Local hoops: J'lem in 1st after victory at Galil/Gilboa

Maccabi Haifa kept the pressure on the top with an 86-76 win at Kiryat Ata.

By JEREMY LAST
Hapoel Jerusalem 224.88 (photo credit: Roi Levy [file])
Hapoel Jerusalem 224.88
(photo credit: Roi Levy [file])
Two clutch free throws by Omar Sneed gave Hapoel Jerusalem a dramatic 90-87 victory at Hapoel Galil/Gilboa on Sunday night, sending the team from the capital to the top of the Basketball Super League standings. With a just a few seconds to go at Gan Ner and Jerusalem leading 88-86, Galil/Gilboa's Brian Roberts missed a three-point attempt. Sneed was then fouled and the American made no mistake, securing the win for Guy Goodes's side, which has now won six out of its seven league games this season. Maccabi Tel Aviv, however, can overtake Jerusalem at the top of the league on Monday if it beats Miki Dorsman's revived Rishon Lezion at Nokia Arena. In other BSL games Sunday, Maccabi Haifa kept the pressure on the top with an 86-76 win at Kiryat Ata, Hapoel Holon delighted its fans with a last-gasp 77-75 home victory over Ironi Nahariya and Givat Shmuel lost 81-73 at Ironi Ramat Gan. The Jerusalem victory ended a five-match winning run for Oded Katash's Galil team. Sneed had an outstanding game for the visitors, scoring 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds to steer his team to success. Point guard Moran Rot once again proved key for Jerusalem, top-scoring for his team with 18 points, while Brian Randel got 20 for the hosts. "We come to play aggressively in every game and give our hearts to the cause," Rot said. "It feels good, but I think it is a little early to start talking about a championship." In Kiryat Ata, the Haifa Heat moved to 5-2 in the BSL with Doron Perkins leading his team with 20 points in 37 minutes. Haifa opened up a 63-48 gap by the end of the third quarter, a lead which it would never give up. In Holon, Deron Washington won the game for the hosts, hitting one of two free throws with 11 seconds on the clock before Chris Watson blocked a Raviv Limonad shot at the other end. Washington scored 19 points for Holon in the win.