Photo credit: (Limor Malinoff, National League Director)
The playoff quarterfinal series and lower house games in the National League opened tonight (Tuesday). In the center, AS Ramat Hasharon managed to steal the home team for Kiryat Ata when they defeated it 78:73 and Hapoel Hevel Modiin kept the house with an 83:95 victory over Maccabi Netanya. Haemek / Jezreel and reached a safe shore, when Maccabi Ashdod defeated Ma’ale Adumim and improved its chances of remaining in the league.
Urban Kiryat Ata – AS Ramat Hasharon 78:73 (1: 0 in the series for Ramat Hasharon)
In the regular season, Kiryat Ata lost only twice, but tonight, in the opening of the quarterfinal series, the third loss came. The team from the Krayot started the game great and led with a double-digit advantage early on, but in the second half Guy Cantor’s team absorbed only 25 points and completed a makeover on the way to a 0: 1 advantage in the series. The visitors showed a lot of character tonight, aided by a great second half by Tyler Weidman who finished with 23 points and provided big moves in the deciding minutes. On the other hand, in Kiryat Ata you can be disappointed with the loss of the home advantage and the fact that they scored only 4 threes at 20% and lost 19 times.
Many to Kiryat Ata: Amin Stevens (12/17 from the field) 28 points, Shalev Logi 15 points, Kenny Fenderbork 9 points, Gur Lavie 8 points.
Many LAS Ramat Hasharon: Tyler Weidman 23 points, Uri Chai (4/7 for three) and Kevin Capers (5 assists, 3 steals) 14 points each, Amit Bir Katz 10 points, Yam Yonatan 9 points.
Hapoel Hevel Modi’in – Elitzur Netanya 83:95 (0: 1 in the series for Hapoel Hevel Modi’in)Guests may regret missing the first game in the series. The Diamonds were in play all along, but each time they missed a number of opportunities to reverse the result and failed to take advantage of the opportunities they were given. About three minutes to the end we got an 83:83 tie, but from here only one team was on the floor – the locals were helped by Jimmy Hall (25 points) and Founder Ann (17 points) who provided big moves on the way to a 0:12 run and a nice victory. Eyal Shulman was the X Factor with 17 points. On Friday, the series reaches Yeshurun for the second game.
Hapoel Hevel Modiin: Jimmy Hall (10/12 from the field) 22 points, Eyal Shulman and Lace Dunn 17 points each, Yonatan Moore (4/15 from the field) 14 points, Shoham Gat (8 rebounds, 8 assists) 9 points, Shmuel Malchov 8 points.
Many to Elitzur Netanya: Justin Robinson (5 steals) 25 points, Dashon Parsons (8 rebounds, 7 assists) 14 points, Eitan Burg and Roi Paritzky 10 points each, Chen Guy and Shachar Lazar 8 points each.
Hapoel Migdal Haemek / Jezreel – Hapoel Ramat Givatayim 84:70
Just about three weeks ago the two teams met at Zisman and the Ordons won with a threesome display. Tonight they did it again with a formidable second quarter during which they went out for a 5:20 run and did not look back on the road to a convincing victory at Tower Valley. Matan Harush’s team frustrated the locals with the attack, lowered the Northerners’ shooting percentage and got a huge game from Gil Nowyevich, David Musindi and Harel Rinsky. Thanks to the victory, the Ordons pass the Valley / Jezreel Tower in the table, which will be hosted on Friday in Ashdod.
Many to Migdal HaEmek / Jezreel: Ricky Puck 32 points, Emanuel Omogbo 12 points, Jeff Gray 7 points.
Rabbi Givatayim: Gil Nuovich (8 rebounds, 3 steals) 17 points, Dimitrios Treadwell (10 assists, 9 rebounds) 16 points, David Musindi and Harel Rinsky 15 points each, Effie Tiomkin 7 points.
Maccabi Ma’ale Adumim – Maccabi Ashdod 94:85
A very significant victory for Maccabi Ashdod, which opens the lower house on the right foot. The team from the port city proved from the start that it wants the victory more and led throughout most stages of the game, when in the third quarter the gap had already reached 24 points. In the last quarter the locals offset to 6, but not beyond that. Yair Gvirat’s team with a loss that complicates it a bit and they will need a victory on Friday in Hod Hasharon, on the other hand the Ashdodites will return to their home hall for an important game against Migdal Haemek / Jezreel.
Many for Maccabi Ma’ale Adumim: Kate Braxton 19 points, Gailen Kanti 15 points, Simcha Halpert 12 points, Ariel Deri 9 points.
Many to Maccabi Ashdod: Unio Broata (4/7 for three) 21 points, Raviv Pitchon (9 rebounds) 20 points, Chris Ortiz 18 points, Roman Rubinstein 12 points.
In another game in the lower house: Elitzur Ashkelon – Maccabi Hodash 67:72