Local Hoops: Hap. Holon celebrates banner night in style

The impressive victory was a direct continuation of last week's 11-point win at Bnei Hasharon.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Holon 224.88 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger )
Hapoel Holon 224.88
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger )
Hapoel Holon hung its BSL championship banner ahead of its home opener on Sunday night and celebrated, appropriately, with a win, thrashing Ironi Ramat Gan 93-67. The impressive victory was a direct continuation of last week's 11-point win at Bnei Hasharon, and the defending champion is looking like a Final Four contender rather than the relegation favorite it was touted to be ahead of the season. Holon raced to a 31-16 lead after 10 minutes, but Ramat Gan entered the second half with renewed hope after closing to within 10 points (53-43). The third quarter, however, was completely dominated by the hosts, with Hapoel outscoring its opponent 20-6 to open an unassailable margin and clinch its second straight win. Deron Washington scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the winners, with Curtis Withers adding 15 points and nine boards. Bnei Hasharon crashed to its second straight defeat on Sunday, losing 74-54 at Hapoel Galil Elyon/Gilboa. Moshe Weinkrantz's team opened an early lead, but a 12-0 Galil run gave the hosts a lead they wouldn't relinquish until the end of the encounter. "I have no explanation for our performance," said Meir Tapiro, who scored just eight points on Sunday. Brian Roberts led Oded Katash's team, scoring 19 points, with Guni Izraeli contributing 16 and Gal Mekel and Brian Randle adding 13 points apiece. Also Sunday, Maccabi Givat Shmuel beat Ironi Kiryat Ata 101-80 on the road in a meeting between two of the league's newly-promoted teams. On Monday, Ironi Nahariya hosts Ironi Ashkelon. The game between Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv has been rescheduled to November 20.