Check out the latest video on Tamir Goodman and the Haifa Heat
http://ping.fm/VfMB3
http://ping.fm/VfMB3
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
(1) Maccabi Tel Aviv 95 - (8) Eldan Ashkelon 93
2 seconds left in the game... Check the last play and see who won the game!!!!
http://ping.fm/ePIPb
2 seconds left in the game... Check the last play and see who won the game!!!!
http://ping.fm/ePIPb
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
BSL Playoff Preview: Mac TA, Hap J'lem lead the pack
By ADAM MILLER
After six long months and 22 regular season games for each team, the BSL playoffs finally get under way this weekend.
If last season's super-dramatic Final Four was any indication of what the BSL postseason might hold in store just 12 months later, this year's new eight-team playoff format promises to be a thrilling adventure from start to finish.
While Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem are the clear favorites, holding the top two seeds, No. 3 Maccabi Haifa Heat finished just a game above Hapoel Holon, Hapoel Galil/Gilboa and Bnei Hasharon, all of whom have 13-9 records.
Here is a breakdown of all eight playoff teams.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
By Maccabi's standards, it was a less than stellar year, mainly because of its Euroleague performance and disciplinary issues.
On paper, however, Tel Aviv (19-3) is the BSL's top team and favored to win the Israeli league championship. Maccabi has seen its floor leader, Carlos Arroyo, become one of the top point guards in the league, with a 3.3 assist/turnover ratio while leading the team in points (15.5) and assists (6.2).
Tel Aviv coach Pini Gershon has the league's deepest team from top-to-bottom, with strength at every position. Maccabi has six players averaging double-figures this year, making the team an overwhelming threat for anyone looking to hold down the offense.
Aside from having six scoring threats, the yellow-and-blue hold the league's top field-goal (62%) and three-point (40%) percentages.
Although Maccabi is focused on avoiding a postseason similar to last year, it won't be easy with a deep talent pool throughout the league. Gershon and Co. struggled at the end of the season against Maccabi Haifa in a close loss on April 12.
Tel Aviv's most alarming loss came on December 14 against sixth-seeded Bnei Hasharon, which held Maccabi to 78 points.
Its first round opponent is Ironi Ashkelon, who it has beaten twice already and should cruise by once again, but the road after that is not guaranteed to be easy by any means.
Hapoel Jerusalem
Throughout most of the season, Hapoel has found ways to beat teams week in, week out.
It wasn't until Ironi Ramat Gan pulled off a stunning 16-point victory over Jerusalem that things went wrong.
Over the last two months, Hapoel (17-5) lost three of its last eight games. All three of its losses were by double-digits, with the latest coming April 6 in a 15-point loss to Ironi Nahariya.
Jerusalem will now get the chance to make up for its loss earlier this month in a first-round series against the team from the North.
Hapoel is strong in the backcourt with great shooting to compliment guard Timmy Bowers, who leads the team in scoring (16 ppg), along with point guards Yuval Naimi and Moran Rot splitting time.
Its biggest problems are up front, where it severely lacks size. Despite bringing in Torin Francis late in the season, Hapoel often finds itself short-handed down low.
Those issues have not yet affected coach Guy Goodes' team, which is still second in the league in rebounding (26.3). Given the past difficulties Hapoel has had with Nahariya, post presence will certainly be a concern in the first round.
The one comfort Jerusalem will have in the opening round is home-court advantage. Hapoel is undefeated at home, which should provide the team with plenty of confidence in the opening series against a team it has failed to beat with any consistency.
Maccabi Haifa Heat
The Heat has lived up to its preseason billing and, thanks to a change in
personnel and the acquisition of quality American talent, Haifa now finds itself as the third seed in the BSL tournament.
Forward Davon Jefferson just recently broke out, developing into the scorer that Maccabi expected when they signed him, raising his average to 16.1 points per game.
He has stepped up much more lately than in the past with more aggressiveness that has led to more shots and rebounds. In the win over Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jefferson put up 28 points and 11 rebounds just three weeks after totaling his season-high in points and rebounds against Ironi Kiryat Ata.
However, the team's hopes of advancing lie on the shoulders of Doron Perkins.
While Haifa's starting point guard was out a few weeks with an injury, the team's offense struggled to make up for his ability to run the offense as well as his leadership. The Heat hope to have both in this first-round series.
Hapoel Holon
As the defending champion with arguably the best backcourt in the league, this team knows what's required to win it all, especially after upsetting Tel Aviv in the Final Four last year.
Despite losing its last two games of the season, Holon as been one of the hottest teams in the BSL and a major threat to anyone it plays.
One of the contributing factors, Luis Flores, has made a serious run for Most Valuable Player by leading the league in scoring averaging 19.8 points per game.
Hapoel's other guard, and the team's No. 2 scorer, Deron Washington, has taken much of the load off Flores in order to create mismatches offensively.
Ever since defeating Jerusalem on March 16, Holon coach Dany Franko has seen his team struggle. It won the next two games against Nahariya and Kiryat Ata, but both by under five points.
Two weeks later, Holon went into Ashkelon and lost, 94-84, and ended the season on a sour note, losing at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
While Flores and Washington will carry much of the load, Hapoel will have to get help from some of the other veterans if it expects to make a run in the tournament.
Hapoel Galil/Gilboa
Oded Katash's team has quietly put together a team capable of upsetting Holon - or anyone else for that matter, thanks to a four-game winning streak to end the season.
Its speed has made up for what it has lacked in size, with Brian Roberts and Brian Randle taking on much of the scoring load.
Roberts is the seventh-best shooter (65.4%) in the BSL, which has allowed him to make a great impact without having to shoot much.
Galil has shown it can be competitive against anyone, but has struggled to beat some of the league's best teams. Its most impressive feat was beating Haifa twice this season. However, Gilboa will have to rely on good shooting in order to do well in the postseason.
Bnei Hasharon
Hasharon is perhaps the most inconsistent team in the playoff.
It is the only team in the BSL to defeat Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa this season. At the same time, though, it is one of two playoff teams (Ashkelon being the second) which has lost to Kiryat Ata and Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
Hasharon's biggest strength is its defense. Coach Ariel Beit Halachmi's team is fourth in the BSL for points allowed. The two biggest reasons for that are Shaun James and Ousmane Cisse.
James (2.2) and Cisse (2.0) ranked first and second in the league in blocked shots. Their presence down low has forced other teams to shoot jumpers with a little more regularity than they would like, and the improvement they have made to the front court defense has been invaluable.
