Israel D1 12/2008 - Maccabi Ramat Hen 88, Raanana Hertzeliya 68

Before this game there were three teams tied for the top in the Israel D1 Women's League - Ramat Hen (10-2) and Raanana Hertzeliya (9-3) were two of them. Even though they might have been equal in the win-loss column, they weren't equal on the court yesterday as Ramat Hen beat Hertzleiya with ease, 88-68.

There are only two teams currently tied for first place - Ramat Hen and Elizur Ramla.

The box score is here.

Ramat Hen jumped out to a 23-14 lead after the first quarter and was able to establish an 11-point lead at halftime, 45-34. Hertzeliya closed to within eight points at the end of the third quarter, 61-53, but Ramat Hen held the visitors to just 15 fourth quarter points to lead the outcome in no doubt.

Hertzeliya shot 43 percent from the floor, but they were no match for Ramat Hen which shot 57 percent. Hertzeliya only had five offensive rebounds in the entire game. Both teams had very few turnovers (Ramat Hen 9, Hertzeliya 10) but Hertzeliya sent Ramat Hen to the free throw line 25 times and Ramat Hen earned 18 points in the form of converted free throws.

LaToya Pringle had an amazing game for Ramat Hen. She had 27 points and 20 rebounds for a "twenties double-double". Tamara James added 22 points for the home team.

And how did Ivory Latta do in her first game in regular season play? Not bad. She shot 5-for-8 and hit both of her free throws, scoring 14 points and four assists total.

Leading Hertzeliya was Sheri Sam with 21 points and seven rebounds. Sam currently plays for the WNBA champion Detroit Shock. Temeka Johnson, a member of the Los Angeles Sparks, contributed 16 points and four assists to the losing cause. Katia Abramzon would also score in double digits for the visitors with 10 pointss and four rebounds.

Finding pictures isn't that easy, although I might have some info about a video clip in a later post. Doron Berger explains that part of the problem might be a generalized lack of interest in women's BB in Israel.

Game against the Maccabi Ramat Chen, Mhzikt new trophy, was attended by 120 viewers. If one considers ומקורבים are invited to come to something like zero fans.

I don't know if he's an objective observer or just a hater. We know that in the US the line between the two is sometimes murky. (Look up the definition of "sympathy troll".)