National League Round 23: E.Netanya beat E.Shomron by one after a very close game

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Eleventh-ranked E.Shomron (8-16) was very close to win a game against second ranked E.Netanya (18-7) on Friday. E.Netanya managed to secure only one-point victory 76-75. However their fans expected much easier game. E.Netanya have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They maintain second place with 18-7 record having just two point less than leader H.Afula. Newly promoted E.Shomron keeps the eleventh position with 16 games lost. E.Netanya are again looking forward to face E.Shomron (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. E.Shomron will have a break next round.
National League top team - H.Afula (18-5) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat ninth ranked Ramat Hash. (11-12) 93-78. It was a great evening for guard Tomer Asayag (190-1999) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Jimmy Hall helped adding 16 points and 8 rebounds. Naturalized Polish point guard Yehonatan Yam (182-1999) responded with 18 points and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for H.Afula. They maintain first place with 18-5 record. Ramat Hash. at the other side dropped to the eighth position with 12 games lost. They share it with M.Ma'ale Adum.. H.Afula will play against bottom-ranked H.Ramat Gan (#14) in Givataim in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Ramat Hash. will play at home against M.Rehovot (#12) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Worth to mention about the upset in a game between M.Raanana (12-11) and H.Hevel Modi'in (6-18), which took place in Raanana. Higher ranked M.Raanana lost at home to thirteenth ranked H.Hevel Modi'in 101-105 on Friday. It was an exceptional evening for Keron DeShields who led the winners and scored 33 points (!!!) and 6 assists. Eidan Alber came up with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for M.Raanana in the defeat. H.Hevel Modi'in maintains thirteenth place with 6-18 record. Loser M.Raanana keeps the seventh position with 11 games lost. H.Hevel Modi'in will meet at home higher ranked I.Nahariya (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. M.Raanana will play against M.Haifa and hope to secure a win.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 23: bottom-ranked H.Ramat Gan was beaten by M.Ramat Gan on the road 79-69. E.Shomron lost to E.Ashkelon on its own court 84-89. M.Haifa managed to outperform M.Rehovot in a road game 74-69. M.Rishon managed to beat M.Ma'ale Adum. at home 72-65.
The most impressive performance of 23th round was 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists by Jawun Evans of M.Rishon.

H.Afula - Ramat Hash. 93-78

National League top team - H.Afula (18-5) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat ninth ranked Ramat Hash. (11-12) 93-78. H.Afula made 16-of-19 charity shots (84.2 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. It was a great evening for guard Tomer Asayag (190-1999) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. American Jimmy Hall (203-1994, college: Kent St.) helped adding 16 points and 8 rebounds. Naturalized Polish point guard Yehonatan Yam (182-1999) responded with 18 points and 4 assists and American point guard Diante Watkins (175-1990, college: RMU) scored 16 points and 6 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for H.Afula. They maintain first place with 18-5 record. Ramat Hash. at the other side dropped to the eighth position with 12 games lost. They share it with M.Ma'ale Adum.. H.Afula will play against bottom-ranked H.Ramat Gan (#14) in Givataim in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Ramat Hash. will play at home against M.Rehovot (#12) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
H.Afula: T.Asayag 18+7reb+8ast, J.Hall 16+8reb, A.Druker 13+3ast, L.Goldenberg 12+8reb+2ast, A.Dor 11+1reb+2ast, T.Fitzpatrick 9+8reb+4ast
Ramat Hash.: Y.Yam 18+4reb+4ast, D.Watkins 16+3reb+6ast, T.Wideman 13+7reb, A.Bier-Katz 13+9reb+2ast, G.Ferber 8+4reb+2ast, A.Ebo 6+2reb+3ast

