Basketball: Flores, Withers brilliant for Holon in season opening victory

Records impressive 87-76 victory against heavily-favored Bnei Hasharon.

By LOUIE LAZAR
Hapoel Holon 224.88 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger )
Hapoel Holon 224.88
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger )
Perhaps Hapoel Holon¹s offseason wasn't so nightmarish after all. In a performance that more closely resembled a slam dunk highlight video than a regular season opening win in the Israeli domestic league, Holon stormed to an impressive 87-76 victory at heavily-favored Bnei Hasharon Monday night behind a game-high 32 points - including 28 in the second half - from point guard Luis Flores. Holon, which won the BSL last year but lost all but one of its players in the offseason, turned in a second half effort that would¹ve made its 2007/08 counterparts jealous. Just like BSL newcomers Maccabi Haifa in its game at Ironi Ramat Gan on Sunday, Holon started slowly as Hasharon used a 17-4 first quarter run to take a 22-11 lead. But Hapoel got things going to start the second period and close the gap to three before the intermission. The second half belonged to the team in yellow and purple. After trailing 39-36 at the break, the Tigers were dominant in the third quarter, outscoring the home team 24-7 in that frame while wowing the crowd with a seemingly endless array of dunks and alley-oops. Tigers power forward Curtis Withers, who had a whopping seven dunks in the game, owned the paint and was impressive in transition, finishing the evening with 19 points and eight rebounds. But the night belonged to Flores, who, after a slow start, was simply Michael Jordan-esque after the intermission. "I was really anxious in the first half, but I was able to calm down in the second," Flores told Sport5. "We just focused on defense and allowed our offense to come." For the home team, Richard Roby led the way with 18 points, while Haminn Quaintance turned in a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Judging by Holon¹s reaction after the game, you¹d think the Tigers had just repeated as BSL champs. Moments after the final buzzer sounded, the victorious players sprinted up into the stands to celebrate with their fans. Flores assisted the rabid enthusiasts by banging on a celebratory drum, while down on the court, a member of the Holon staff hoisted coach Danny Franco on his shoulders. As soon as Franco climbed down, he spoke to a TV reporter. The smiling head coach praised his players but also urged caution for the long road ahead. "In the Winner Cup our defense was terrible, but we did an amazing job on defense in the third quarter tonight," he said. "This is the first game, and we¹re happy we got our feet on the ground. But the season is very long and difficult."