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 5-0 record. H.Ramat Gan lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with I.Nahariya and M.Haifa. E.Ashkelon will play against M.Ma’ale Adum. (#3) in Ma’ale Adumim in the next round, which may be the game of the day. H.Ramat Gan will play at home against E.Netanya (#5) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
E.Ashkelon: T.Gipson 18+9reb+2ast, B.David Omer 16+4reb+2ast, S.David 14+3reb+8ast, D.Tucker 11+2reb+4ast, C.Rosenberg 10+3reb+2ast, S.Harush 8+3reb+1ast
H.Ramat Gan: S.Lemon 26+3reb+4ast, S.Warren 20+7reb+3ast, A.Shimoni 15+6reb+3ast, N.Gil 9+9reb+5ast, N.Uzan 8+1reb, G.Ofek 4+2reb+6ast
gschID: 1022003
M.Ma’ale Adum. – H.Hevel Modi’in 102-63
Bottom-ranked H.Hevel Modi’in (0-5) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to third ranked M.Ma’ale Adum. (4-1) 102-63 on Tuesday evening. M.Ma’ale Adum. dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to H.Hevel Modi’in’s 28. M.Ma’ale Adum. had a 39-24 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a great shooting night for M.Ma’ale Adum. especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 55.0 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was point guard Ido Shabat (182-1999) who scored 20 points and 8 assists. Canadian center Eddie Ekiyor (206-1997, college: Carleton) chipped in 22 points and 7 rebounds. Forward Omer Sade (200-2001) produced 13 points and 5 rebounds and guard Shoham Gat (185-2002, agency: Avi Zilberman) added 8 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for M.Ma’ale Adum.. They moved-up to second place, which they share with M.Rishon and H.Afula. H.Hevel Modi’in lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. M.Ma’ale Adum. will meet at home league’s leader E.Ashkelon in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. H.Hevel Modi’in will play against the league’s second-placed H.Afula (#2) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
M.Ma’ale Adum.: E.Ekiyor 22+7reb+2ast, I.Shabat 20+4reb+8ast, D.Johnson 11+7reb+5ast, S.Daniel 10+1reb+1ast, A.Noam 8+4reb, J.Cohen 7+3reb+1ast
H.Hevel Modi’in: S.Omer 13+5reb+1ast, M.Johnson 12+2reb+1ast, E.Mor-Yosef 10+1ast, G.Shoham 8+5reb+5ast, N.Baloul 5+3reb, H.Omer 5+5reb
gschID: 1022004
M.Ramat Gan – H.Afula 70-67
The most surprising game was the first loss of H.Afula (4-1) on the court of sixth ranked M.Ramat Gan on Tuesday night. Visitors were edged by M.Ramat Gan 70-67. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of H.Afula. 26 personal fouls committed by H.Afula helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American guard Kevin Capers (188-1993, college: FSC, agency: BIG) stepped up and scored 16 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and guard Eidan Alber (192-2000, agency: Avi Zilberman) chipped in 14 points and 9 rebounds. Four M.Ramat Gan players scored in double figures. M.Ramat Gan’s coach Yaniv Burger used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American Jimmy Hall (203-1994, college: Kent St.) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds and guard Tomer Asayag (190-1999) scored 20 points. M.Ramat Gan (3-2) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with M.Raanana and E.Netanya. H.Afula at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. They share it with M.Rishon and M.Ma’ale Adum.. M.Ramat Gan is looking forward to face M.Rehovot (#11) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. H.Afula will play against H.Hevel Modi’in (#14) and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
M.Ramat Gan: K.Capers 16+7reb+2ast, E.Alber 14+9reb+2ast, N.Sharon 12+1reb+4ast, B.Altit 12+4reb, E.Hirsh 7+8reb+3ast, M.Jefferson 5+3reb
H.Afula: J.Hall 23+14reb+2ast, T.Asayag 20+4reb+2ast, R.Netzia 10+3reb+1ast, K.Zorno 7+5reb+1ast, L.Goldenberg 3+8reb+2ast, T.Spector 2+2reb
gschID: 1022005
E.Netanya – Ramat Hash. 86-78
Rather expected game when 12th ranked Ramat Hash. (1-4) was defeated on the road by ninth ranked E.Netanya (3-2) 86-78 on Tuesday. E.Netanya forced 21 Ramat Hash. turnovers. The best player for the winners was American center Justin Robinson (206-1996, college: Duke) who had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds. Naturalized Canadian forward Ethan Butler (198-2002) chipped in 26 points. Center Amit Bier-Katz (208-1988) produced 14 points and 6 rebounds and American Tyler Wideman (203-1995, college: Butler) added 7 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for the guests. Four Ramat Hash. players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. E.Netanya moved-up to fifth place, which they share with M.Ramat Gan and M.Raanana. Ramat Hash. lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the eleventh position with four games lost. They share it with M.Rehovot and E.Shomron. E.Netanya will meet H.Ramat Gan (#10) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Ramat Hash. will play against I.Nahariya and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
