Hap J’lem gathers momentum with win over Haifa

Hapoel Jerusalem’s season continued to gather pace on Sunday night with a 103-92 victory over Maccabi Haifa, its fourth BSL win in the past five games.

Despite playing without starters Donta Smith and James Thomas, Haifa scored with ease in the first period against Jerusalem’s scandalous defense, taking a double-digit margin (28- 16) into the second quarter.

However, Jerusalem came back with a 13-2 run capped by a Craig Smith three-point play and there was nothing to separate the teams at the break (46-46).

A tight third frame followed, but three straight triples, two by Raviv Limonad, inspired a game-winning 13-0 Jerusalem surge (95-80) midway through the fourth quarter.

Courtney Fells led Jerusalem (5-4) with 22 points, hitting six threes, with Josh Duncan contributing 19 points and 10 boards.

Paul Stoll had 27 points for Haifa (6-3), with Gal Mekel adding 24 points and 12 assists.

Hapoel Eilat showed no signs of slowing down on Sunday night, claiming its sixth win in its past seven games with an 83-73 home victory over Maccabi Ashdod.

The hosts opened the game with a 7-0 run, but Ashdod came right back and was within striking distance until Eilat went on a late 12-2 rally (81-68) to clinch yet another win.

Scotty Hopson led Eilat with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Mardy Collins had 25 points for Ashdod, which fell to 1-7.

Hapoel Tel Aviv rebounded from two straight defeats with an 88-86 home triumph over the languishing Hapoel Holon.

Tel Aviv opened a double-digit gap (32-22) in the first quarter, but allowed Holon back into the game in the second half before holding on to gut out a hard-thought win.

Demontez Stitt led five Tel Aviv players in double digits with 20 points, with Bar Timor scoring 16.

Jerome Dyson had 30 points for Holon, which dropped to 3-6 after losing its fifth straight game.

Also Sunday, Ironi Ashkelon won its third straight contest, beating Maccabi Rishon Lezion 92-80.

Julien Mills had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Ashkelon, with Willie Warren scoring 18 for Rishon, which lost for the fourth time in five games since handing Maccabi Tel Aviv its only defeat of the BSL season to date.

On Monday, Barak Netanya welcomes Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Gilboa/Galil visits Bnei Herzliya.