Round 5
By Orli Klinger
Elizur Ramla 81 - Maccabi Raanana 63
In the first half we saw why Raanana is the best defensive team in the
league. In the second, we learned why they are also the league's worst
offensive team. Ramla again needed 20 minutes to get going, but took over
the game with an amazing 3rd quarter on their way to an expected victory.
Nili Natho, who hit only 5 of 21 three-pointers in her first 4 games,
started the game with two threes and made it clear that Raanana won't just
lie down. Ramla struggled against the Raanana defense and kept turning the
ball over. Raanana contributed to the messy game as well, but Sharon Zeevie
came in off the bench and helped Raanana hang on to the lead, 18-16 after 1.
Natho, Nomi Kolodny and Zeevie continued their good showings and carried
Raanana to a 28-20 lead. But then the Jackie Moore show officially started
as she scored 11 straight points to keep Ramla within striking distance
despite Natho's hot hand from downtown. A three by Zeevie from a great
Kolodny assist made it 38-34 for Raanana at the half and in contrast to
their season so far, the Israelis were leading the way while Tatum Brown had
no impact.
You could say that only one team came out of the locker rooms for the 3rd
quarter, but that wouldn't be doing the Ramla defense any justice. Ramla
held Raanana without a field goal for nearly 14 minutes. They ran 25-4 in
the 3rd to open a 59-42 gap. Jackie Johnson and Taly Noy joined Moore's
party in the 4th quarter while Raanana continued to look completely lost. It
ended with an 18 point win, even though Amber Hall's name wasn?t mentioned
here once.
For Ramla:
Jackie Moore: 22 pts (9/13 FGs, 4/8 FTs), 8 rebs, 2 ast, 2 steals, 2 TOs.
Jackie Johnson: 20 pts (7/10 2pt FGs, 1/2 3pt FGs, 3/4 FTs), 10 rebs, 3
ast, 3 TOs.
Taly Noy: 17 pts (1/4 2pt FGs, 5/8 3pt FGs!!!), 3 ast, 2 rebs, 5 TOs.
Natasha Branchikova: 7 pts (2/3 2pt FGs, 1/5 3pt FGs, 0/1 FTs), 5 rebs, 5
ast, 3 TOs.
Amber Hall: 6 pts (3/10 FGs, 0/2 FTs), 9 rebs (5 offensives), 4 steals, 2
TOs.
For Raanana:
Nili Natho: 15 pts (1/4 2pt FGs, 4/6 3pt FGs, 1/4 FTs), 4 ast, 4 rebs, 8
TOs(!!).
Sharon Zeevie: 12 pts (3/6 2pt FGs, 1/1 3pt FGs, 3/4 FTs), 4 rebs.
Nomi Kolodny: 7 pts (2/5 2pt FGs, 1/4 3pt FGs, 0/2 FTs), 7 ast, 4 rebs, 6
steals, 4 TOs.
Tatum Brown: 12 pts (4/8 FGs, 4/5 FTs), 6 rebs, 4 TOs.
Nikki Thompkins: 7 pts (3/10 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 4 rebs, 3 TOs.
Hapoel Haifa/Motzkin 82 - Ramat Hasharon 73
Haifa/Motzkin continues to be the surprise team of the league as they hand
the defending champs their 3rd straight loss.
For Haifa/Motzkin:
Ljiljana Latinovic: 25 pts (6/6 2pt FGs, 2/3 3pt FGs, 7/8 FTs), 5 rebs, 4
ast, 5 TOs.
Alexandra Music: 17 pts (7/9 2pt FGs, 1/2 3pt FGs, 0/1 FTs), 4 rebs, 2 ast,
2 steals 2 TOs.
Jackie Higgins: 20 pts (8/12 FGs, 4/5 FTs), 8 rebs, 2 ast.
Jamie Lewis: 7 pts (2/5 FGs, 3/3 FTs), 2 rebs, 3 steals, 4 TOs.
Rinat Zalts-Levin: 6 pts (3/8 FGs), 5 rebs.
For Ramat Hasharon:
Ina Gorevich: 18 pts (4/5 2pt FGs, 1/1 3pt FGs, 7/8 FTs), 6 rebs, 2 steals,
3 TOs.
Lidiya Varbanova: 18 pts (8/16 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 4 rebs, 3 TOs.
