Round 11
By Lior Klinger
Four overtimes and 4 road wins in a wild round in our league. Extra long
games result in extra long recaps as well...
Elizur Ramla 94 - YES Ramat Hasharon 101 (OT)
Ramat Hasharon needed 45 minutes to leave Ramla with an amazing victory
after a great game by both teams. Even an awesome showing by Amber Hall, a
crazy first half, big contributions from the bench and Ramat Hasharon's foul
trouble & fatigue at the end weren't enough to prevent Ramla from suffering
its 2nd loss of the season at the hands of their arch rivals who got big
games from their new additions: Tracy Reid, Limor Mizrachi and Rhonda Mapp.
Ramat Hasharon didn't waste any time and used local turnovers to go up
8-1. Ramla's first basket was a 3pointer by an open Jackie Johnson - a
basket that marked the first drop in the rain of 3's that was about to
start. Ina Gourevitch made it 12-4 with 6 minutes to play in the 1st, but
Ramla replied with a 14-4 run led by Liron Cohen and Ornit Shwartz off the
bench. Limor Mizrachi did some damage control and Ramat Hasharon trailed
22-24 after 1.
Ramla continued its momentum in the 2nd quarter and went up 39-30
following a 3 point play by Johnson. The 2nd 3pointer by Liron Cohen in less
than a minute opened a 10 point gap, and Amber Hall volunteered to set the
halftime score at 54-45 with her first 3pointer of the season - a buzzer
beating long range bomb. Cohen led Ramla at the break with 15 points and
Johnson added 14. Reid and Mapp led Ramat Hasharon with 16 & 11 points
respectively. Ramla made 6 of 10 threes while Ramat Hasharon was 0 for 4 and
had to improve their defense and hope the percentages even out. Their hope
was answered.
Mizrachi hit Ramat Hasharon's first 3 of the game to cut the lead to
54-50. Jackie Moore then snapped out of her nap to hit her first two baskets
of the game and get the lead back to 8. Ramat Hasharon cut it to two again
thanks to a couple of steals and a basket by Mizrachi, but Ina Gourevitch
got called for her 4th foul with 5:30 to go in the quarter. Shortly after
that Liron Cohen also picked up her 4th in a game that's only problem was
the refs' loose whistle. Mapp gave Ramat Hasharon the lead for the first
time since the 1st quarter at 67-66 with a minute to play in the 3rd. Reid,
who played extremely well, picked up her 4th foul and Mizrachi sank a 3 to
give her team a 70-69 edge after 3.
Amber Hall continued her strong game, and Lidiya Varbanova answered at the
other end in a nerve wrecking quarter that saw many lead changes. A 3 point
play by Ornit Shwartz gave Ramla an 80-79 lead with 3 minutes remaining in
regulation. Jackie Moore increased it to 82-80 and drew Varbanova's 5th foul
with 2 minutes to go. A 3 point play by Hall made it 85-82, and Mizrachi cut
it to 2 as she hit one of two FTs. A great steal and basket by Reid, who
gambled quite a bit on defense, tied the game at 85 with under a minute to
go and Mizrachi gave Ramat Hasharon a 2 point lead with 2 FTs. Jackie
Johnson tied it at 87 with a reversed lay up, Ramat Hasharon didn't get a
shot off and the game went into overtime.
Moore landed the first punch in the extra period, and Reid quickly replied
with 4 straight points but also fouled out with 3 minutes to play. Jackie
Johnson also found herself on the bench with 5 fouls with 90 seconds on the
game clock and Gulsah Akkaya on the line for Ramat Hasharon. Akkaya missed
twice, but Gourevitch rebounded and scored to give the visitors a 95-93
lead. Shwartz made one of 2 FTs at the other end, and Mizrachi & Mapp hit
their free throws to wrap up a big 50th birthday present for coach Orna
Ostfeld.
For Ramat Hasharon:
Tracy Reid - 30 pts (12/16 FGs, 6/7 FTs), 6 rebs & 2 steals.
Limor Mizrachi - 22 pts (4/6 2pt FGs, 2/9 3pt FGs, 8/10 FTs), 7 ast, 6
steals.
Rhonda Mapp - 18 pts (6/12 FGs, 6/8 FTs), 10 rebs, 6 ast.
Lidiya Varbanova - 16 pts (8/8 FGs!), 3 rebs.
Ina Gourevitch - 10 pts (5/5 FGs!), 3 steals, 3 rebs.
For Ramla:
Amber Hall - 29 pts (10/16 2pt FGs, 1/1 3pt FGs, 6/9 FTs), 14 rebs, 6
steals and 3 ast.
Jackie Johnson - 19 pts (6/14 2pt FGs, 1/3 3pt FGs, 4/5 FTs), 5 rebs, 4
ast, 7 TOs(!).
