Local Hoops: Holon rolls over Maccabi Rishon, 95-81

Holon shows no lasting effects from last week's heartbreaking one-point loss at Maccabi Tel Aviv and has now won seven of its last nine league games.

By ALLON SINAI
Israel basketball 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
Israel basketball 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
Hapoel Holon climbed back into the BSL top four on Monday, strolling to a 95-81 home victory over Maccabi Rishon Lezion. Holon showed no lasting effects from last week's heartbreaking one-point loss at Maccabi Tel Aviv and has now won seven of its last nine league games. P. J. Tucker and Chester Simmons were at their clinical best once more on Monday, scoring 20 and 19 points respectively, with Tucker also grabbing 14 rebounds. New signing Elton Brown, playing his second game for the club, scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds in just 16 minutes on court. Juan Mendez scored 23 points for Rishon, which lost on Monday for the sixth time in seven games. Rishon remained within touching distance of Holon throughout the first period, but Tucker's free throws made sure the hosts led by five points (28-23) after 10 minutes. The visitors clawed their way back at the start of the second quarter, with Brandon Kurtz's basket giving Maccabi a 35-33 lead. That proved, however, to be Rishon's last lead of the night, as Holon quickly went ahead once more and an Amit Tamir three-pointer to end the first half gave Hapoel a seven point cushion (52-45). A 7-0 run to start the third period opened an unassailable margin, with Rishon helpless against Simmons and Tucker. The visitors couldn't even cut the deficit to single digits in the remainder of the game and Holon cruised to another important win in its chase of a Final Four berth.