The women’s basketball team of the Herzliya girls tonight (Sunday) achieved an away victory 65:73 over Hapoel Bnei Petah Tikva and Elitzur Holon defeated Maccabi Haifa 71:78 at home in the 17th round games of the Athena Winner Women’s Basketball League.
Hapoel Bnei Petah Tikva – Banot Herzliya 73:65 (38:27)
A fourth consecutive league victory for coach Danny Gut’s team has greatly improved the status of the Herzliya girls after beating Hapoel Bnei Petah Tikva 65:73 in an away game, after another wonderful evening by Marina Maibri, Victoria McCauley and Pollard Najai.
Herzliya finished the first quarter with a 13:19 advantage and two minutes before the end of the second quarter they led 24:31. She finished the first half with a double-digit lead 27:38 after a three by Hadar Hadad and points by Nofar Shalom and with 14 points in the half by Najai against only 9 by Jocelyn Willobi. In the third quarter, Herzliya’s momentum continued to 30:46 after Najai’s points, but threes by Tal Sahar and Daniel Hajaj and Willowi’s points shrank to 46:38. The same Willoughby sent the teams to the final quarter after a three that shrank to 55:46. In the last 10 minutes, Herzliya maintained its advantage. Tia Perlsi added a three that raised her team to 53:69 and until the end Marina Mayberry almost completed another triple in mourning.
Scored to Petah Tikva: Jocelyn Willoughby 19 points and 11 rebounds, Kayla Charles 12 points and 10 rebounds, Tal Sahar 11 points, Kristin Simon (18 rebounds) and Moran Sapir 8 points each, Daniel Hajjaj 5, using Amar 2.
Scored to Herzliya: Marina Maibri 23 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, Pollard Najai 19 points, Victoria McCauley 16 points and 12 rebounds, Nofar Shalom 7, Hadar Hadad and Tia Presley 3 each, Lehi Ozeri 2.
Elitzur Leica Holon – Maccabi Phoenix Haifa 71:78 (30:39)
Holon dominated the first half that ended at 30:39 after two first quarters that ended at 13:21 and 17:18. Shea Kelly excelled in the first half with 17 points and 7 rebounds, while on the Haifa side, Nia Kofi stood out with 10 points and Tiana Moldero with 11 points. The third quarter ended at 18:18 and both teams started the last 10 minutes with 48:57 to Holon. From here, Sequoia Holmes, Daniel Reber, Shai Doron and Shay Kelly raised Holon to 53:69. Haifa managed to shrink to 74:68 in a minute and a half to finish that was not enough for Haifa.
Scored to Holon: Shay Kelly 26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, Daniel Reber 14 points and 11 rebounds, Amy Rinat 13 points, Shay Doron 12, Chelsea Hopkins 8 (10 rebounds, 8 assists), Sequoia Holmes 3, Ayala Route 2.
Scored to Haifa: Tiana Moldero 23 points and 10 rebounds, Fionda Fitzgerald 19, Nia Kofi 16, Ofir Kastan 9, Courtney Douglas 4.