Race for first place tightens as Nahariya upsets Holon

Israel has only participated in the World Cup twice before, in 1954, when it received a bye, and in 1986 when it ended the championships in seventh place.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Holon coach Dan Shamir was disappointed with his team’s 78-68 loss at Ironi Nahariya (photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Hapoel Holon coach Dan Shamir was disappointed with his team’s 78-68 loss at Ironi Nahariya
(photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Hapoel Holon squandered an opportunity to put Hapoel Eilat under pressure in the battle for the No. 1 seed in the BSL playoffs, losing 78-68 at Ironi Nahariya on Sunday night.
Holon was targeting its third straight victory, but a late 11-1 run saw Nahariya break open a tight game and take a nine-point margin (72-63) inside the final two minutes.
Scottie Hopson had 23 points for Nahariya, which won for the seventh time in its past eight games, improving to 17-14 and officially clinching a top-eight finish and a playoff berth.
Holon fell to 20-11, meaning Eilat can open a onegame lead at the top should it beat Maccabi Haifa on the road on Monday.
Also Monday, Hapoel Jerusalem hosts Hapoel Tel Aviv, Bnei Herzliya visits Maccabi Kiryat Gat and Hapoel Gilboa/ Galil faces Maccabi Ashdod.
Israel learns World Cup 2019 qualifying group The Israel national team was drawn on Sunday to face Greece, Great Britain and a qualifier in Group H of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European qualifiers.
The qualifying draw took place in Guangzhou, China, with FIBA deciding to overhaul the format of the event.
In the past, teams qualified for the World Cup via the continental championships.
In the new format, teams will play two rounds of qualifying tournaments to be held over two years in a home-andaway format.
Israel will begin its qualifying campaign in November of this year, with the first round to run until July 2018. The top three teams after six games each from the eight first round groups will progress to the second round which will be played between September 2018 and February 2019.
All results from the first qualification round are carried over to the second round, with the top three to secure a berth in the World Cup, which will be held in China in the summer of 2019.
Israel has only participated in the World Cup twice before, in 1954, when it received a bye, and in 1986 when it ended the championships in seventh place.