National League Round 3 (Regular Season): I.Nahariya lose their first game against Ashkelon

National League Regular Season is still in too early stage and there may be still significant changes in the standings. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was a loss of I.Nahariya (2-1) on the court of Ashkelon on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by Ashkelon 109-104. Ashkelon made 30-of-33 free shots (90.9 percent) during the game. Ashkelon outrebounded I.Nahariya 42-29 including a 22-10 advantage in defensive rebounds. Ashkelon looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. It was a great evening for American guard Austin Tilghman (185-1995, college: Monmouth, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 34 points (!!!), 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. American-Nigerian Kingsley Okanu (202-2000, college: GVSU, agency: Helping Ballers) helped adding 18 points and 12 rebounds. Ashkelon's coach used entire bench in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American forward Amin Stevens (203-1990, college: FAMU) with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Ashkelon is looking forward to face E.Netanya on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. I.Nahariya will play against M.Raanana and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of Hapoel Haifa (2-1) against M.Raanana (3-0) on Friday night. Visiting Hapoel Haifa was defeated by M.Raanana in a tough game in Raanana 75-82. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Davon Barnes (193-2002, college: Ole Miss) who led the winners and scored 23 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. Yariv Amiram accounted for 17 points. American forward Robert Allen (206-2000, college: N.Texas, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds for H.Haifa in the defeat. M.Raanana will play against I.Nahariya (#6) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Hapoel Haifa will play against H.Hevel Modiin and hopes to get back on the winning track.
E.Netanya (3-0) managed to deliver another win on Friday. This time they beat E.Yavne (0-3) 88-78. The best player for the winners was Gabe DeVoe who had a double-double by scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was CJ Walker who recorded a double-double by scoring 29 points and 10 rebounds. E.Netanya will meet at home Ashkelon (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. E.Yavne will play against M.Rehovot (#5) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 3: M.Rehovot won against H.Migdal on the opponent's court 88-71. E.Shomron managed to outperform Otef Darom in a home game 74-61. M.Kiryat Gat recorded a loss to H.Hevel Modiin on the road 79-75. M.Kiryat Motzkin defeated M.Petah Tikva on its own court 99-90.



H.Migdal - M.Rehovot 71-88:
Very expected game in Nazareth where H.Migdal (0-3) was defeated by M.Rehovot (2-1) 88-71 on Wednesday. M.Rehovot outrebounded H.Migdal 40-28 including a 28-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. M.Rehovot looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Lamont West (203-2002, college: Missouri St.) who had a double-double by scoring 22 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists. point guard Daniel Gueta (188-2003) chipped in 20 points, 5 assists and 6 steals (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward KJ Williams (208-1999, college: LSU) who recorded 35 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds and guard Matan Hachamo (189-2003) added 8 points and 6 assists respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. M.Rehovot will meet at home E.Yavne (#13) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. H.Migdal will play against Otef Darom and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
M.Rehovot: W.Lamont 22+19reb+5ast, G.Daniel 20+3reb+5ast, B.Yanir 11+5reb+2ast, R.Nitai 9+2reb, Y.Temidayo 9+3reb+2ast, D.Harel 6+2reb+1ast
H.Migdal: K.Williams 35+9reb+1ast, B.Onche 8+3reb+2ast, M.Hachamo 8+2reb+6ast, I.Hayun 5+1reb+3ast, O.Goldsztejn 4+5reb+2ast, L.Noam 4+1reb

E.Shomron - Otef Darom 74-61:
E.Shomron used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from 74-61 on Friday night. E.Shomron outrebounded Otef Darom 46-27 including a 33-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American power forward Makhi Mitchell (206-2000, college: Arkansas) who had a double-double by scoring 17 points and 12 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Antonio Daye Jr. (185-2000, college: Coastal) chipped in 18 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Ahmir Langlais (206-2001, college: Tennessee St.) who recorded 19 points and 9 rebounds and forward Lotan Amsalem (200-2001) added 7 points respectively. E.Shomron will meet M.Petah Tikva (#8) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Otef Darom will play against H.Migdal and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
E.Shomron: D.Antonio 18+7reb+2ast, M.Makhi 17+12reb+2ast, R.Clarke 9+1reb, R.Hitkes 8+3reb+1ast, T.Ryan 7+4reb+3ast, S.Eilon 7+13reb+1ast
Otef Darom: A.Langlais 19+9reb, V.Cole 11+2reb+1ast, N.Sharon 8+3reb+2ast, L.Amsalem 7+4reb+3ast, S.Yam 6+3reb+2ast, T.Gold 5+4reb+1ast

Ashkelon - I.Nahariya 109-104:
The most surprising game was a loss of I.Nahariya (2-1) on the court of Ashkelon on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by Ashkelon 109-104. Ashkelon made 30-of-33 free shots (90.9 percent) during the game. Ashkelon outrebounded I.Nahariya 42-29 including a 22-10 advantage in defensive rebounds. Ashkelon looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. It was a great evening for American guard Austin Tilghman (185-1995, college: Monmouth, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 34 points (!!!), 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. American-Nigerian Kingsley Okanu (202-2000, college: GVSU, agency: Helping Ballers) helped adding 18 points and 12 rebounds. Ashkelon's coach used entire bench in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American forward Amin Stevens (203-1990, college: FAMU) with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import Justin Johnson (200-1996, college: WKU) scored 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Ashkelon is looking forward to face E.Netanya on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. I.Nahariya will play against M.Raanana and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Ashkelon: T.Austin 34+8reb+9ast, S.Omer 21+1reb+3ast, O.Kingsley 18+12reb+2ast, R.Amit 14+3reb+9ast, N.Noam 10+1reb+2ast, M.Koren 4+9reb+1ast
I.Nahariya: A.Stevens 27+5reb+4ast, O.Poleg 19+1reb+4ast, E.Alber 15+3reb+5ast, J.Johnson 13+8reb+4ast, A.Aharoni 7+3reb+6ast, A.Aizik 6+3reb+3ast

