Holon edges Ashdod in OT • Rishon overcomes Nahariya

Holon improved to 5-2, but lost Tamir Blatt to a knee injury.

By ALLON SINAI
Maccabi Rishon Lezion’S Drew Crawford led his team to a 92-88 win over Ironi Nahariya last night, finishing the game with 32 points (photo credit: UDI ZITIAT)
Maccabi Rishon Lezion’S Drew Crawford led his team to a 92-88 win over Ironi Nahariya last night, finishing the game with 32 points
(photo credit: UDI ZITIAT)
Glen Rice Jr. led Hapoel Holon to a fifth straight BSL victory on Saturday night, finishing the dramatic 109-106 overtime win over Maccabi Ashdod with 43 points and 11 rebounds.
Holon improved to 5-2, but lost Tamir Blatt to a knee injury.
Blatt needed help to walk to the locker room. Guy Pnini added 23 points for Holon.
David Laury had 30 points for Ashdod, which fell to 2-5.
Also Saturday, Maccabi Rishon Lezion beat Ironi Nahariya 92-88 after a back-and-forth contest in Rishon. The hosts opened the night with a 20-5 run and led by as many as 17 points (29-12) in the first quarter.
Nahariya cut the deficit to nine points (45-36) at the break and built on the momentum in the third frame, taking a four-point edge (65-61) into the final 10 minutes. A tight finish would ensue, with Rishon’s Drew Crawford ultimately having the upper hand in a duel with Nahariya’s Alex Young.
Crawford ended the night with 32 points to Young’s 36, but the former got the win.
Crawford scored seven of Rishon’s final 11 points and also set up the final two points of the game for Murphy Holloway after stealing the ball.
Jason Sigers added 18 points for Rishon, which improved to 4-3. Corey Webster netted 16 for Nahariya, which fell to 4-3.
Earlier Saturday, Hapoel Eilat signed Sharon Drucker as its new head coach. Eilat sacked Meir Tapiro after just six BSL games, with the team falling to 1-5 last Monday with its fourth straight loss.
Drucker, who will take over the team after Sunday’s game at Hapoel Giboa/Galil, will leave Lukoil Academic Sofia after asking to return to Israel following the team’s exit from the FIBA Europe Cup.
The 50-year-old, who is best remembered for guiding Hapoel Jerusalem to the ULEB Cup back in 2004, hasn’t coached in Israel since April 2016 when he was fired by Maccabi Rishon Lezion, which went on to win the BSL title under the guidance of Arik Shivek.
On Sunday, Maccabi Tel Aviv looks to extend its perfect start, while Hapoel Jerusalem targets its third straight victory over all competitions since the promotion of Mody Maor to the head coaching position.
Maccabi will be resting DeAndre Kane and Artsiom Parakhouski, but will still be a firm favorite to improve to 7-0 at Ironi Ness Ziona, which has a 2-4 record.
Jerusalem (5-1), which has beaten Ness Ziona and Lietkabelis Panevezys of Lithuania in Eurocup action since Maor took charge, goes to Bnei Herzliya (2-4).
Elsewhere, Hapoel Tel Aviv hosts Maccabi Haifa.