The major weakness for the team is that it has lacked a primary scoring threat for much of the season. Recently acquired Ira Newble has eased the burden so far (15.6 points), but in order for Hasharon to advance, it is the defense that will have to step up.
Ironi Nahariya
This is a team that simply won't go away.
Despite having a record below .500, Nahariya has frustrated plenty of teams, and in some cases has even pulled out upset victories, as was the case when it downed Hapoel Jerusalem on April 6.
It took a big blow just prior to that game, when financial difficulties led management to get rid of point guard Raviv Limonad and power forward Aaron McGhee. Since then, other players have stepped up in their absence.
The biggest improvement of the season has come from Phillip Ricci. The talented forward has averaged 18 points in the last three games of the season and has become much more aggressive near the conclusion of the schedule.
Ricci will be expected to take much of the load off the team's leading scorer Ron Lewis, who has continued his dominance offensively in the absence of Limonad and McGhee. The shooting guard has scored over 20 points in six of his last seven games, spending much of his time out on the perimeter.
Lewis will be integral to Ironi's chances in its first-round matchup against Jerusalem, as he scored a season-high 29 points in their last meeting, capitalizing on 6-of-9 in field goals and 4-of-6 from the perimeter.
If he can duplicate the success he had the last time his team went against Jerusalem, Nahariya will make it difficult for Hapoel to close out the series.
Ironi Ashkelon
Ashkelon's late improvements went a long way in giving it the victories needed down the stretch to secure a playoff berth, but it's not likely to be hanging around for long.
Ironi is led by the league's best rebounder in Rashon Turner (15.5 points, 10.6 rebounds) but he is the only major force on the club. As a result, Ashkelon has had problems competing for most of the season.
The team from the South is the only playoff team to lose to all four teams in the relegation tournament. In fact, had it not been for its win on April 13 over Hapoel Holon, it would've failed to make the playoffs.
Ashkelon did the job necessary to prevent Ramat Gan from advancing, but it will have massive problems surviving in its series against Maccabi Tel Aviv with a severe lack of firepower.
After six long months and 22 regular season games for each team, the BSL playoffs finally get under way this weekend.
If last season's super-dramatic Final Four was any indication of what the BSL postseason might hold in store just 12 months later, this year's new eight-team playoff format promises to be a thrilling adventure from start to finish.
While Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem are the clear favorites, holding the top two seeds, No. 3 Maccabi Haifa Heat finished just a game above Hapoel Holon, Hapoel Galil/Gilboa and Bnei Hasharon, all of whom have 13-9 records.
Here is a breakdown of all eight playoff teams.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
By Maccabi's standards, it was a less than stellar year, mainly because of its Euroleague performance and disciplinary issues.
On paper, however, Tel Aviv (19-3) is the BSL's top team and favored to win the Israeli league championship. Maccabi has seen its floor leader, Carlos Arroyo, become one of the top point guards in the league, with a 3.3 assist/turnover ratio while leading the team in points (15.5) and assists (6.2).
Tel Aviv coach Pini Gershon has the league's deepest team from top-to-bottom, with strength at every position. Maccabi has six players averaging double-figures this year, making the team an overwhelming threat for anyone looking to hold down the offense.
Aside from having six scoring threats, the yellow-and-blue hold the league's top field-goal (62%) and three-point (40%) percentages.
Although Maccabi is focused on avoiding a postseason similar to last year, it won't be easy with a deep talent pool throughout the league. Gershon and Co. struggled at the end of the season against Maccabi Haifa in a close loss on April 12.
Tel Aviv's most alarming loss came on December 14 against sixth-seeded Bnei Hasharon, which held Maccabi to 78 points.
Its first round opponent is Ironi Ashkelon, who it has beaten twice already and should cruise by once again, but the road after that is not guaranteed to be easy by any means.
Hapoel Jerusalem
Throughout most of the season, Hapoel has found ways to beat teams week in, week out.
It wasn't until Ironi Ramat Gan pulled off a stunning 16-point victory over Jerusalem that things went wrong.
Over the last two months, Hapoel (17-5) lost three of its last eight games. All three of its losses were by double-digits, with the latest coming April 6 in a 15-point loss to Ironi Nahariya.
Jerusalem will now get the chance to make up for its loss earlier this month in a first-round series against the team from the North.
Hapoel is strong in the backcourt with great shooting to compliment guard Timmy Bowers, who leads the team in scoring (16 ppg), along with point guards Yuval Naimi and Moran Rot splitting time.
Its biggest problems are up front, where it severely lacks size. Despite bringing in Torin Francis late in the season, Hapoel often finds itself short-handed down low.
Those issues have not yet affected coach Guy Goodes' team, which is still second in the league in rebounding (26.3). Given the past difficulties Hapoel has had with Nahariya, post presence will certainly be a concern in the first round.
The one comfort Jerusalem will have in the opening round is home-court advantage. Hapoel is undefeated at home, which should provide the team with plenty of confidence in the opening series against a team it has failed to beat with any consistency.
Maccabi Haifa Heat
The Heat has lived up to its preseason billing and, thanks to a change in
personnel and the acquisition of quality American talent, Haifa now finds itself as the third seed in the BSL tournament.
Forward Davon Jefferson just recently broke out, developing into the scorer that Maccabi expected when they signed him, raising his average to 16.1 points per game.
He has stepped up much more lately than in the past with more aggressiveness that has led to more shots and rebounds. In the win over Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jefferson put up 28 points and 11 rebounds just three weeks after totaling his season-high in points and rebounds against Ironi Kiryat Ata.
However, the team's hopes of advancing lie on the shoulders of Doron Perkins.
While Haifa's starting point guard was out a few weeks with an injury, the team's offense struggled to make up for his ability to run the offense as well as his leadership. The Heat hope to have both in this first-round series.
Hapoel Holon
As the defending champion with arguably the best backcourt in the league, this team knows what's required to win it all, especially after upsetting Tel Aviv in the Final Four last year.
Despite losing its last two games of the season, Holon as been one of the hottest teams in the BSL and a major threat to anyone it plays.
One of the contributing factors, Luis Flores, has made a serious run for Most Valuable Player by leading the league in scoring averaging 19.8 points per game.
Hapoel's other guard, and the team's No. 2 scorer, Deron Washington, has taken much of the load off Flores in order to create mismatches offensively.
Ever since defeating Jerusalem on March 16, Holon coach Dany Franko has seen his team struggle. It won the next two games against Nahariya and Kiryat Ata, but both by under five points.
Two weeks later, Holon went into Ashkelon and lost, 94-84, and ended the season on a sour note, losing at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
While Flores and Washington will carry much of the load, Hapoel will have to get help from some of the other veterans if it expects to make a run in the tournament.
