Basketball / Women's State Cup / State Cup to host classic match-up between Ramat Hasharon, Ramle
By Haaretz Sports Staff
Ramat Hasharon and Elitzur Ramle advanced to the State Cup finals yesterday after beating Maccabi Ramat Chen and Maccabi Ashdod, respectively.
In the first game, Ramat Hasharon triumphed over Ramat Chen 68-59 at the Metro West stadium in Ra'anana. Ramat Chen took the lead in the first half of the game, mainly because its players picked more rebounds. But Ramat Hasharon came back from behind thanks to its most valuable player of the night, Jia Perkins, who scored 17 points.
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"The players want it and the club also wants it," Ramat Hasharon coach Orna Ostfeld enthusiastically said. "We now have two goals: the championship and the cup. The more we play together, the better we get."
Ramat Chen coach Eden Enbar congratulated his opponents: "Though I am very disappointed, I have to say that the better team won the game."
Also yesterday, Elitzur Ramle beat Ashdod 82-76. Ramle's star player, Shay Doron, was in top form, and at times, Ashdod's players seemed helpless to stop her. Doron, who also plays for the U.S. Women's National Baskteball League team New York Liberty during the Israeli off-season, scored 15 points.
Sworn rivals
Ramat Hasharon and Elitzur Ramle have been the most powerfull teams in Israel for years and have a long tradition of rivalry.
Commenting on the upcoming final against Ramle, Ramat Hasharon's Limor Mizrahi s aid: "It's no secret that we aren't in top form or where we want to be at this point in the season, but I am confident about the team and confident that we can win the State Cup on Wednesday."
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