Hapoel Jerusalem goes for first road win vs Ashkelon

Oded Katash was furious with his team’s play and is demanding a significant improvement ahead of Sunday’s encounter in Ashkelon.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Jerusalem 311 (photo credit: Hapoel Jerusalem website)
Hapoel Jerusalem 311
(photo credit: Hapoel Jerusalem website)
Hapoel Jerusalem goes in search of its first road win of the season when its visits Ironi Ashkelon on Sunday night.
Jerusalem improved to 2-2 last week with a home win over Hapoel Gilboa/Galil, but Oded Katash was furious with his team’s play in the second half and is demanding a significant improvement ahead of Sunday’s encounter in Ashkelon.
“We are our own worst enemies,” Katash said. “We play well, but can’t keep it up for the full 40 minutes.
We still have plenty of work to do.”
Hapoel lost to Bnei Hasharon and Maccabi Tel Aviv in its two away games to date, but will be confident of of beating last-placed Ashkelon ahead of its Eurocup regular season opener against VEF Riga at Malha Arena on Tuesday.
Jerusalem forward Uri Kukia is set to take part in Jerusalem’s next two games before undergoing shoulder surgery which will keep him out of action for between 4-6 months.
Amit Tamir, who began his career at Hapoel before leaving in 2001, is expected to return to the club and take Kukia’s place on the roster.
Ashkelon began the season with three straight defeats, but stunned Maccabi Haifa 88-86 on the road last week thanks to Desmon Farmer’s buzzer-beater.
Haifa will look to rebound on Sunday with a win at Bnei Hasharon, which lost 77-66 to Barak Netanya after starting its campaign 3-0.
Also Sunday, Maccabi Ashdod hosts Netanya.
On Saturday, Maccabi Rishon Lezion defeated Hapoel Gilboa/Galil 76-74 in Gan Ner thanks to Raymar Morgan’s dunk with 0.5 seconds to play.
Saturday's encounter was tight throughout, with the hosts leading 39-38 at halftime.
The game would eventually come down to Rishon’s final possession of the night when Dwayne Mitchell missed his shot, only for Morgan to pop-up and dunk in the rebound.
Morgan had 22 points and nine rebounds for Macabi Rishon Lezion, with Mitchell adding 20.
Rodney Green led Gilboa with 19 points and nine rebounds.
Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Hapoel Holon on Monday.