Finals Game 1
By Orli Klinger
Elizur Ramla 83 – YES Ramat Hasharon 61
Ramat Hasharon just finished a grueling semi final series and didn't
look
ready to play physically or mentally, while Ramla'’s players were
looking
forward to this game for a long time and just exploded. Ramla
controlled the
boards, managed to slow down Limor Mizrachi and enjoyed good shooting
nights
from both Natasha Branchikova and Ornit Shwartz. Early on Ramat
Hasharon was
finding it hard to get the ball in the hole and to contain Jackie
Johnson.
Branchikova and Johnson carried Ramla's offensive game, Amber Hall had
little trouble with Varbanova, and Ramla went up 19-12 with 2 minutes
to
play in the 1st. Ramat Hasharon closed the quarter with a 11-2 run to
take a
23-21 lead after 1, despite the fact that nobody but Rhonda Mapp came
to
play.
Amber Hall and Ornit Shwartz took over for Johnson and Branchikova in
the
2nd, while Mapp continued to keep the visitors in the game with a
little
help from Ina Gourevitch. Johnson's foul trouble sent her to the bench
for
the last 5 minutes of the half, but Ramla didn't miss a beat. Shwartz'
7th
point of the quarter and a put back by Hall opened a 7 point gap, but
Limor
Mizrachi ended a very quiet 1st half with a three to make it 37-41 at
the
break.
Jackie Johnson picked up from where she left off in the 3rd, getting
Gulsah
Akkaya in foul trouble and putting points on the board. A three by Ina
Gourevitch made it 46-40, but Ramla had a great quarter and went on a
24-3
run. Amber Hall made it a 14-point lead with a three, and a 3 point
play by
Branchikova increased the gap to 60-44. Ramat Hasharon wasn't getting
any
fast break points, couldn't stop the locals' momentum, and Mapp was
starting
to get tired as well. Another 3 by Branchikova made it 70-49 going into
the
4th.
Ramat Hasharon was able to keep Ramla from hitting a field goal for 3
minutes, but they didn't manage put a serious dent in the 20-point
lead.
With 4 minutes left to play, coach Orna Ostfeld realized that her team
was
not about to imitate the amazing run Ramat Hen made against them 72
hours
earlier, and benched her starters. Tal Natan needed a little more time
to
understand it was over, and the gap grew to 27. It ended in a 22 point
win
that set off some celebrations in Ramla, who had to defend the home
floor.
Game 2 in Ramat Hasharon is supposed to be a whole different story, but
it's
getting mighty hard to decide what's expected and what's surprising in
this
year's playoffs.
For Ramla:
Amber Hall – 23 pts (5/18 FGs, 10/13 FTs), 16 rebs, 3 stl
Natasha Branchikova – 21 pts (4/5 2pt FGs, 4/6 3pt FGs)
Jaclyn Johnson – 17 pts (8/16 FGs, 1/3 FTs), 11 rebs
Ornit Shwartz – 15 pts (4/4 2pt FGs, 2/5 3pt FGs, 1/2 FTs).
For Ramat Hasharon:
Rhonda Mapp – 18 pts (8/14 FGs, 2/5 FTs), 7 rebs
Ina Gourevitch – 16 pts (3/13 2pt FGs!, 2/5 3pt FGs, 4/4 FTs), 5 rebs
Lidiya Varbanova – 8 pts (3/10 FGs) & 6 rebs in her worse game in
Israel
Limor Mizrachi – 5 pts (0/8 2pt FGs, 1/2 3pt FGs, 2/2 FTs), 3 ast
Tamar Maoz – 5 pts (2/3 FGs)
Information reprinted with permission of Lior Klinger and Orli Klinger. Send an e-mail to be put on the mailing list.