Holon trounces Hap Jerusalem to improve to 4-1 in BSL

Ironi Nahariya’s poor start to the campaign continued on Sunday with a comprehensive 96-75 defeat at Maccabi Haifa.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Holon guard Khalif Wyatt had 25 points in last night’s 99-76 win over Hapoel Jerusalem. (photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Hapoel Holon guard Khalif Wyatt had 25 points in last night’s 99-76 win over Hapoel Jerusalem.
(photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Hapoel Jerusalem may still be undefeated in the Eurocup, but matters haven’t gone anywhere near as smooth in the BSL. Jerusalem dropped to a 3-2 record with a humbling 99-76 defeat at Hapoel Holon on Sunday night, trailing by 13 points at the break and never coming close to mounting a comeback.
Jerusalem moved to 3-0 in the Eurocup regular season with last week’s victory over Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar of Russia. It didn’t play with the same energy in Holon, losing to one of its biggest rivals for the first time since December 2014.
James Bell had 28 points for Holon, which improved to 4-1, with Khalif Wyatt adding 25 points.
Tarence Kinsey had 17 points for Jerusalem, which was playing without Amar’e Stoudemire.
Jerusalem visits Ulm in Eurocup action in Germany on Wednesday.
Earlier Sunday, Hapoel Tel Aviv bounced back from its loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the derby with an 84-77 victory over Bnei Herzliya, improving to 3-2. A 13-2 run saw Hapoel open a double-digit lead (33-20) early in the second period and it was still in control at the break, leading by nine points (47-38). The hosts looked to be cruising with 10 minutes to play, taking a 14-point margin (70-54) into the final quarter. Herzliya never gave up the chase, closing within three points (78- 75) with less than two minutes remaining. The visitors couldn’t complete a comeback though, with Hapoel securing the win from the free-throw line.
Alando Tucker led Hapoel with 18 points, with Darrell Williams adding 17 points and 10 rebounds. Herzliya’s promising Israeli forward Karam Mashour finished with 18 points and 11 boards, his second straight double-double for the team, which fell to 2-3.
Ironi Nahariya’s poor start to the campaign continued on Sunday with a comprehensive 96-75 defeat at Maccabi Haifa.
Nahariya was one of last season’s surprise packages, but it has opened 2016/17 with four defeats in five BSL games while also losing its first three games in the FIBA Champions League regular season.
Haifa outscored Nahariya 27-11 in the first 10 minutes and remained in complete control until the final buzzer, improving to 2-3.
Oz Blayzer led six Haifa players in double figures with 19 points and nine rebounds, with Jonathan Skjoldebrand pacing Nahariya with 16 points.
On Monday, the undefeated Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Maccabi Ashdod and Hapoel Eilat welcomes Maccabi Kiryat Gat.