Local Women's Hoops: Ramat Hasharon takes 2-1 lead in finals series

The home side dominated the encounter right from the start and knew how to hold on to its lead.

By ALLON SINAI
basketball hoops 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
basketball hoops 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Ramat Hasharon needs just one more victory to claim a first league championship since 2003 after thrashing Elitzur Ramle 96-66 at home on Thursday to take a 2-1 lead in the women's best-of-five playoff finals. The home side dominated the encounter right from the start and, unlike Game 2 in Ramle, knew how to hold on to its lead to edge ever closer to the title. Game 4 will be held in Ramle on Sunday and Ramat Hasharon will like nothing more than to clinch the championship on its arch-rival's court. "We didn't show up tonight," Ramle coach Eli Rabi said. "We were exhausted. We don't have enough time to recover between games, but we have no choice and we will have to win on Sunday." Laine Selwyn led Ramat Hasharon with 22 points, with Jia Perkins scoring 19 points. Katia Levitsky scored 16 points for Ramle and Abiola Wabara added 12 points. Ramat Hahsaron got off to the brighter start once again on Thursday, scoring the first five points of the night and opening a 24-17 lead after 10 minutes. Perkins' three point move at the start of the second period extended the hosts margin to double-digits, but Ramle answered back with a 9-0 run to close within two points (31-29). However, Ramat Hasharon regained the initiative immediately, surging to a 14-point gap by halftime (49-35), its biggest lead of the first half. Ramat Hasharon led at the break of Game 2 by the exact same score-line, but this time didn't squander its comfortable margin as it did on Monday. Instead, the hosts piled the misery on Ramle, opening a 79-50 gap by the end of the third period on the way to the easiest of victories and a 2-1 series lead.