Local hoops: Hapoel J'lem holds on to beat Bnei Hasharon

Records its fifth straight BSL victory by winning 87-85 at the Malha Arena.

By ALLON SINAI
tapiro hapoel 88 (photo credit: )
tapiro hapoel 88
(photo credit: )
Hapoel Jerusalem recorded its fifth straight BSL victory on Saturday night by holding on to defeat Bnei Hasharon 87-85 at Malha Arena. Hapoel will be in a confident mood heading into the second leg of its ULEB Cup quarterfinal against Serbian club FMP Zeleznik on Tuesday night. Jerusalem, which will leave for Belgrade on Sunday, opened a 24-8 lead after eight minutes of play against Bnei Hasharon. Hapoel was cruising after 10 minutes of play, leading 26-14, and Bnei Hasharon looked down and out by halftime, when it trailed 50-37. Hasharon managed to cut the lead to nine points at the start of the third period, but Jerusalem regained a comfortable 73-54 cushion. Hapoel coach Dan Shamir began to rest his starters in the fourth quarter ahead of Tuesday's game, but Bnei Hasharon made Hapoel sweat for its win. After cutting Jerusalem's lead to one point in the final seconds of the fourth period, Bnei Hasharon missed a chance to win the game by turning the ball over at the buzzer. Bnei Hasharon managed to close within a single point in the final minute of the game, but Hapoel, which was led by Timmy Bowers, who scored 23 points, clung to its lead and improved to 8-3 in the BSL. The remaining games of Matchday 13 will be played on Sunday night.