Hapoel Galil/Gilboa
Oded Katash's team has quietly put together a team capable of upsetting Holon - or anyone else for that matter, thanks to a four-game winning streak to end the season.
Its speed has made up for what it has lacked in size, with Brian Roberts and Brian Randle taking on much of the scoring load.
Roberts is the seventh-best shooter (65.4%) in the BSL, which has allowed him to make a great impact without having to shoot much.
Galil has shown it can be competitive against anyone, but has struggled to beat some of the league's best teams. Its most impressive feat was beating Haifa twice this season. However, Gilboa will have to rely on good shooting in order to do well in the postseason.
Bnei Hasharon
Hasharon is perhaps the most inconsistent team in the playoff.
It is the only team in the BSL to defeat Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa this season. At the same time, though, it is one of two playoff teams (Ashkelon being the second) which has lost to Kiryat Ata and Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
Hasharon's biggest strength is its defense. Coach Ariel Beit Halachmi's team is fourth in the BSL for points allowed. The two biggest reasons for that are Shaun James and Ousmane Cisse.
James (2.2) and Cisse (2.0) ranked first and second in the league in blocked shots. Their presence down low has forced other teams to shoot jumpers with a little more regularity than they would like, and the improvement they have made to the front court defense has been invaluable.
The major weakness for the team is that it has lacked a primary scoring threat for much of the season. Recently acquired Ira Newble has eased the burden so far (15.6 points), but in order for Hasharon to advance, it is the defense that will have to step up.
Ironi Nahariya
This is a team that simply won't go away.
Despite having a record below .500, Nahariya has frustrated plenty of teams, and in some cases has even pulled out upset victories, as was the case when it downed Hapoel Jerusalem on April 6.
It took a big blow just prior to that game, when financial difficulties led management to get rid of point guard Raviv Limonad and power forward Aaron McGhee. Since then, other players have stepped up in their absence.
The biggest improvement of the season has come from Phillip Ricci. The talented forward has averaged 18 points in the last three games of the season and has become much more aggressive near the conclusion of the schedule.
Ricci will be expected to take much of the load off the team's leading scorer Ron Lewis, who has continued his dominance offensively in the absence of Limonad and McGhee. The shooting guard has scored over 20 points in six of his last seven games, spending much of his time out on the perimeter.
Lewis will be integral to Ironi's chances in its first-round matchup against Jerusalem, as he scored a season-high 29 points in their last meeting, capitalizing on 6-of-9 in field goals and 4-of-6 from the perimeter.
If he can duplicate the success he had the last time his team went against Jerusalem, Nahariya will make it difficult for Hapoel to close out the series.
Ironi Ashkelon
Ashkelon's late improvements went a long way in giving it the victories needed down the stretch to secure a playoff berth, but it's not likely to be hanging around for long.
Ironi is led by the league's best rebounder in Rashon Turner (15.5 points, 10.6 rebounds) but he is the only major force on the club. As a result, Ashkelon has had problems competing for most of the season.
The team from the South is the only playoff team to lose to all four teams in the relegation tournament. In fact, had it not been for its win on April 13 over Hapoel Holon, it would've failed to make the playoffs.
Ashkelon did the job necessary to prevent Ramat Gan from advancing, but it will have massive problems surviving in its series against Maccabi Tel Aviv with a severe lack of firepower.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Goodman for passover
Tamir Goodman, the "Jewish Jordan" in the past and a religion soldier and aggressive marketing man of the green product in the present, is already counting the minutes to the Seder. In a special holiday interview he talks about the holiday's meaning, the situation of the team, the marketing and also about the chances to see him on the court. With God's help, of course
Written by: Tal Miller, Yediot Haifa
7/4/09
Strange, weird, impalpable. Any superlative that you will find will not be able to describe the wonderful story of Tamir Goodman.
Back in the previous century he was still leading "Talmudic High School" in Baltimore with over 35 ppg and about 15 assists, and was the last person we can remember that got an article in "Sport Illustrated" until Bar Refaeli's appearance.
The abysmal gap between that superstar which got the undying nickname "Jewish Jordan" and between the player that has less game time today than Tal Azulay might cause the viewers in the side to feel sorry for Goodman's sportive crash.
But the truth is that Goodman is the last one that needs to be sorry for. Despite the two minutes he has in all of Haifa's games this season together, Goodman is one of the busiest players in the team, if not the busiest. Alongside his for activity in all the practices, the man isn’t less than a thriving marketing machine that works day after day, hour after hour, using endless email lists and the dozens of summer camps he has in the US. All that for enhancing the prestige of the Heat across Uncle Sam's country and the rest of the Diaspora, in order to raise funds to the team and cause those people to operate in Israel and to give them a wide angle about what's going on here. So far Goodman gained amounts to the club that are estimated in about 100 thousand Shekels, without doubt the most efficient player in relation to his game time.
A night before the Passover Seder, which he will have with his family and Todd Golden in Haifa, we caught Goodman for a chat to absorb some holiday spirit and to hear about Passover meaning and its customs: "There are two special things that I like about Passover" tells Goodman in American Hebrew, while saying the words "Hakadosh Baruch Hu" (God almighty) and "Beezrat Hashem" (with God's help) once in 12-14 words. "The first is the Matzo issue. Bread symbolizes selfishness, and the Matzo symbolizes modesty, it's pure. In Passover we don’t only clean the leavened, but also our selfishness and ego so that we'll be better people and go in the path the God expects us to. The second this that I like is that God took us out of Egypt and brought to Israel, that is the best gift he gave us and we celebrate this gift".
I suppose it's pointless to ask if you read the Haggadah until the end
"Of course I do, it is our duty to remember the exodus, from slavery to freedom".
Which song in the Haggadah do you sympathize the most?
"My favourite one is Dayenu, because it's exactly like the song, God gave us so much good, and here we say to God: we thank you for all that you did, we appreciate it and all we want is to thank you again and again".
What is Tamir Goodman's Dayenu?
"I only try to get as close as I can to God, and only do the best I can for the world. I know what God expects from me on the court and off the court, he is the boss".
Explain this connection you have with Todd Golden
"I have a special connection with everybody, I love them all and I try to bring joy to all of them, to anyone I meet, but I do have something special with Jewish players that came from the US. I know how they feel, and I want to help them blend in here. God gave me the power to come and settle down here, and I want to see more players doing the same. That way they return to the US and tell good things about Israel and that’s the purpose".
