Local Hoops: Hapoel Jerusalem opens with a solid performance in Ashkelon

Steve Burrt single-handedly kept Ashkelon in the game, scoring 39 points, hitting 7 of 11 shots from three-point range.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Jerusalem 224.88 (photo credit: Roi Levy [file])
Hapoel Jerusalem 224.88
(photo credit: Roi Levy [file])
A superb performance by Omar Sneed helped Hapoel Jerusalem to an 87-78 victory at Ironi Ashkelon on Saturday night in the first game of the 2008/09 BSL season . Sneed was unstoppable under the baskets and also shared the ball well, scoring 29 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and passing seven assists. A 30-14 first period gave Hapoel an early stranglehold on the encounter and Guy Goodes's team had a 20-point lead with 10 minutes to play. Worryingly for Goodes, however, Ashkelon managed to come within four points in the final two minutes of the game, giving the coach a few nervous moments until his side clinched the win. "Sneed had an excellent game, both defensively and offensively. He was amazing," Goodes said. "It's important to start the season with a win. I'm pleased the better team won tonight." Timmy Bowers added 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals, with Moran Rot scoring 15 points in his debut for Hapoel. Steve Burrt single-handedly kept Ashkelon in the game, scoring 39 points, hitting 7 of 11 shots from three-point range. Hapoel scored seven of the first nine points of the encounter, but the hosts answered with a 7-0 run to take their first lead of night (9-7). That would prove, however, to be Ashkelon's only lead of the game, with Adi Azulai's team getting outscored 23-5 in the remainder of the first period. Timmy Bowers capped a 9-0 run with a three-pointer, which gave the visitors a 16-9 advantage, and Ashkelon's numerous turnovers gifted Hapoel a 16-point margin (30-14) after 10 minutes. The hosts finally settled in the second quarter, but despite slowing down Jerusalem offensively, struggled to close the gap and Hapoel took a 47-31 lead into the interval. Hapoel cruised for the first 15 minutes of the second half, but a 16-2 run brought Ashkelon within seven points (78-71) and Avi Ben-Shimol's free throws with 1:45 to play cut the gap to a mere four points (80-76). A Bowers three with a minute to play, however, extended the gap once more and clinched the victory. On Sunday, eight more BSL's teams will open their season. Maccabi Tel Aviv will look to avenge its Winner Cup defeat when it hosts Hapoel Galil Elyon/Gilboa. Effi Birenboim's team is coming off the disappointing defeat to Cibona Zagreb in its Euroleague opener on Thursday and is in a desperate need of a confidence boosting victory over Oded Katash's Galil ahead of this week's Euroleague game against Air Avellino. "This is our first league game and we need to win it," Bienboim said on Saturday. "We hold all the keys to winning the game. Maccabi is the better team." Also Sunday, the promising looking Maccabi Haifa visits Ironi Ramat Gan, Maccabi Givat Shmuel hosts Ironi Nahariya and Maccabi Rishon Lezion travels to Ironi Kirayt Ata. Week 1 will be completed on Monday when defending champion Hapoel Holon visits Bnei Hasharon.