Dyson heroics lead Jerusalem to victory over Holon

Ronald Roberts added 14 points and 15 rebounds for Jerusalem, which improved to 7-3 and hosts Reggio Emilia in a must-win Eurocup game on Wednesday.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Jerusalem center Ronald Roberts had 14 points and 15 rebounds in last night’s 88-86 win over Hapoel Holon at the Jerusalem Arena. (photo credit: UDI ZITIAT)
Hapoel Jerusalem center Ronald Roberts had 14 points and 15 rebounds in last night’s 88-86 win over Hapoel Holon at the Jerusalem Arena.
(photo credit: UDI ZITIAT)
A late run inspired by Jerome Dyson saw Hapoel Jerusalem snatch a dramatic 88-86 win over Hapoel Holon in BSL action on Saturday night.
Jerusalem had lost its previous four games over all competitions, two each in the BSL and the Eurocup. The reigning Israeli champion, playing without starting center Richard Howell, looked to be heading to another defeat when it trailed by six points inside the final three minutes against Holon and a seemingly unstoppable Glen Rice Jr.
However, Hapoel would score nine of the final 10 points of the night, with Dyson responsible for the last seven.
Dyson, who finished with 29 points, tied the score with a lay-up with 40.5 seconds to play and put his team in front for good with a three-point play with 10.9 seconds remaining.
Ronald Roberts added 14 points and 15 rebounds for Jerusalem, which improved to 7-3 and hosts Reggio Emilia in a must-win Eurocup game on Wednesday.
“We have a great group of guys and tonight it was me,” said Dyson. “I got hot early and was able to keep it going. We needed this win a lot. We had a lot of tough losses recently.
This is going to be good for us pushing into this Eurocup game we have to win. We need some positive energy right now.”
The BSL’s top scorer, Rice Jr. finished with 36 points for Holon, including 19 in the third quarter. Holon fell to 7-3, having a seven-game winning streak snapped.
Also Saturday, Hapoel Tel Aviv moved back to .500, improving to 5-5 after beating Ironi Ness Ziona 86-81. Jerel McNeal led five Hapoel players in double figures with 21 points. Nigerian center Talib Zanna had 26 points and 14 rebounds for Ness Ziona, which fell to 3-7.
BSL action will continue with three games on Monday.
Hapoel Eilat (3-6) hosts Maccabi Ashdod (3-6), Maccabi Haifa (4-5) visits Hapoel Gilboa/ Galil (5-4) and Bnei Herzliya (2-7) welcomes Maccabi Rishon Lezion (4-5). Maccabi Tel Aviv isn’t in BSL action this week, with its game against Ironi Nahariya being brought forward to allow it to focus on Euroleague play. Maccabi, which beat Nahariya 98-90 last Tuesday, suffered a 101-86 defeat at CSKA Moscow on Friday in the first of three Euroleague games over seven days.
Tel Aviv, which visits Panathinaikos on Tuesday before hosting reigning champion Fenerbahce on Thursday, was outscored 28-14 in the second quarter in Moscow and was never really close to completing a comeback.
Norris Cole had 24 points and seven rebounds for