It looks like you are the team's religion officer
"In Judaism it goes like this, every one has to use his skill to strengthen it. Anywhere I go I always try to be happy, act the way god wants me to, however in synagogue you will always see me acting the same way".
Any other player that would have sat on the bench for so long would have wanted to burn down the club. And you go and raise funds
"My pleasure is that through the skill that god gave me I try to keep in touch with people and strengthen the love for Israel. And so fat thank god it is working excellently. We had big success in the past year so far and all we think is about more people that we can bring the happiness of Judaism to them through basketball".
How did you get in this marketing field so strongly?
"I have been dealing with the marketing of the country for many years, but I always dreamed to not do it privately but combine it with basketball. Through Maccabi Haifa I managed to fulfil this dream. Jeff and I have the same vision, and when we met it was a real love at first sight, and I'm always in contact with them. I'm going to practice now and before that I'm meeting with a Jew that came here and has been sending emails to people around the world about the team. Anyone I can be in touch with about the team, I do it. So far, through my summer camps and the media and other factors, I have reached over 25,000 Jews.
What do you think about the team's situation now?
"Right now the spirit is back in the team, everyone is smiling, we are doing well and I believe that if we keep this unity we can reach our goals with god's help".
Do you also pray for the team to win the championship?
"I don’t ask god for specific things. I practice every day the best way I can, work hard, pray hard, and I am sure he will take us where we need to go. I could have never believed that my life will be the way it is. The injuries, the US, travelling back and forth. I know that there are good things in everything, and our power is that the Jew can always deal with the reality and move on".
Do you pray for some game time?
"I'm happy to go up and play when I have the chance. I work hard to be ready when they call me and I know that I will do anything to contribute in every minute I get".
Will you be looking for the Aficoman on the Seder night?
"No, but my daughter is waiting for it with god's help, talks about it, and my goal is to convince her to get some sleep before the Seder".
And yet, despite that you won't be looking for it, what Aficoman can we wish for Tamir Goodman?
"Only to continue and get closer to god and to keep feeling great with the family, the kids and everything. If I'm close to him, I don’t need anything else".
Written by: Tal Miller, Yediot Haifa
7/4/09
Strange, weird, impalpable. Any superlative that you will find will not be able to describe the wonderful story of Tamir Goodman.
Back in the previous century he was still leading "Talmudic High School" in Baltimore with over 35 ppg and about 15 assists, and was the last person we can remember that got an article in "Sport Illustrated" until Bar Refaeli's appearance.
The abysmal gap between that superstar which got the undying nickname "Jewish Jordan" and between the player that has less game time today than Tal Azulay might cause the viewers in the side to feel sorry for Goodman's sportive crash.
But the truth is that Goodman is the last one that needs to be sorry for. Despite the two minutes he has in all of Haifa's games this season together, Goodman is one of the busiest players in the team, if not the busiest. Alongside his for activity in all the practices, the man isn’t less than a thriving marketing machine that works day after day, hour after hour, using endless email lists and the dozens of summer camps he has in the US. All that for enhancing the prestige of the Heat across Uncle Sam's country and the rest of the Diaspora, in order to raise funds to the team and cause those people to operate in Israel and to give them a wide angle about what's going on here. So far Goodman gained amounts to the club that are estimated in about 100 thousand Shekels, without doubt the most efficient player in relation to his game time.
A night before the Passover Seder, which he will have with his family and Todd Golden in Haifa, we caught Goodman for a chat to absorb some holiday spirit and to hear about Passover meaning and its customs: "There are two special things that I like about Passover" tells Goodman in American Hebrew, while saying the words "Hakadosh Baruch Hu" (God almighty) and "Beezrat Hashem" (with God's help) once in 12-14 words. "The first is the Matzo issue. Bread symbolizes selfishness, and the Matzo symbolizes modesty, it's pure. In Passover we don’t only clean the leavened, but also our selfishness and ego so that we'll be better people and go in the path the God expects us to. The second this that I like is that God took us out of Egypt and brought to Israel, that is the best gift he gave us and we celebrate this gift".
I suppose it's pointless to ask if you read the Haggadah until the end
"Of course I do, it is our duty to remember the exodus, from slavery to freedom".
Which song in the Haggadah do you sympathize the most?
"My favourite one is Dayenu, because it's exactly like the song, God gave us so much good, and here we say to God: we thank you for all that you did, we appreciate it and all we want is to thank you again and again".
What is Tamir Goodman's Dayenu?
"I only try to get as close as I can to God, and only do the best I can for the world. I know what God expects from me on the court and off the court, he is the boss".
Explain this connection you have with Todd Golden
"I have a special connection with everybody, I love them all and I try to bring joy to all of them, to anyone I meet, but I do have something special with Jewish players that came from the US. I know how they feel, and I want to help them blend in here. God gave me the power to come and settle down here, and I want to see more players doing the same. That way they return to the US and tell good things about Israel and that’s the purpose".
It looks like you are the team's religion officer
"In Judaism it goes like this, every one has to use his skill to strengthen it. Anywhere I go I always try to be happy, act the way god wants me to, however in synagogue you will always see me acting the same way".
Any other player that would have sat on the bench for so long would have wanted to burn down the club. And you go and raise funds
"My pleasure is that through the skill that god gave me I try to keep in touch with people and strengthen the love for Israel. And so fat thank god it is working excellently. We had big success in the past year so far and all we think is about more people that we can bring the happiness of Judaism to them through basketball".
How did you get in this marketing field so strongly?
"I have been dealing with the marketing of the country for many years, but I always dreamed to not do it privately but combine it with basketball. Through Maccabi Haifa I managed to fulfil this dream. Jeff and I have the same vision, and when we met it was a real love at first sight, and I'm always in contact with them. I'm going to practice now and before that I'm meeting with a Jew that came here and has been sending emails to people around the world about the team. Anyone I can be in touch with about the team, I do it. So far, through my summer camps and the media and other factors, I have reached over 25,000 Jews.
What do you think about the team's situation now?
"Right now the spirit is back in the team, everyone is smiling, we are doing well and I believe that if we keep this unity we can reach our goals with god's help".
Do you also pray for the team to win the championship?
"I don’t ask god for specific things. I practice every day the best way I can, work hard, pray hard, and I am sure he will take us where we need to go. I could have never believed that my life will be the way it is. The injuries, the US, travelling back and forth. I know that there are good things in everything, and our power is that the Jew can always deal with the reality and move on".
Do you pray for some game time?
"I'm happy to go up and play when I have the chance. I work hard to be ready when they call me and I know that I will do anything to contribute in every minute I get".