M.Raanana - H.Hevel Modi'in 101-105

Worth to mention about the upset in a game between M.Raanana (12-11) and H.Hevel Modi'in (6-18), which took place in Raanana. Higher ranked M.Raanana lost at home to thirteenth ranked H.Hevel Modi'in 101-105 on Friday. H.Hevel Modi'in looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American point guard Keron DeShields (190-1992, college: Tennessee St.) who led the winners and scored 33 points (!!!) and 6 assists. His fellow American import center Michael Holyfield (211-1992, college: SHSU) accounted for 23 points and 16 rebounds for the winning side. Guard Eidan Alber (192-2000, agency: Avi Zilberman) came up with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and naturalized American Willy Workman (198-1990, college: Amherst) added 22 points and 5 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) respectively for M.Raanana in the defeat. Four H.Hevel Modi'in and five M.Raanana players scored in double figures. H.Hevel Modi'in maintains thirteenth place with 6-18 record. Loser M.Raanana keeps the seventh position with 11 games lost. H.Hevel Modi'in will meet at home higher ranked I.Nahariya (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. M.Raanana will play against M.Haifa and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
H.Hevel Modi'in: K.DeShields 33+4reb+6ast, M.Holyfield 23+16reb+1ast, S.Malkov 21+6reb+3ast, G.Shoham 17+2reb+6ast, E.Mor-Yosef 7+3reb+2ast, S.Omer 2+3reb
M.Raanana: E.Alber 24+8reb+5ast, W.Workman 22+4reb+5ast, J.Siggers 16+5reb+5ast, J.Canty 15+6reb+3ast, A.Sapir 15+7reb+6ast, R.Geffen 6+3reb+3ast

M.Ramat Gan - H.Ramat Gan 79-69

No shocking result in a game when sixth ranked M.Ramat Gan (14-9) beat at home bottom-ranked H.Ramat Gan (4-19) 79-69 on Tuesday. M.Ramat Gan looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American forward Demetrius Treadwell (201-1991, college: Akron) who led the winners and scored 11 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Guard Harel Dadon (193-1998) accounted for 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. M.Ramat Gan's coach Matan Harush used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Lamonte Bearden (191-1995, college: WKU) came up with 17 points and 5 assists and swingman Eliad Tal (198-2002) added 15 points and 8 rebounds respectively for H.Ramat Gan in the defeat. Four H.Ramat Gan players scored in double figures. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for M.Ramat Gan. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with I.Nahariya. Loser H.Ramat Gan stay at the bottom position with 19 games lost. M.Ramat Gan will meet M.Ma'ale Adum. (#8) in the next round. H.Ramat Gan will play against the league's leader H.Afula (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
M.Ramat Gan: K.Capers 16+3reb+1ast, H.Dadon 13+5reb+4ast, D.Treadwell 11+8reb+5ast, E.Hirsh 11+2reb, D.Rosenbaum 8+4reb+2ast, J.Cohen 8+3reb+1ast
H.Ramat Gan: L.Bearden 17+4reb+5ast, T.Eliad 15+8reb+2ast, N.Gil 11+7reb+4ast, N.Uzan 11, H.Omer 6+1ast, S.Warren 5+5reb+1ast

E.Shomron - E.Ashkelon 84-89

Very expected game when 11th ranked E.Shomron (8-16) lost at home to third ranked E.Ashkelon (15-8) 89-84 on Tuesday. E.Ashkelon looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. It was an exceptional evening for naturalized Polish guard Gal Gilinski (195-1995, agency: Avi Zilberman) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists. American power forward Thomas Gipson (202-1993, college: Kansas St.) accounted for 14 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. American guard Dachon Burke (193-1997, college: USA) came up with 26 points and 7 assists and point guard Eyal Shulman (192-1987, agency: Avi Zilberman) added 11 points and 9 assists respectively for E.Shomron in the defeat. Four E.Ashkelon and five E.Shomron players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. E.Ashkelon maintains third place with 15-8 record having just three points less than leader H.Afula, which they share with M.Rishon. Newly promoted E.Shomron keeps the eleventh position with 16 games lost. E.Ashkelon will meet at home Maccabi Rishon (#4) in the next round. E.Shomron will play against the league's second-placed E.Netanya (#2) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
E.Ashkelon: D.Tucker 24+3reb+2ast, G.Gilinski 19+8reb+12ast, C.Rosenberg 18+5reb+2ast, T.Gipson 14+11reb+5ast, S.Harush 7+2reb+3ast, H.Eliran 2+2reb
E.Shomron: D.Burke 26+3reb+7ast, E.Shulman 11+1reb+9ast, I.Flaisher 10+6reb, S.Gal 10+2reb+1ast, C.Ahrak 10+5reb+1ast, L.Yuval 7+4reb