Ornit Shwartz - 16 pts (3/4 2pt FGs, 1/2 3pt FGs, 7/8 FTs), 3 ast, 6 TOs.
Liron Cohen - 15 pts (2/3 2pt FGs, 3/8 3pt FGs, 2/4 FTs), 3 ast, 2 steals, 2
rebs, 4 TOs.
Jackie Moore - 13 pts (4/8 FGs, 5/6 FTs), 7 rebs, 5 TOs, 2 blocks.
Bnei Yehuda 80 - Maccabi Raanana 83 (F/OT)
Away from the spotlight, an important game with playoff implications took
place in Bnei Yehuda. It was a close game, and in complete contrast to the
statistics, Raanana was the team that made its clutch free throws.
The game started with a 14-4 Raanana run, but Bnei Yehuda woke up
eventually and answered with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to two. Tatum Brown
completed a 3 pt play to make sure her team stays on top after one, 17-13.
The 2nd quarter was tighter, as a 3 by Ina Boutenko gave the locals their
first lead of the game, 29-28, but it was shortly lived. Led by bosman Mirna
Paunovic Raanana went on a 6-0 run, with under 3 minutes till halftime. Bnei
Yehuda then scored 5 straight to tie it at 34 at the break. Raanana was
dominating on the boards, but 10 turnovers and 1/10 from downtown made
things harder for them.
Bnei Yehuda got the early lead in the 3rd with a Zakula 3 and Alhaleem
fast break. Raanana stuck around thanks to Tatum Brown and Snjeana Vasic who
decided to show up. However, facing the Bnei Yehuda zone Raanana also
demonstrated why they lead the league in turnovers and 3pt attempts. Goni
Tanchelson stroked her 3rd three of the evening to put the locals up 47-43,
and Raanana's Nomi Kolodny and Zakula followed in her footsteps. Another
important three by Vasic sealed the quarter for Raanana down only 52-49.
Raanana quickly tied the score in the 4th, and the lead began switching
sides. Zakula made it 56-54 for Bnei Yehuda with a 3pt play, with 7:30
left, but Kolodny replied with a big 3. Great moves by Edwina Brown and
Tawona Alhaleem, and then by Tatum Brown and newly signed Leslie Johnson set
it at 64-63 in favor of the visitors with under 4 in regulation. The teams
exchanged threes but Kolodny swished another one to put Raanana up 70-66.
T.Brown increased the lead to 5 from the line, but Alhaleem cut it to 2 with
a 3pt play, 1:40 to go. She also tied the score with 2 free throws, but
Sarit Menashe and Leslie Johnson missed 4 FTs in the final 45 seconds and
the game went to overtime.
Edwina and Tatum Brown scored the first 4 points in OT and Raanana led
75-71, with 3:20 left. Leslie Johnson answered with a 3pt play and a nice
assist to Menashe as Bnei Yehuda regained the lead. With 56 seconds to go
the lead was still 1, but this time in favor of the visitors after a steal
and a lay-up by Edwina Brown. Strangely enough it was Tatum Brown who made
it 81-78 with 2 accurate FTs, but Alhaleem cut it to 1 once again also from
the line. With 12 seconds left Kolodny nailed her FTs, Zakula missed a 3 on
the other end and that was it.
For Raanana:
Tatum Brown: 25 pts (8/13 FGs, 9/10 FTs) & 22 boards (Raanana
out-rebounded Bnei Yehuda 40-25)
Nomi Kolodny: 19 pts (2/3 2pt FGs, 4/7 3pt FGs, 3/4 FTs), 3 ast, 3 rebs
Edwina Brown: 14 pts (7/10), 4 rebs, 3 steals
Mirna Paunovic: 11 pts (5/7 FGs, 1/1 FT)
For Bnei Yehuda:
Tawona Alhaleem: 27 pts (9/12 FGs, 9/11 FTs), 6 rebs
Dragoslava Zakula: 18 pts (3/6 2pt FGs, 3/5 3pt FGs, 3/3 FTs), 4 rebs
Leslie Johnson: 13 pts (6/14 FGs, 1/3 FTs), 5 rebs
Hapoel Haifa/Motzkin 100 - Maccabi Ramat Hen 102 (F/2OT)
With 12 seconds left in the 2nd overtime with Haifa/Motzkin down 99-98,
youngster Shlomit Bagdadi scored the first points of her career, putting
Haifa/Motzkin up one. Ramat Hen got the ball back with 4 seconds to play
and Rivi Grinboym hit a buzzer beating three pointer to win the game. That's
all I can tell you, since I didn't get to see the game.