Will you be looking for the Aficoman on the Seder night?
"No, but my daughter is waiting for it with god's help, talks about it, and my goal is to convince her to get some sleep before the Seder".
And yet, despite that you won't be looking for it, what Aficoman can we wish for Tamir Goodman?
"Only to continue and get closer to god and to keep feeling great with the family, the kids and everything. If I'm close to him, I don’t need anything else".
A triple interview : Kozikaro, Mizrahi and Avi Ashkenazi tell about the amazing feeling of beating Maccabi Tel Aviv
Written by: Or Ritter, MHFC.co.il
13/4/09
Maccabi Haifa got a big win yesterday (Sunday) a big win on Maccabi Tel Aviv that despite being both sweet and historic, also has big importance after the greens guaranteed the 3rd place almost finally, and the home advantage in the playoffs.
Or Ritter heard Ido Kozikaro, Moshe Mizrahi and the coach Avi Ashkenazi tell about the amazing experience last night, about the crowd that filled Romema and created an electrifying atmosphere, and of course about the upcoming playoff. A triple green interview, one day after one of Maccabi Haifa's biggest wins in the last years and ever.
Ido Kozikaro, what was it like to wake up in the morning after this huge win?
"(Laughs…) the truth is that didn’t really wake up in the morning, I didn’t sleep all night, and I was with my son. It was really amazing; it was fun to win and to see Romema full. We can only pray that it'll keep being like this, not only against Maccabi Tel Aviv".
It seemed that you were simply much more determined than they were
"Look, we knew it was a very important game for towards the playoff. We wanted to ensure the home advantage and I'm happy we lived up to that. We played outstandingly against one of the best teams in Europe, we played correctly and that’s what brought us the win".
As the captain, it seems that there is a perfect connection between you and the fans. How did that happen so fast?
"First of all I have to say that it's a big compliment for me. I think I'm a player that the crowd usually loves and appreciates. I always try to do my best, it doesn’t always work but I always try. I also know to appreciate the crowd and its support, especially in games like yesterday or like in the cup. Maccabi Haifa's crowd is the best in the country and all it needs is to prove it. Yesterday they did it, and we returned the favor, big time".
When you finished the game with five fouls, were you afraid you were going to lose the game?
"Not at all, actually during the game Avi Ashkenazi told me to sacrifice fouls and to send them to the line and that’s what I did. I tried to use my fouls wisely, I trusted all the guys to do the job right and that’s what happened".
The eyes on the playoff, Bnei Hasharon or Galil awaits you, not a simple task
"They are both very good teams, dangerous teams that already beat us this season. The entire league is very balanced; you always have to come focused in order to win. I really hope that we'll do it and make it to the final four, and see those 5000 green fans in the stance, and maybe this time we'll go one step further than last time".
Moshe Mizrahi, Ido says that he hadn’t slept all night. What was it like to get up in the morning after yesterday?
"Waking up in the morning? (laughs…). As usual, I drank my morning coffee; I took the dog out… same routine. I read the newspaper, saw the pictures from last night. The feelings are very good, I am very happy about the win for the fans, for all the people in the system, but eventually we have to stay in proportions, after all it's still only a league game. We are already looking forward to the playoff".
After beating Maccabi Tel Aviv, can you finally be named the 'Holon of last season'?
"I don’t think you can compare us, Holon won the championship last season and we are still far from it. The story might be similar, but the teams are completely different. We want to be Maccabi Haifa and not Hapoel Holon".
A word about the audience – there was an amazing atmosphere last night
"The crowd was really an experience, unbelievable. We were shocked, they didn’t stio singing and cheering for a moment. That shows you that if you want something enough, you can do it. The crowd was our 6th player last night, and I hope that these sorts of numbers will show up not only when Maccabi Tel Aviv arrives to Romema".
So yesterday you beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, and you've beaten Jerusalem in the cup, can you win the championship?
"First of all we have to make it to the final four. We have a difficult series waiting for us in the playoff. I personally don’t have a preference between Bnai Hasharon and Galil. They are both very difficult teams that already beat us this season".
Coach Avi Ashkenazi, what are the feelings after the win and the celebrations yesterday?
"Last night was amazing. It was an experience of once in a few years. The arena was packed, the audience pushed the team in the best way possible. The atmosphere was electrifying and added a lot to this excellent achievement".
It seemed that you were simply much more determined than they were, first to every ball. How do you explain that?
"I think that we are in an improvement period since the changes we've made. There is a positive spirit in the team, commitment by everybody, and there is also determination, and then you see beautiful basketball".
Without ruining the joy, or god forbid underestimate the achievement, do you think that if the game was a little more important to Maccabi Tel Aviv it would have ended the same way?
"Statistically, Maccabi Tel Aviv lost 3 times this season out of 21 games, so you can do the math alone if last night's achievement is amazing or not. I think we don’t have to deal with the others, what's important to them or not important, but focus on what's important for us. It was really a very big experience, the atmosphere reminded me the week with the semi final and final of the cup".
Devon Jefferson simply exploded yesterday
"No doubt about it, Devon exploded yesterday, but he wasn’t the only one that played well. Malik was excellent too in the second half, Moshe Mizrahi did an amazing job on defense, Ido Kozikaro and Doron Perkins were also amazing. Everyone did a great job and they all have a part in this win".
Towards the playoff, if you'll finish in 3rd place, which one do you prefer to get, Bnei Hasharon or Galil?
"I don’t think I have a preference. Anyone that we get will be a good team. The important thing is that we'll play our basketball. I'd like to use this opportunity and call the fans to show up in the playoff series too, that is not less important than yesterday's game. It is very important to us".
13/4/09
Maccabi Haifa got a big win yesterday (Sunday) a big win on Maccabi Tel Aviv that despite being both sweet and historic, also has big importance after the greens guaranteed the 3rd place almost finally, and the home advantage in the playoffs.
Or Ritter heard Ido Kozikaro, Moshe Mizrahi and the coach Avi Ashkenazi tell about the amazing experience last night, about the crowd that filled Romema and created an electrifying atmosphere, and of course about the upcoming playoff. A triple green interview, one day after one of Maccabi Haifa's biggest wins in the last years and ever.
Ido Kozikaro, what was it like to wake up in the morning after this huge win?
"(Laughs…) the truth is that didn’t really wake up in the morning, I didn’t sleep all night, and I was with my son. It was really amazing; it was fun to win and to see Romema full. We can only pray that it'll keep being like this, not only against Maccabi Tel Aviv".
