J’lem bounces back at Malha with easy win over Netanya

Jerusalem rebounded with an important Eurocup victory over CEZ Nymburk on Tuesday and dominated the second half on its way to another win on Saturday.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Jerusalem 311 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Hapoel Jerusalem 311
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Hapoel Jerusalem got its BSL campaign back on track on Saturday night, beating Barak Netanya 91-75 at Malha Arena to improve to 6-3 on the season.
Jerusalem looked lifeless in last week’s 76-65 humbling at Hapoel Holon, but rebounded with an important Eurocup victory over CEZ Nymburk on Tuesday and dominated the second half on its way to another win on Saturday.
“We opened the game well and we overcame a tough obstacle with Brian Randle and Yogev Ohayon both injured,” said coach Oded Katash, who takes his team to Latvia to face VEF Riga in the Eurocup on Tuesday. “We need to get a result in Latvia because we want to secure our progress this week.”
Will Solomon and Jason Rich led Jerusalem with 19 points each, with Lior Hakhmon adding 14 points and nine rebounds.
Romeo Travis had 16 points for Netanya, which has lost four of its last five games.
Hapoel got the game off to a fast start, opening a promising 29-17 lead after 10 minutes.
However, Netanya would go on an 18-5 run to turn the game on its head, leading 37- 36 after Tony Washam free throws.
The score remained tight for the remainder of the first half and was tied 43-43 at the break.
Jerusalem pulled ahead once more in the third period, opening a 67-56 margin with 10 minutes to play on the way to a confidence-boosting victory, its fifth in six league games.
On Sunday, Maccabi Haifa faces the unenviable task of trying to stop its four-game slide when it visits Maccabi Tel Aviv at Nokia Arena.
Haifa was expected to be one of the stronger teams in the BSL this season, but after beginning its campaign with two wins in its first three games, the Greens have lost four straight contests, falling to a humbling defeat at Maccabi Ashdod in its last encounter.
Tel Aviv rebounded from its loss to Bnei Hasharon with a stroll in the park against Ashdod last week, and after extending its Euroleague winning streak to seven games on Thursday, will be expecting to cruise once more against Haifa.
Also Sunday, Hapoel Gilboa/Galil goes for its fourth consecutive win when it hosts Ashdod, while Bnei Hasharon visits Ironi Ashkelon.
Maccabi Rishon Lezion hosts Hapoel Holon on Monday.