Hap J’lem takes another hit as Randle goes down

With its Eurocup and State Cup campaigns ending earlier than expected, Hapoel Jerusalem is hoping to save something from this season with BSL success.

By ALLON SINAI
BRIAN RANDLE of Hapoel Jerusalem 311 (photo credit: Hapoel Jerusalem website)
BRIAN RANDLE of Hapoel Jerusalem 311
(photo credit: Hapoel Jerusalem website)
With its Eurocup and State Cup campaigns ending far earlier than expected, Hapoel Jerusalem is hoping to save something from this season with success in the BSL.
However, its prospects in the league suffered a hefty blow over the weekend after it became apparent that star forward Brian Randle will have to undergo surgery on his ankle and could miss two months or more of action.
Randle missed several games due to the injury over recent weeks, but the treatment he received proved to be fruitless and surgery looks to be the only remaining option.
Jerusalem rebounded from two straight BSL defeats to beat Hapoel Gilboa/Galil 10 days ago, but was then knocked out in the quarterfinals of the cup by Barak Netanya last Sunday.
“This is a big blow to the team as Randle is one of our main players,” Hapoel said in a statement. “This continues the misfortune the team has suffered from the start of the season, with the likes of Uri Kukia, Yuval Naimi and Yogev Ohayon all going down with injuries.”
Jerusalem was looking for another big-men even before it knew Randle would face surgery, but now it needs one desperately.
For the time being, it will have to manage with its current roster, including in Monday’s BSL game against Ironi Ashkelon at Malha Arena.
On Sunday, Maccabi Haifa hosts Bnei Hasharon after falling to its eighth defeat in nine games on Thursday.
Haifa lost 91-82 to Maccabi Rishon Lezion in the rescheduled game and is in danger of losing touch with the rest of the league if it doesn’t start winning on a consistent basis soon.
Also Sunday, Maccabi Rishon Lezion welcomes Hapoel Gilboa/Galil and Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Hapoel Holon.
On Saturday, Barak Netanya hosted Maccabi Ashdod.
On Saturday, Barak Netanya thrashed Maccabi Ashdod 85- 59.
Adrian Banks scored 21 points for Netanya, which outscored Ashdod 23-9 in the fourth quarter, with Ramel Bradley scoring 18 for Ashdod.