Basketball / Premier League / Maccabi TA ends losing streak with victory over Gilboa/Afula
By Arie Livnat
Maccabi Tel Aviv ended its longest losing streak in history yesterday after trouncing Gilboa/Afula 95:69. The team, which had been last in the league, was relegated to the second tier as a result.
Esteban Batista and David Bluthenthal led Maccabi, scoring 18 and 16 points, respectively, while Lamont Jones racked in 18 points for Gilboa/Afula. Yotam Halperin also contributed valuable points for Maccabi, particularly in the first and second quarters of the game.
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Maccabi got off to a quick start while Gilboa/Afula hesitated. Maccabi's Terrence Morris nailed a number of jump shots while his rivals squandered theirs. A tactical change by Gilboa/Afula to regional defense failed to have an effect on the team in yellow.
Batista scored his first point of the game in the second quarter, and led an all-out attack by Maccabi, which took a double-digit lead. Gilboa/Afula tried to be more aggressive in the third quarter but to no avail, as Maccabi's Yotam Halperin led a fastbreak that ended with a furious dunk by Batista, perhaps the best player of the night. The fourth quarter was devoted entirely to garbage time.
"We won after a couple of bad games," coach Zvika Sherf said. "The key was the offensive and defensive rebounds. It is the difference between failure and success. We will continue to work hard and talk less."
Maccabi big man Nikola Vujcic said he hoped the game was the end of the team's bad streak. "I hope we're back for good," he said. "It's important we play well. It's always easier when we're winning."
Nahariya's playoff ambition
Ironi Nahariya will secure a spot in the final four playoffs if it beats Hapoel Jerusalem today. Nahariya, which has won the last five consecutive games, has beat Jerusalem away only once, three seasons ago. If Jerusalem wins, the identity of the fourth team in the playoffs will be determined only in the regular season's last round.
In that event, Nahariya will have to beat Ironi Ramat Gan in order to advance to the next level. Its main rival for the fourth playoff spot, Ironi Ashkelon, will play against Bnei Hasharon in Herzliya. Ashkelon will miss its captain, center Mushon Yaakusi, who will not be plaing as he will be taking part in his pre-wedding celebrations.
Ironi Ashkelon hope to build on momentum cause by their victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv last week.
Maccabi Haifa's promotion?
Meanwhile, Haifa's Romema arena will be packed tonight at 7:30 P.M. for a game that may secure Maccabi Haifa's promotion to the Premier League.
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