Jerusalem in second place behind Holon

Balanced Mac TA destroys Beersheba.

By JOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV guards Jeremy Pargo (left) and John DiBartlomeo (right) are all smiles after the yellow-and-blue coasted to a 99-76 road victory over Hapoel Beersheba on Monday night in Basketball Super League action. (photo credit: DANNY MARON)
MACCABI TEL AVIV guards Jeremy Pargo (left) and John DiBartlomeo (right) are all smiles after the yellow-and-blue coasted to a 99-76 road victory over Hapoel Beersheba on Monday night in Basketball Super League action.
(photo credit: DANNY MARON)
Hapoel Jerusalem needed a late run to put away Ness Ziona 90-82 at the Pais Arena in the nation’s capital this week in Basketball Super League action.
The Reds were cruising along until the visitors pulled even at 77-77 with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter. However, Da’Sean Butler, Bar Timor and James Feldeine helped Jerusalem secure the victory. Chris Johnson led the hosts with 15 points, Butler scored 14 points and Tashawn Thomas dropped 14 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and recorded an impressive 28 efficiency rating in the win. Daequan Cook was the Ness Ziona high-scorer with 27 points.
Jerusalem raced out to a 15-8 lead thanks to Thomas’s fine play, but Ness Ziona came storming back when Cook drained a pair of threes and capped the frame off with 10 points as the first quarter ended with the capital city side ahead 24-21.
Three triples from Tamir Blatt and six points from Johnson helped Jerusalem go on a 17-0 run to take a 44-27 lead midway through the second quarter, while a red-hot Cook valiantly tried to get his squad back into the game. However, Jerusalem held a 53-37 advantage at halftime.
Johnson and Thomas continued to push the hosts ahead in the third quarter while Cook answered for Ness Ziona as Jerusalem took a 70-53 lead into the final frame.
Tal Dunne, Gary Browne and Oded Brandwein helped the visitors go on a 12-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to cut the Jerusalem lead to 70-65, and then they pulled even. But a triple by Butler and a bucket by Timor gave Jerusalem the lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
Meanwhile, Hapoel Holon traveled down south to Eilat and took home a 82-76 win.
Trailing throughout most of the game, Dan Shamir’s squad moved into high gear in the fourth quarter, outscoring the hosts 27-14 to snatch the win.
Corey Walden had an MVP night with 32 points, seven assists and an outrageous 46 efficiency rating, his offensive display of late helping make up for the loss of Khalif Wyatt.
Although Eilat had five players in double digits – led by Suleiman Braimoh’s 16 points – Elijah Bryant’s off night and a 3-of-16 team performance from beyond the arc allowed the visitors the chance to pull off the comeback victory.
With Eilat ahead 62-55 heading into the final frame, T.J. Cline hit a pair of three-pointers and Darion Atkins scored a number of big buckets and Holon recorded an important away win to remain in first place.
Cline ended the evening with 11 points for Holon while Rafi Menco and Lenzelle Smith Jr. each scored 15 points for Eilat.
Also, Maccabi Tel Aviv easily dismantled Hapoel Beersheba 99-76 in Israel’s southern capital. Every player on the yellow-and-blue roster scored, including Jeremy Pargo, who made his return after being on the injury shelf since October.
Israelis John DiBartlomeo, Yovel Zoosman and Nimrod Levi all scored in double digits as Maccabi dished out 33 assists. Taylor Braun scored 19 points while Travis Warech added 11 points for Beersheba in the loss.
Hapoel Tel Aviv picked up an important 96-91 victory on the road against struggling Hapoel Gilboa/Galil. Rich Howell led the way for the Tel Aviv Reds with 19 points, including a number of crucial fourth-quarter baskets to give embattled coach Dani Franco the win. The result sent Gilboa/Galil and coach Ariel Beit Halachmi to their sixth loss in a row.
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell scored 16 points, Jerel McNeal added 14 points and Tomer Ginat clocked in with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Tel Aviv, while Whittington scored 24 points for the hosts in defeat.
Maccabi Ashdod recorded its first home win of the season, defeating Bnei Herzliya 94-73 thanks to spectacular performances by Landon Milbourne and Paul Stoll.
The port city squad led throughout most of the game and a 16-0 run in the fourth quarter put away the victory.
Milbourne scored 26 points, Stoll added 24 points, 10 assists and five steals, while Gabe Levin led Herzliya with 15 points.
Maccabi Rishon Lezion visited Nahariya and took home a 89-75 win for its sixth-straight victory. After a close first half, Guy Goodes’s side went on an 18-3 run to pull away from Arik Alfasi’s squad, which featured former NBA standout Jordan Crawford making his Israeli league debut.
Alex Hamilton scored 18 points and recorded seven assists, Itay Segev tied his career high with 15 points and DeShawn Stephens had 15 points along with 10 rebounds for Rishon.
Dagan Yivzori scored 17 points and Crawford dropped 13 points, handed out five assists and pulled down four boards in 30 minutes of play for Nahariya.