It seemed that you were simply much more determined than they were
"Look, we knew it was a very important game for towards the playoff. We wanted to ensure the home advantage and I'm happy we lived up to that. We played outstandingly against one of the best teams in Europe, we played correctly and that’s what brought us the win".
As the captain, it seems that there is a perfect connection between you and the fans. How did that happen so fast?
"First of all I have to say that it's a big compliment for me. I think I'm a player that the crowd usually loves and appreciates. I always try to do my best, it doesn’t always work but I always try. I also know to appreciate the crowd and its support, especially in games like yesterday or like in the cup. Maccabi Haifa's crowd is the best in the country and all it needs is to prove it. Yesterday they did it, and we returned the favor, big time".
When you finished the game with five fouls, were you afraid you were going to lose the game?
"Not at all, actually during the game Avi Ashkenazi told me to sacrifice fouls and to send them to the line and that’s what I did. I tried to use my fouls wisely, I trusted all the guys to do the job right and that’s what happened".
The eyes on the playoff, Bnei Hasharon or Galil awaits you, not a simple task
"They are both very good teams, dangerous teams that already beat us this season. The entire league is very balanced; you always have to come focused in order to win. I really hope that we'll do it and make it to the final four, and see those 5000 green fans in the stance, and maybe this time we'll go one step further than last time".
Moshe Mizrahi, Ido says that he hadn’t slept all night. What was it like to get up in the morning after yesterday?
"Waking up in the morning? (laughs…). As usual, I drank my morning coffee; I took the dog out… same routine. I read the newspaper, saw the pictures from last night. The feelings are very good, I am very happy about the win for the fans, for all the people in the system, but eventually we have to stay in proportions, after all it's still only a league game. We are already looking forward to the playoff".
After beating Maccabi Tel Aviv, can you finally be named the 'Holon of last season'?
"I don’t think you can compare us, Holon won the championship last season and we are still far from it. The story might be similar, but the teams are completely different. We want to be Maccabi Haifa and not Hapoel Holon".
A word about the audience – there was an amazing atmosphere last night
"The crowd was really an experience, unbelievable. We were shocked, they didn’t stio singing and cheering for a moment. That shows you that if you want something enough, you can do it. The crowd was our 6th player last night, and I hope that these sorts of numbers will show up not only when Maccabi Tel Aviv arrives to Romema".
So yesterday you beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, and you've beaten Jerusalem in the cup, can you win the championship?
"First of all we have to make it to the final four. We have a difficult series waiting for us in the playoff. I personally don’t have a preference between Bnai Hasharon and Galil. They are both very difficult teams that already beat us this season".
Coach Avi Ashkenazi, what are the feelings after the win and the celebrations yesterday?
"Last night was amazing. It was an experience of once in a few years. The arena was packed, the audience pushed the team in the best way possible. The atmosphere was electrifying and added a lot to this excellent achievement".
It seemed that you were simply much more determined than they were, first to every ball. How do you explain that?
"I think that we are in an improvement period since the changes we've made. There is a positive spirit in the team, commitment by everybody, and there is also determination, and then you see beautiful basketball".
Without ruining the joy, or god forbid underestimate the achievement, do you think that if the game was a little more important to Maccabi Tel Aviv it would have ended the same way?
"Statistically, Maccabi Tel Aviv lost 3 times this season out of 21 games, so you can do the math alone if last night's achievement is amazing or not. I think we don’t have to deal with the others, what's important to them or not important, but focus on what's important for us. It was really a very big experience, the atmosphere reminded me the week with the semi final and final of the cup".
Devon Jefferson simply exploded yesterday
"No doubt about it, Devon exploded yesterday, but he wasn’t the only one that played well. Malik was excellent too in the second half, Moshe Mizrahi did an amazing job on defense, Ido Kozikaro and Doron Perkins were also amazing. Everyone did a great job and they all have a part in this win".
Towards the playoff, if you'll finish in 3rd place, which one do you prefer to get, Bnei Hasharon or Galil?
"I don’t think I have a preference. Anyone that we get will be a good team. The important thing is that we'll play our basketball. I'd like to use this opportunity and call the fans to show up in the playoff series too, that is not less important than yesterday's game. It is very important to us".
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Ironi Ashkelon – Maccabi Haifa 84:77
taken from : ynet.co.il
Haifa scored 12 points without any on Ashkelon's side, and rose to 4:14, with Davon Jefferson wowing the crowd with a 360 degrees dunk.
Doron Perkins sealed with a great first quarter with 14 points, 5 assists and 3 steals, with the Greens leading with 23:33.
Three pointers by Amit Tamir and C.J. Bruton brought Ashkelon back to 37:35.
Avi Ben Chimol completed this dramatic change, bringing Ashkelon to halftime with a 45:48 lead.
The tight game went on all the way to the end, with the third quarter sealed with a minimal 65:66 to the Greens.
Haifa reached the last 2 minutes with a small lead, with 74:76, with Perkins and Gur Porat managing to leave the win on Haifa's side.
Ashkelon missed suicide shots and enabled its opponent to increase its lead and win at 77:84.
For Ashkelon: Turner 18 (8 rebounds), Bruton 16, Ben Chimol 9, Tamir 8, Eitan 7, Kelley 6, Grant 5, Truscott 4, Jeron Roberts and Shahar Cohen 2 points each.
For Haifa: Perkins 27 (7 rebounds, 7 assists), Jefferson 19, Kozikaro 10, Dickson 9, Porat 6, Sales 5, Moshe Mizrahi and Golden 3 points each, Ben David 2.
Haifa scored 12 points without any on Ashkelon's side, and rose to 4:14, with Davon Jefferson wowing the crowd with a 360 degrees dunk.
Doron Perkins sealed with a great first quarter with 14 points, 5 assists and 3 steals, with the Greens leading with 23:33.
Three pointers by Amit Tamir and C.J. Bruton brought Ashkelon back to 37:35.
Avi Ben Chimol completed this dramatic change, bringing Ashkelon to halftime with a 45:48 lead.
The tight game went on all the way to the end, with the third quarter sealed with a minimal 65:66 to the Greens.
Haifa reached the last 2 minutes with a small lead, with 74:76, with Perkins and Gur Porat managing to leave the win on Haifa's side.
Ashkelon missed suicide shots and enabled its opponent to increase its lead and win at 77:84.
For Ashkelon: Turner 18 (8 rebounds), Bruton 16, Ben Chimol 9, Tamir 8, Eitan 7, Kelley 6, Grant 5, Truscott 4, Jeron Roberts and Shahar Cohen 2 points each.