E.Netanya: B.Ethan 26+1reb+3ast, J.Robinson 20+14reb+2ast, I.Ariel 16+4reb, A.Aminu 5+1reb+1ast, Y.Atias 4+6reb+1ast, S.Ilay 4+2reb+5ast
Ramat Hash.: O.Hai 14+2reb+1ast, A.Bier-Katz 14+6reb+2ast, G.Amitay 14+2reb+2ast, R.Haynes 10+6reb+2ast, Y.Yam 8+1reb+7ast, G.Ferber 8+2reb
gschID: 1022006
E.Shomron – M.Raanana 75-83
Very predictable result when seventh ranked M.Raanana (3-2) defeated on the road 12th ranked E.Shomron (1-4) 83-75 on Friday. Strangely E.Shomron outrebounded M.Raanana 41-28 including 28 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was American swingman Jason Siggers (194-1985, college: Albany, agency: Avi Zilberman) who scored 26 points and 5 steals. Naturalized American Willy Workman (198-1990, college: Amherst) chipped in a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds. M.Raanana’s coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Keith Stone (206-1997, college: Miami, FL) produced a double-double by scoring 23 points and 15 rebounds and point guard Eyal Shulman (192-1987, agency: Avi Zilberman) added 13 points and 8 assists respectively for the hosts. M.Raanana moved-up to fifth place, which they share with M.Ramat Gan and E.Netanya. E.Shomron lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the eleventh position with four games lost. They share it with M.Rehovot and Ramat Hash.. M.Raanana will meet at home higher ranked Maccabi Rishon (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. E.Shomron will play against M.Haifa (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
M.Raanana: J.Siggers 26+4reb+1ast, R.Geffen 19+5reb+4ast, W.Workman 17+10reb+2ast, A.Morse 9+6reb+1ast, A.Sapir 8+2reb+7ast, J.Lewis 4+1reb
E.Shomron: K.Stone 23+15reb+2ast, E.Shulman 13+8ast, I.Flaisher 11+8reb+2ast, R.Kelly 9+3reb+3ast, L.Yuval 7+6reb+1ast, S.Gal 6+5reb
gschID: 1022007
I.Nahariya – M.Haifa 87-73
There was a minor upset when higher ranked M.Haifa (2-3) was defeated on the road by tenth ranked I.Nahariya (2-3) 87-73 on Tuesday. I.Nahariya made 22-of-27 free shots (81.5 percent) during the game. I.Nahariya had a 30-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was forward Dominez Burnett (196-1992, college: Davenport) who scored 20 points and 4 assists. Power forward Romello White (203-1998, college: Ole Miss) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points and 12 rebounds. Five I.Nahariya players scored in double figures. I.Nahariya’s coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Forward DeSean Parsons (201-1995, college: Portland St.) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds and guard Admon Gilder (193-1995, college: Gonzaga) added 21 points respectively for the guests. I.Nahariya moved-up to eighth place, which they share with H.Ramat Gan and M.Haifa. I.Nahariya will meet Ramat Hash. (#12) in the next round. M.Haifa will play against E.Shomron (#13) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
I.Nahariya: D.Burnett 20+4reb+4ast, R.White 14+12reb+2ast, I.Eisendorf 11+8reb+1ast, Y.Ohayon 11+4reb+5ast, A.Chubrevich 11+4reb, A.Reuven 6+1reb+2ast
M.Haifa: A.Gilder 21+3reb+2ast, D.Parsons 16+13reb+1ast, D.Sharp 10+4reb, T.Cohen 9+3ast, A.Shoutvin 6+4reb+1ast, E.Abaev 6+3reb+1ast
gschID: 1022008
M.Rishon – M.Rehovot 86-71
Everything went according to plan in Rishon Le-Zion where fourth ranked Maccabi Rishon (4-1) beat 11th ranked M.Rehovot (1-4) 86-71 on Friday. Maccabi Rishon forced 19 M.Rehovot turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Isaiah Cousins (193-1994, college: Oklahoma) who scored 18 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import forward Rakeem Buckles (202-1990, college: FIU, agency: GoEmpire Group) chipped in a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. American swingman Brent Jackson (193-1994, college: Columbus St.) produced 15 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists and naturalized American forward Josh Freund (204-1997, college: Roanoke) added 10 points and 7 rebounds respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Maccabi Rishon moved-up to second place, which they share with H.Afula and M.Ma’ale Adum. Newly promoted M.Rehovot keeps the eleventh position with four games lost. They share it with Ramat Hash. and E.Shomron. Maccabi Rishon will meet M.Raanana (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. M.Rehovot will play against M.Ramat Gan (#6) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
M.Rishon: H.Halfon 20+4reb, I.Cousins 18+5reb+7ast, R.Buckles 15+10reb+3ast, J.Armstrong 9+2reb+5ast, I.Nesterenko 8+3reb+1ast, G.Palatin 7+6reb+2ast
M.Rehovot: B.Jackson 15+8reb+8ast, J.Freund 10+7reb+3ast, G.Shay Guy 10+8reb+1ast, Y.Holodov 9+1reb+2ast, I.Rejwan 9, G.Halamish 6+4reb+3ast
gschID: 1022009
