Goodes has confidence in Hapoel

Jerusalem visits Rishon tonight in Game 2 of QF series; Haifa needs a win in Netanya.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
hapoel jerusalem yogev ohayon 311 (photo credit: Roi Levy)
hapoel jerusalem yogev ohayon 311
(photo credit: Roi Levy)
Hapoel Jerusalem will look to take a massive step towards the BSL Final Four on Wednesday when it visits Maccabi Rishon Lezion in Game 2 of its quarterfinal series.
Jerusalem eked out a 73-69 win at Malha Arena on Sunday and coach Guy Goodes is confident of his team’s chances at Rishon, even though he is expecting an even tougher encounter.
“Game 2 will be completely different to the series opener,” Goodes said. “However, we have already won at Rishon this season and the fact that we are used to playing two games a week from our participation in the Eurocup earlier this season should work to our advantage.”
Maccabi Haifa, meanwhile, will be aiming to regain home-court advantage in its series when it plays Barak Netanya in its Game 2 on Wednesday.
Netanya outplayed the Greens in Game 1 to claim an 88-76 victory, making the most of Ido Kozikaro’s injury and Haifa’s recent struggles.
Haifa has lost three straight games and coach Avi Ashkenazi knows his team must improve its play significantly to have a chance of reaching the Final Four.
“We entered the series with a negative momentum and we need to dealwith the fact that we are playing poorly,” Ashkenazi said. “The serieswill not be decided by home-court advantage but by the way we play.”
Also Wednesday, Ironi Ramat Gan can close in on another season of BSLbasketball when it hosts Hapoel Afula in the relegation playoffs. RamatGan beat Afula 75-71 on the road in Game 1.
On Thursday, Maccabi Tel Aviv will look to rebound from its shock homedefeat to Bnei Hasharon, while Hapoel Gilboa/Galil takes a 1-0 lead toIroni Ashkelon and Hapoel Holon hosts Ironi Nahariya in the secondrelegation battle.