For Haifa: Perkins 27 (7 rebounds, 7 assists), Jefferson 19, Kozikaro 10, Dickson 9, Porat 6, Sales 5, Moshe Mizrahi and Golden 3 points each, Ben David 2.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Maccabi Haifa basketball team's line up
We present everyone, the MACCABI HAIFA BASKETBALL TEAM line up!!!!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/avishaybomba/rZlDsJ?authkey=Gv1sRgCJv_6JXqytCn5QE&feat=email#5319691405164312338
http://picasaweb.google.com/avishaybomba/rZlDsJ?authkey=Gv1sRgCJv_6JXqytCn5QE&feat=email#5319691405164312338
BSL Notebook: The power of Perkins
Over the past two weeks, Doron Perkins has proven that not even a little rust from an injury can prevent him from taking over a game for the Maccabi Haifa Heat.
The point guard finished with seven points and eight assists in his first game back during Haifa's rout over Ironi Kiryat Ata last week and in the very next game, against Givat Shmuel on Sunday, he tacked on 20 points with six assists.
Maccabi coach Avi Ashkenazi has seen a major addition to Perkins's‚ play that has played a large part in the team's two-game winning streak. Haifa's scoring leader has become one of the league's top defensive forces since returning to the Heat.
During the game against Givat Shmuel, Perkins gathered four steals - as many as his previous three games combined - before getting a season high of seven in Sunday's win.
Perkins's ability to play on both ends of the floor allowed Haifa to hold Givat Shmuel to 69 points. The last time Maccabi (12-7) held a team below 70 points was February 7 in its 75-68 win over Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
The improved defense could not have come at a better time. Its next two opponents will be against teams in the top half of the BSL in scoring (Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ironi Ashkelon).
Perkins's defense has put Haifa back in third place, but he will need to continue his efforts to help Maccabi clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Better late than never
Until this week, Ironi Ashkelon's chances of making the postseason looked improbable. But, with its additions of C.J. Bruton and Tyrone Grant, it has found itself one game behind playoff contention and is currently on a two-game winning streak.
Although both players are coming off the bench, they both understand what it takes to win.
Bruton has long been considered one of the best players in the Australian Basketball League with three championships while Grant has competed with some of Italy's top teams.
Neither have impressive stats on paper, but their experience and intangibles helped change Ashkelon's fate. Bruton's understanding of the game has allowed him to create scoring opportunities for his teammates while Grant has given the team more strength inside.
Their presence has allowed Rahshon Turner to get more open looks at the basket, with the newcomers‚ ability to draw the defense away.
In the last two games, Turner has shot 72 percent. The last time Ashkelon‚s leading scorer has shot over 70% in a two-game stretch was in week six. That time, his hot hand couldn't avoid his team from continuing its slump as it stumbled to a 2-4 record.
Ironi (7-12) will finish the season with three straight home games against teams with winning records and cannot yet relax despite playing in the friendly confines of its home crowd.
March madness
After losing its fifth straight game to Maccabi Haifa, Givat Shmuel is one team that would like to forget about this past month.
Givat (7-12) has been competitive in many of its losses with a point margin below 15 in every game except for Bnei Hasharon, which won by 21 points.
Its main problem is the first quarter. The only time Shmuel coach Oren Aharoni has seen his team put up at least 20 points in the opening period was in its one-point loss to Ironi Ramat Gan.
Every other time can be attributed to a slow start that the team struggles to overcome. It has averaged 16.8 points in the first quarter throughout its drought.
At the end of February, Givat Shmuel sat at 7-7. It is currently in the league's bottom four, but only one game behind Ramat Gan and Ironi Nahariya.
Its schedule certainly isn‚t doing the team any favors.Givat will be playing top-five teams through the end of the season. That makes getting off to a quick start even more important since all three of its opponents are capable of taking Aharoni's team right out of the game if the deficit gets too large.
The point guard finished with seven points and eight assists in his first game back during Haifa's rout over Ironi Kiryat Ata last week and in the very next game, against Givat Shmuel on Sunday, he tacked on 20 points with six assists.
Maccabi coach Avi Ashkenazi has seen a major addition to Perkins's‚ play that has played a large part in the team's two-game winning streak. Haifa's scoring leader has become one of the league's top defensive forces since returning to the Heat.
During the game against Givat Shmuel, Perkins gathered four steals - as many as his previous three games combined - before getting a season high of seven in Sunday's win.
Perkins's ability to play on both ends of the floor allowed Haifa to hold Givat Shmuel to 69 points. The last time Maccabi (12-7) held a team below 70 points was February 7 in its 75-68 win over Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
The improved defense could not have come at a better time. Its next two opponents will be against teams in the top half of the BSL in scoring (Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ironi Ashkelon).
Perkins's defense has put Haifa back in third place, but he will need to continue his efforts to help Maccabi clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Better late than never
Until this week, Ironi Ashkelon's chances of making the postseason looked improbable. But, with its additions of C.J. Bruton and Tyrone Grant, it has found itself one game behind playoff contention and is currently on a two-game winning streak.
Although both players are coming off the bench, they both understand what it takes to win.
Bruton has long been considered one of the best players in the Australian Basketball League with three championships while Grant has competed with some of Italy's top teams.
Neither have impressive stats on paper, but their experience and intangibles helped change Ashkelon's fate. Bruton's understanding of the game has allowed him to create scoring opportunities for his teammates while Grant has given the team more strength inside.
Their presence has allowed Rahshon Turner to get more open looks at the basket, with the newcomers‚ ability to draw the defense away.
In the last two games, Turner has shot 72 percent. The last time Ashkelon‚s leading scorer has shot over 70% in a two-game stretch was in week six. That time, his hot hand couldn't avoid his team from continuing its slump as it stumbled to a 2-4 record.
Ironi (7-12) will finish the season with three straight home games against teams with winning records and cannot yet relax despite playing in the friendly confines of its home crowd.
March madness
After losing its fifth straight game to Maccabi Haifa, Givat Shmuel is one team that would like to forget about this past month.
Givat (7-12) has been competitive in many of its losses with a point margin below 15 in every game except for Bnei Hasharon, which won by 21 points.
Its main problem is the first quarter. The only time Shmuel coach Oren Aharoni has seen his team put up at least 20 points in the opening period was in its one-point loss to Ironi Ramat Gan.
Every other time can be attributed to a slow start that the team struggles to overcome. It has averaged 16.8 points in the first quarter throughout its drought.
At the end of February, Givat Shmuel sat at 7-7. It is currently in the league's bottom four, but only one game behind Ramat Gan and Ironi Nahariya.
