Last update - 00:00 05/02/2007
Maccabi T.A. ousted from State Cup for first time in a decade
By Vered Cohen and Yoav Borovich, Haaretz Correspondents
Maccabi Tel Aviv was ousted Monday from the State Cup for the first time in 10 years, losing in the semifinals to Bnei Hasharon 94-87.
Bnei Hasharon raced to a 16-2 lead at the outset, and continued to put on a strong performance throughout the game, leading by as much as 20 points during the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the reigning champions fought back, cutting the lead to 91-87 on a Derrick Sharp three-pointer with just over one minute left to play.
But Maccabi Tel Aviv could get no closer, as Bnei Hasharon held on in the final minute, sinking several clutch free-throws to dash Maccabi's hopes of a spectacular comeback and a tenth-straight State Cup title.
Maccabi Tel Aviv put on a sluggish performance, with its coach Neven Spahija unable to find a way to stop Bnei Hasharon star Lee Nailon, who scored 22 points in the first half alone, finishing the game with 31 points despite being in foul trouble from the third quarter on.
Bnei Hasharon will meet Hapoel Jerusalem in the final on Thursday, after Hapoel thrashed Ironi Ramat Gan 117-78 on Monday.