Hapoel Jerusalem drops to surprise loss at Gilboa/ Galil
After being outplayed by Maccabi Tel Aviv in BSL play last week and falling to Buducnost in Montenegro in Eurocup action, Jerusalem was again on the losing end, dropping to a 6-3 record in the BSL.
By ALLON SINAIHapoel Jerusalem forward Austin Daye.(photo credit: DANNY MARON)
Hapoel Jerusalem suffered its third straight defeat over all competitions on Saturday night, losing 72-71 to Hapoel Gilboa/Galil at Gan Ner Arena.After being outplayed by Maccabi Tel Aviv in BSL play last week and falling to Buducnost in Montenegro in Eurocup action, Jerusalem was once more on the losing end, dropping to a 6-3 record in the BSL.Complicating matters further for Jerusalem is the fact that it visits Bayern Munich, which has a perfect record in the Eurocup, on Wednesday, three days before it hosts in-form Hapoel Holon in local league play.Joaquin Szuchman’s three-pointer had given Gilboa a one-point edge entering the final minute, but he almost cost his team the win. After Jerome Dyson had missed two free throws for Jerusalem, Szuchman failed to connect on any of his three attempts from the line, allowing Richard Howell to score twice from the stripe to put the visitors ahead with 7.8 seconds remaining.Gilboa wouldn’t be denied though, with J’Covan Brown scoring both his free-throw attempts with 3.1 seconds to play and Austin Daye missing a chance to snatch the win at the buzzer.Zach LeDay had 22 points and 20 rebounds for Gilboa, which improved to 5-4. Jerome Dyson scored 20 for Jerusalem.On Friday, Ironi Ness Ziona snapped a three-game losing streak to improve to 3-6, beating Ironi Nahariya 72-69. Nigerian center Talib Zanna had 19 points and 18 rebounds for Ness Ziona.Alex Young scored 19 points for Nahariya, which fell to 5-4.The teams with the two longest winning streaks in the BSL will clash on Sunday, when Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Hapoel Holon. Maccabi is still undefeated this season and is off to its best start in local league play since 2009/10. The yellow-andblue improved to an 8-0 record with last week’s emphatic 88-71 win over Hapoel Jerusalem, while Holon is at 6-2, winning six straight games since opening the campaign with two defeats.Holon is the league’s top offensive team to date, averaging 89.8 points per game, but Maccabi has the BSL’s best defense, allowing only 71.0 points so far this season.Both teams will be in action once more on Tuesday, with Holon hosting Murcia of Spain in FIBA Champions League action, while Maccabi faces Ironi Nahairya in BSL play before visiting CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague on Friday.Also Sunday, Maccabi Rishon Lezion (4-4) welcomes Hapoel Eilat (2-6).On Monday, Hapoel Tel Aviv (4-4) visits Maccabi Ashdod (2-6).