M.Rehovot - M.Haifa 69-74

Rather predictable result when tenth ranked M.Haifa (10-13) won against on the road 12th ranked M.Rehovot (7-16) 74-69 on Tuesday. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Admon Gilder (193-1995, college: Gonzaga) who led the winners and scored 18 points and 7 rebounds. The former international power forward Daniel Koperberg (208-1997) accounted for 15 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side. Four M.Haifa players scored in double figures. American power forward Brandon Sherrod (198-1992, college: Yale) came up with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import swingman Brent Jackson (193-1994, college: Columbus St.) added 15 points respectively for M.Rehovot in the defeat. M.Haifa maintains tenth place with 10-13 record. M.Rehovot lost their sixth game in a row. Newly promoted team keeps the twelfth position with 16 games lost. M.Haifa will meet at home higher ranked M.Raanana (#7) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. M.Rehovot will play against Ramat Hash. (#9) in Ramat Hasharon and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
M.Haifa: A.Gilder 18+7reb+2ast, D.Koperberg 15+11reb, K.Danel 12+2reb+5ast, R.Howell 11+5reb+1ast, S.Lemon 8+3reb+1ast, O.Malka 7+1reb+2ast
M.Rehovot: B.Jackson 15+3ast, B.Sherrod 14+13reb+4ast, J.Freund 12+5reb, G.Itay 8+2ast, G.Shay Guy 7+3reb+7ast, G.Halamish 6+4reb+1ast

M.Rishon - M.Ma'ale Adum. 72-65

Not a big story in a game when 8th ranked M.Ma'ale Adum. (11-12) lost to fourth ranked Maccabi Rishon (15-8) in Rishon Le-Zion 65-72 on Tuesday. Maccabi Rishon made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game, while M.Ma'ale Adum. only scored five points from the stripe. Strangely M.Ma'ale Adum. outrebounded Maccabi Rishon 46-34 including 35 on the defensive glass. It was an exceptional evening for American point guard Jawun Evans (185-1996, college: OK State) who led the winners and scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Point guard Guy Palatin (192-2000) accounted for 15 points, 5 assists and 8 steals (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) for the winning side. Four Maccabi Rishon players scored in double figures. Canadian center Eddie Ekiyor (206-1997, college: Carleton) came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds and American forward Duane Johnson (201-1991, college: ESU) added 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for M.Ma'ale Adum. in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Maccabi Rishon moved-up to third place, which they share with E.Ashkelon. M.Ma'ale Adum. lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the eighth position with 12 games lost. They share it with Ramat Hash.. Maccabi Rishon will meet E.Ashkelon (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. M.Ma'ale Adum. will play against M.Ramat Gan (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
M.Rishon: J.Evans 18+6reb+6ast, G.Palatin 15+4reb+5ast, D.Danino 12+4reb+2ast, J.Armstrong 11+4reb+1ast, I.Nesterenko 7+4reb, T.Cohen 7+3reb
M.Ma'ale Adum.: E.Ekiyor 20+15reb+2ast, D.Johnson 18+9reb+4ast, M.Ben 9+7reb, A.Noam 8+6reb+1ast, S.Halpert 5+1reb+4ast, I.Shabat 5+1reb+2ast

E.Netanya - E.Shomron 76-75

Eleventh-ranked E.Shomron (8-16) was very close to win a game against second ranked E.Netanya (18-7) on Friday. E.Netanya managed to secure only one-point victory 76-75. However their fans expected much easier game. E.Netanya have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They maintain second place with 18-7 record having just two point less than leader H.Afula. Newly promoted E.Shomron keeps the eleventh position with 16 games lost. E.Netanya are again looking forward to face E.Shomron (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. E.Shomron will have a break next round.