Its schedule certainly isn‚t doing the team any favors.Givat will be playing top-five teams through the end of the season. That makes getting off to a quick start even more important since all three of its opponents are capable of taking Aharoni's team right out of the game if the deficit gets too large.
Local Hoops: Jerusalem comes back to defeat Galil/Gilboa 81-74 at Malha
Hapoel Jerusalem maintained its perfect home league record on Sunday, overcoming a stern test from Hapoel Galil/Gilboa.
Galil led by six points with less than three minutes to play, but Hapoel ended the encounter with a 13-0 run to win 81-74 and improve to 9-0 at Malha in the BSL this season.
Timmy Bowers made the difference in the closing stages, scoring nine of his side's final 13 points, ending the game with 23 points.
"Down the stretch we just wanted to show our heart and character," Bowers said. "It was tough. Galil played great today and made a lot of shots. This was a very important win."
Roger Powell added 16 points and seven rebounds for Jerusalem, which with just four more games remaining to play in the regular season is now very close to clinching second position in the standings.
Isaiah Swann led five Galil players in double-figures, scoring 14 points.
"Jerusalem made some big plays in the crucial minutes and Bowers hit shots only he is capable of in Israel," said Galil coach Oded Katash, who was infuriated with the referees at the end of the game after seeing a call go against his team in the final minute.
It was a difficult evening for the hosts, who scored the first points of the night, but then struggled on offense for the remainder of the first half, allowing the visitors to dictate the play.
Galil led 16-15 after the first period and an 11-1 run in the second quarter, capped by a Swann three-pointer, opened a 37-29 margin.
The hosts closed to within four points by the break (37-33) and opened a 47-43 advantage after a good start to the second half.
Two straight Dagan Yavzuri threes gave Galil a 57-55 advantage with 10 minutes to play, and Katash's team seemed to be well placed with less than three minutes to go, leading 74-68.
However, the final minutes belonged to the hosts and especially Bowers, who almost single handedly turned the game on its head.
Meanwhile, in Nahariya, a Luis Flores basket with 2.5 seconds remaining gave Hapoel Holon its fourth straight victory, 76-74 over Ironi Nahariya.
Flores scored 25 points for Holon, with Ron Lewis scoring 23 points for the losers.
Also Sunday, Maccabi Haifa snapped its three game losing streak, defeating Ironi Kiryat Ata 92-75 in Romema.
After losing its last two games by a combined 41 points, Haifa was desperate to return to winning ways, but didn't have it all its own way against Kiryat Ata.
The BSL's rock-bottom team remained in touch with Haifa for the first 26 minutes of the game, only for the hosts to go on a 15-4 run in the final four minutes of the third period to clinch the win.
Davon Jefferson was superb for Haifa, scoring 31 points and taking 15 rebounds. Doron Perkins scored seven points and passed eight assists on his return from injury, with Moshe Mizrahi and Ido Kozikaro each adding 16 points.
Haminn Quaintance scored 17 points for Kiryat Ata, which is running out of time in its battle against relegation.
Bnei Hasharon suffered a surprise 81-76 defeat at Ironi Ashkelon on Sunday, despite an excellent debut from new signing Ira Newble.
Newble led his team with 17 points, but Rashon Turner scored 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help his team to a crucial victory.
Also Sunday, Ironi Ramat Gan claimed its fifth win in six games, beating Maccabi Givat Shmuel 90-89 after overtime behind Anthony Myles' 26 points.
On Monday, Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
Galil led by six points with less than three minutes to play, but Hapoel ended the encounter with a 13-0 run to win 81-74 and improve to 9-0 at Malha in the BSL this season.
Timmy Bowers made the difference in the closing stages, scoring nine of his side's final 13 points, ending the game with 23 points.
"Down the stretch we just wanted to show our heart and character," Bowers said. "It was tough. Galil played great today and made a lot of shots. This was a very important win."
Roger Powell added 16 points and seven rebounds for Jerusalem, which with just four more games remaining to play in the regular season is now very close to clinching second position in the standings.
Isaiah Swann led five Galil players in double-figures, scoring 14 points.
"Jerusalem made some big plays in the crucial minutes and Bowers hit shots only he is capable of in Israel," said Galil coach Oded Katash, who was infuriated with the referees at the end of the game after seeing a call go against his team in the final minute.
It was a difficult evening for the hosts, who scored the first points of the night, but then struggled on offense for the remainder of the first half, allowing the visitors to dictate the play.
Galil led 16-15 after the first period and an 11-1 run in the second quarter, capped by a Swann three-pointer, opened a 37-29 margin.
The hosts closed to within four points by the break (37-33) and opened a 47-43 advantage after a good start to the second half.
Two straight Dagan Yavzuri threes gave Galil a 57-55 advantage with 10 minutes to play, and Katash's team seemed to be well placed with less than three minutes to go, leading 74-68.
However, the final minutes belonged to the hosts and especially Bowers, who almost single handedly turned the game on its head.
Meanwhile, in Nahariya, a Luis Flores basket with 2.5 seconds remaining gave Hapoel Holon its fourth straight victory, 76-74 over Ironi Nahariya.
Flores scored 25 points for Holon, with Ron Lewis scoring 23 points for the losers.
Also Sunday, Maccabi Haifa snapped its three game losing streak, defeating Ironi Kiryat Ata 92-75 in Romema.
After losing its last two games by a combined 41 points, Haifa was desperate to return to winning ways, but didn't have it all its own way against Kiryat Ata.
The BSL's rock-bottom team remained in touch with Haifa for the first 26 minutes of the game, only for the hosts to go on a 15-4 run in the final four minutes of the third period to clinch the win.
Davon Jefferson was superb for Haifa, scoring 31 points and taking 15 rebounds. Doron Perkins scored seven points and passed eight assists on his return from injury, with Moshe Mizrahi and Ido Kozikaro each adding 16 points.
Haminn Quaintance scored 17 points for Kiryat Ata, which is running out of time in its battle against relegation.
Bnei Hasharon suffered a surprise 81-76 defeat at Ironi Ashkelon on Sunday, despite an excellent debut from new signing Ira Newble.
Newble led his team with 17 points, but Rashon Turner scored 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help his team to a crucial victory.
Also Sunday, Ironi Ramat Gan claimed its fifth win in six games, beating Maccabi Givat Shmuel 90-89 after overtime behind Anthony Myles' 26 points.
On Monday, Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
Doron Perkins off the backboard alley oop pass for the dunk of Jefferson (March, 29th 2009)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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