Danielle McCulley: 14 pts (4/8 2pt FGs, 1/3 3pt FGs, 3/4 FTs), 2 rebs.
Aluma Goren: 13 pts (5/8 FGs, 3/8 FTs), 4 ast, 4 steals, 2 rebs, 2 TOs.
Bnei Yehuda 88 - Maccabi Ashdod 59
Easy home win for Bnei Yehuda over the winless Ashdod.
For Bnei Yehuda:
Travesa Gant: 20 pts (7/13 2pt FGs, 1/1 3pt FGs, 3/5 FTs), 10 rebs, 4
steals.
Tawona Alhaleem: 15 pts (5/8 2pt FGs, 0/3 3pt FGs, 5/6 FTs) 6 rebs, 2
steals.
Goni Tanchelson: 11 pts (1/3 2pt FGs, 3/6 3pt FGs), 3 ast.
Ina Boutenko: 10 pts (3/7 3pt FGs, 1/2 FTs), 3 ast.
For Ashdod:
Valerie Muoneke: 14 pts (6/13 FGs, 2/7 FTs), 10 rebs.
Kenya Larkin: 13 pts (4/11 2pt FGs, 1/2 3pt FGs, 2/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 3 ast, 5
TOs.
Vika Rudovski: 11 pts (2/5 2pt FGs, 1/6 3pt FGs, 4/4 FTs), 2 rebs, 4 TOs.
Crystal Givens: 11 pts (4/8 FGs, 3/9 FTs), 5 rebs, 5 TOs.
Elizur Holon 62 - Maccabi Ramat Hen 85
Holon was no match for Ramat Hen who won for the 4th time this season and
remained close to Ramla. Things are going to get worse for Holon now as
their star PG Limor Mizrachi is leaving the team (and probably the country).
For Ramat Hen:
Vicky Hall: 26 pts (7/12 2pt FGs, 3/3 3pt FGs, 3/4 FTs), 6 rebs, 3 ast, 3
TOs.
Marianna Raguz: 23 pts (8/14 FGs, 7/9 FTs), 4 rebs.
Simone Edwards: 13 pts (6/12 FGs, 1/3 FTs), 4 rebs.
Tal Zalts: 12 pts (6/7 FGs!), 3 rebs.
For Holon:
Limor Mizrachi: 15 pts (3/3 2pt FGs, 3/6 3pt FGs), 6 rebs, 2 steals, 7 TOs.
Octavia Blue: 12 pts (6/13 FGs), 2 rebs, 4 TOs.
Lena Pedulova: 12 pts (5/8 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 5 rebs.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Player of Round 5: Ljiljana Latinovic
Haifa/Motzkin's Bosnian PG continues to lead them to surprising wins, this
time against the defending champs and cup holders. Latinovic made 8 of her 9
shots on her way to 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Round 5 First Team:
Ljiljana Latinovic: the steal of the season so far, a great pick up for
Haifa/Motzkin.
Taly Noy: Finished with a season high 17 points as she nailed 5 of 8 threes
and helped shut down Natho in the 2nd half.
Alexandra Music: 17 points on great shooting percentage in another great
game by Haifa/Motzkin's guard.
Jackie Moore: Abused Raanana's front court and posted 22 points and 8
rebounds.
Jackie Higgins: Scored 20 points on 67% shooting and pulled down 8 boards
against Ramat Hasharon's posts.
Just missed: Jackie Johnson, Travesa Gant & Vicky Hall.
Round 5 All-Bust Team:
Tamar Maoz: 6 points, 0 for 4 from downtown.
Nikki Thompkins: 7 points on poor shooting.
Mirana Paunivic: 8 minutes, 1 point.
Amber Hall: Didn't have a bad game, but from Amber we expect more.
Tatum Brown: Left her double-double in Raanana.
The Standings:
1) Elizur Ramla 5-0
2) Maccabi Ramat Hen 4-1
3) Hapoel Haifa/Motzkin 3-2
4) Bnei Yehuda 3-2
5) Ramat Hasharon 2-3
6) Maccabi Raanana 2-3
7) Elizur Holon 1-4
8) Maccabi Ashdod 0-5
Information reprinted with permission of Lior Klinger and Orli Klinger. Send an e-mail to be put on the mailing list.