For Ramat Hen:
Simone Edwards: 34 pts (11/17 FGs, 12/13 FTs), 15 rebs (6 offensives)
Marianne Raguz: 26 pts (5/10 2pt FGs, 3/6 3pt FGs, 7/8 FTs), 3 steals
Rivi Grinboym: 14 pts (1/4 2pt FGs, 4/5 3pt FGs), 5 ast
Vicki Hall: 12 pts (4/13 FGs, 4/5 FTs), 6 rebs, 5 PFs
Avlina Mizrachi: 8 pts (2/2 2pt FGs, 1/2 3pt FG, 1/1 FT)
For Haifa/Motzkin:
Aleksandra Music: 22 pts &/13 FGs, 8/12 FTs), 5 rebs
Lili Latinovic: 19 pts (3/4 2pt FGs, 2/5 3pt FGs, 7/8 FTs), 6 rebs, 7 TOs, 5
PFs
Yelena Mostafina: 13 pts (5/9 FGs, 1/3 FTs), 5 rebs
Jackie Higgins: 12 pts (4/14 FGs, 4/4 FTs), 6 rebs
Elizur Holon 75 - Maccabi Ashdod 79
Ashdod rallied back from 17 down to win its 2nd game of the season against a
fellow cellar dwelling rival.
For Ashdod:
Crystal Givens 28 pts, Vika Rudovski 13 pts, Kenya Larkin 12 pts, Sarit
Arbel 11 pts, Valerie Muoneke 7 pts
For Holon:
Octavia Blue 25 pts, Yulia Rozova 16 pts, Elena Minaeva 11 pts,
Tali Klain & Juana Brown 9 pts each
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Round 11's MVP: Tracy Reid
Playing in the league's most hostile arena and facing a powerful
frontcourt did not faze Tracy Reid who finished with 30 points and six
rebounds. Reid, in a great performance, took the ball to the hoop
aggressively every chance she got, and scored a critical basket following
her steal with under a minute to go in regulation.
Round 11's First Team:
Limor Mizrachi - Scored 14 of her 22 pts after halftime, brought Ramat
Hasharon back to the game in the 3rd quarter with steals and threes, shut
down Liron Cohen in the 2nd half and hit the clutch free throws despite
playing the full 45 minutes.
Rivi Grinboym - Ramla already knows what it's like to get stung by
Grinboym's clutch three, this time it was Haifa/Motzkin who found out what
happens when you leave her alone (no matter how far from the 3pt line).
Grinboym scored the winning shot after 2 overtimes to lift her team to an
important win. Add a half court three to end the 1st half and you'll see why
she's in over Simone.
Tracy Reid - She was Ramat Hasharon's sure bet through out the game.
Thirty points we already mentioned, but Ramat Hasharon needed each and every
one to come out on top.
Amber Hall - In the type of game like the one that took place in Ramla,
you always end up feeling bad for the losers, whoever they may be. Amber
Hall fell short of getting the 'W' but, as only she can, she was first to
every ball and finished with 29 pts, 14 boards and six steals.
Tatum Brown - Normally Brown is a 54% free throw shooter. Against Bnei
Yehuda and in clutch time Brown made 9 of 10. If that's not enough she
also racked up a 25 & 22 double double, and that's why she made the 1st team
in such an exceptional round.
Just missed: (2nd team if you will...)
Simone Edwards: 34 pts & 15 rebounds and still not in. Pretty amazing, but
as we all know Haifa/Motzkin's front line is not one of the best in the
league, to put it lightly.
Rhonda Mapp: 18 pts, 10 boards, 6 assists and plenty of brains and
leadership in Ramat Hasharon's big win.
Crystal Givens: Led Ashdod's comeback win with a season high 28 points.
Marianna Raguz: A superb game with 26 points in Ramat Hen's double OT win.
Nomi Kolodny: Scored 19 points, including 4 threes, on 60% shooting. Made 2
free throws to secure the win with 12 seconds to go in OT.
Newcomer of the round: Avlina Mizrachi.
Eight points in 11 minutes from the bench that helped Ramat Hen get back
into a game that seemed lost.
Round 11's All Bust Team:
Jackie Moore - The most consistent player of the 1st leg has been slipping
for quite some time, but this time it cost Ramla dearly.
Tamar Maoz: Didn't make a field goal in 23 minutes of playing for Ramat
Hasharon.
Gulsah Akkaya: In a day she'd rather forget, Ramat Hasharon's Bosman went 1
for 10 from the field and missed 4 free throws in overtime - almost getting
Ramla's people to put her picture up on the "wall of fame" above the bench
next to their own players.
Juana Brown: Scored just 9 points in Holon's loss, despite not having to
play the 1 this time.
The Standings:
1. Elizur Ramla 9-2
2. Maccabi Ramat Hen 9-2
3. Maccabi Raanana 6-5
4. Hapoel Haifa/Motzkin 5-6
5. YES Ramat Hasharon 6-5
6. Bnei Yehuda 5-6
7. Elizur Holon 2-9
8. Maccabi Ashdod 2-9
Information reprinted with permission of Lior Klinger and Orli Klinger. Send an e-mail to be put on the mailing list.