E.Yavne - E.Netanya 78-88:
E.Netanya (3-0) managed to deliver another win on Friday. This time they beat E.Yavne (0-3) 88-78. The best player for the winners was American guard Gabe DeVoe (191-1995, college: Clemson) who had a double-double by scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Forward Oz Lavy (197-2003) chipped in 13 points and 6 rebounds. Five E.Netanya players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward CJ Walker (203-2001, college: ECU) who recorded a double-double by scoring 29 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import guard DeMarcus Sharp (190-1998, college: Austin Peay) added 16 points and 7 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) respectively. E.Netanya will meet at home Ashkelon (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. E.Yavne will play against M.Rehovot (#5) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
E.Netanya: T.Efi 14+2reb+3ast, L.Oz 13+6reb+1ast, L.Ishmael 12+5reb, O.Yogev 12+3ast, O.Omri 11+2reb+1ast, D.Gabe 10+10reb+5ast
E.Yavne: C.Walker 29+10reb+2ast, D.Sharp 16+7reb+3ast, S.David 9+3reb+2ast, B.Bowman 7+2reb, I.Harel 6+4reb+2ast, F.Or 6+2ast

H.Hevel Modiin - M.Kiryat Gat 79-75:
Not a big story in a game in Hevel Modi'in where M.Kiryat Gat (0-3) was defeated by H.Hevel Modiin (1-1) 79-75 on Friday. The best player for the winners was American forward Seth LeDay (201-1996, college: ECU, agency: 6th Man Basketball Agency) who had a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds. Guard Omer Dragushanckie (194-2005) chipped in 18 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Marcus Tyus (185-1994, college: Omaha) who recorded 19 points and 7 rebounds and point guard Ido Shabat (182-1999) added 21 points and 5 assists respectively. Four M.Kiryat Gat players scored in double figures. H.Hevel Modiin will meet H.Haifa (#3) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. M.Kiryat Gat will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
H.Hevel Modiin: D.Omer 18+5reb+3ast, A.Henkin 14+10reb+1ast, L.Seth 13+13reb+3ast, K.Miron 9+5reb+5ast, H.Ben 7+2reb, B.Yuval 7
M.Kiryat Gat: I.Shabat 21+2reb+5ast, M.Tyus 19+7reb+3ast, T.Cohen 15+6reb+1ast, D.Walker 12+5reb+3ast, R.Pitshon 5+7reb+1ast, N.Yaacobi 2+1reb+1ast

M.Kiryat Motzkin - M.Petah Tikva 99-90:
There was a surprise result when M.Kiryat Motzkin (1-2) beat at home M.Petah Tikva (1-1) 99-90 on Friday. The best player for the winners was American guard Dirk Williams (195-1994, college: UAB) who scored 29 points and 5 rebounds. Naturalized British guard Daniel Najar (193-2001) chipped in 20 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Jimmy Hall (203-1994, college: Kent St.) who recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points, 20 rebounds and 8 assists and the other American import center Brandon Tabb (193-1995, college: BCU) added 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists (went 13 for 13 at the free throw line !!!) respectively. Four M.Petah Tikva players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. M.Kiryat Motzkin will meet Ramat Hash. (#10) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. M.Petah Tikva will play against E.Shomron where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
M.Kiryat Motzkin: W.Dirk 29+5reb+3ast, M.Jermaine 21+5reb+1ast, N.Daniel 20+8reb+9ast, T.Zweifler 8+4reb, C.Ori 6+4reb+1ast, G.Doron 5+1reb+2ast
M.Petah Tikva: B.Tabb 24+7reb+5ast, B.Sheinboim 18+1reb+4ast, J.Hall 16+20reb+8ast, A.Shimoni 10+7reb, K.Brown 6+1reb+1ast, G.Amit 6+2reb

M.Raanana - H.Haifa 82-75:
Very important is a road loss of Hapoel Haifa (2-1) against M.Raanana (3-0) on Friday night. Visiting Hapoel Haifa was defeated by M.Raanana in a tough game in Raanana 75-82. M.Raanana made 22-of-26 charity shots (84.6 percent) during the game. They also forced 22 H.Haifa turnovers. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Davon Barnes (193-2002, college: Ole Miss) who led the winners and scored 23 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. Power forward Yariv Amiram (204-1994) accounted for 17 points for the winning side. American forward Robert Allen (206-2000, college: N.Texas, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds and point guard Amit Alon (180-2000) added 16 points and 8 assists respectively for H.Haifa in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. M.Raanana will play against I.Nahariya (#6) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Hapoel Haifa will play against H.Hevel Modiin and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
M.Raanana: B.Davon 23+8reb+8ast, A.Yariv 17+4reb+1ast, B.Albert 13+2reb+1ast, P.Yahel 10+5reb+3ast, H.Josh 7+5reb+1ast, G.Chen 7+3reb+1ast
H.Haifa: A.Alon 16+1reb+8ast, R.Allen 15+15reb+2ast, S.Itay 15+2reb, S.Dalid 13+4reb+1ast, A.Tyus 6+7reb+1ast, T.Levinson 5+5reb