ONE System | 14/02/2021 20:00
Kravitz, Gaddy and Clark Celebrate (Radad Jabara)
The 16th round of the Winner Basket League provided us tonight (Sunday) with an intriguing game in the Jubilee Hall, when Bnei Herzliya managed to beat the league’s hit, Hapoel Haifa, 79:91 in a duel between the two immigrants.
The game itself opened with a bleach Sharoni, with Aviram Zelikovich (10) and Elijah Thomas (19) leading the team in white and blue to a double-digit advantage at the end of the first quarter. However, the Haifa team provided a tremendous second quarter (34 points per quarter) thanks to Amit Simhon (20), Rakim Bekals (14) and Keenan Evans (14), who reduced their team by 2 plus to half.
The third quarter continued to be tight throughout and no team was able to create an escape that would help them in the final quarter. In the decisive minutes, Sharon Drucker’s team managed to escape to a double-digit advantage and especially Koti Clark’s tremendous ability (almost a triple double of 17 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists) helped to achieve the victory.
Following the loss, the good balance of the Reds from the Carmel dropped to five losses against nine wins. On the other hand, the Herzliya raised their balance to five wins against nine losses and they scored important points for the underground struggles.
Scorers for Bnei Herzliya: Elijah Thomas 19 points, Koti Clark 17 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists, Max Heidegger 16, Aviram Zelikovich 10, Abdul Gadi 9, Yair Kravitz 8, Isaiah Eisendorf 7 and Elisha Kadir 5.
Scored for Hapoel Haifa: Amit Simhon 20 points, Rakim Buckles and Keenan Evans 14 each, Jason Seagers 11, Igor Nesterenko 10, Taylor Rochesti 7, Karem Mashur 2 and Leonard Freeman 1.
First quarter: 15:26 for Bnei Herzliya
Bnei Herzliya Quintet: Aviram Zelikovich, Abdul Gadi, Isaiah Eisendorf, Koti Clark and Elijah Thomas.
Hapoel Haifa Quintet: Leonard Freeman, Amit Simhon, Rocks Buckles, Keenan Evans and Jason Seagers.
The match began with an accurate three by Aviram Zelikovich, when immediately afterwards Isaiah Eisendorf set up a quick blue 0: 5. Amit Simhon provided a smart layup and gave Haifa first points in the game. Abdul Gadi and Koti Clark with the help of Zelikovich assisted in the regular offensive play of the group from Sharon, which developed a double-digit advantage later in the quarter, which was successful and maintained until the end.
Second quarter: 47:49 to Hapoel Haifa
Evans opened the second quarter with an accurate jump shot and reduced the lead to 9. Elisha Kadir entered the color unhindered and completed a 3-point move with a basket and an offense. Elijah Thomas took advantage of the Haifa defense, especially inside the bottle, and raised his team to 19:31. On the other hand, the Herzliya defense also did not star, with Igor Nesterenko adding 2 easy points from the point. Amit Simhon scored a three, raised his balance to 11 points and that caused Sharon Drucker to take a timeout. A beautiful personal action by Zelikovich raised the host to 31:37.
Simchon penetrated, the ball spun on the ring and Buckles provided a small touch that helped him get in. Evans sniped from outside and reduced the lead to just one point. After a time-out, Evans again hit outside the arc and passed the lead to the Reds. Hapoel burst out, Simhon finished it and closed a 3:13 Haifa run. Gaddy stopped the drift with a good step and a half, but Evans performed a similar action immediately on the other side. Gadi scored with the buzzer and lowered Herzliya by 2 points to rest in the locker rooms.
Third quarter: 68:69 to Hapoel Haifa
The quarter opened with two Seagers points, with Thomas responding immediately on the other side with a similar action. Simhon continued to star and with a light lay-up added 2 more points to himself, when in the next attack he sniped a huge three. Clark and Thomas narrowed the score to 59:53, with Eisendorf hitting off the arc and shrinking to just three. Thomas’ 4 consecutive points transferred the lead to a team from Sharon, when Nesterenko made sure to stop the run and returned the lead to the Reds. The battle continued to move from side to side, with Haifa going down to the decisive quarter with only a point advantage.
Fourth quarter: 79:91 for Bnei Herzliya
Clark opened the final quarter with a shot from outside the arc that moved the lead to Herzliya. Max Heidegger and Clark raised the hosts to 69:75, which caused Haifa to take a timeout. Freeman scored the first point of the game (from the penalty spot) and reduced the difference to five. Buckles sniped a first three, raised his balance to 12 points and set 75:80 for Herzliya. Zelikovich in great action and Clark in the next attack, put Herzliya in the lead 9. From here on out the hosts just played without feelings of inferiority, ran away more and more when the team from Carmel could not keep up.
