Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., December 17, 2008 Kislev 20, 5769 | | Israel Time: 03:02 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Basketball / Nahariya upset, a boost for coach By Arie Livnat and Ohad Shvirman Ironi Nahariya finally registered a home win last night, defeating Gilboa/Galil by shooting a sizzling 70 percent from two-point range. Aaron McGhee scored 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting from within the arc, and pulled down nine rebounds in the 90-73 victory. Nahariya coach Yaacov Gino, whose head was on the chopping block for his team's weak start this season, may now be able to breathe easier after knocking off one of the league's more dominant teams. Advertisement Save for the opening three minutes, Nahariya consistently dominated, as it built its lead from quarter to quarter and never let Galil get closer than nine points during the entire second half. A variety of players contributed, first McGhee and Ron Lewis, who also had 20 points. Then Tony Washam, who scored eight points, took over in the third quarter. The hosts also dominated under the glass with a 38-24 advantage, creating many more second-chance scoring opportunities and drawing fouls. Nahariya was deadly from the charity stripe, hitting 28 of its 31 free throws, making more than Galil attempted (26). Galil looked pumped up at the opening buzzer, as big man Aloysius Anagonye opened the game with a resounding dunk and then proceeded to score six of the game's first eight points, staking the visitors to an 8-0 lead. Raviv Limonad then stopped the run with a three-pointer that launched a 9-0 run by Nahariya. Suddenly, Galil didn't look so sure that it was on its way to joining Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa Heat in a tie for second place. After Galil tied the game at 9-9, Nahariya went on an 8-2 run, setting the pattern for the rest of the game - building its lead one defensive stop at a time. Galil pared the lead down to 10 points one last time just before the close of the third quarter, but Washam scored the last basket of the period and Nahariya then outscored Galil 8-3 to open the final quarter. Ramle women tighten leader board Eli Rabi's gamble paid off last night. The Elitzur Ramle coach inserted into his starting five both of Ramle's new acquisitions, and they responded by scoring a combined 25 points en route to a 78-61 triumph over Maccabi Ashdod. The victory, in tandem with other results yesterday, helped create a five-way tie for first place in the women's top division. Katia Levitzky, fresh from Bnot Hasharon, knew she had a license to fire at will. Indeed, she took the team's first two shots and scored 15 for the night, including a key three-pointer late in the third period to preserve Ramle's double-digit lead. "It was important for me to start Katia so she would realize she didn't come here to complement other players or to warm the bench." Rabi said his other new player, Annemarie Parau, is a veteran who can't just be sent in from the bench. "It was a risk," he admitted, "but it proved itself. We didn't shine tonight, but we played as a team, and I'm happy with that." Ramle forward Olena Ogorodnikova joined Levitzky with top scoring honors for the winners. Joining Ramle and Ashdod at the top with 8-2 records are Maccabi Ramat Hen, which rebounded from its recent slump to knock off Elitzur Holon at home 76-61; Bnot Hasharon, which outgunned Tel Kabir 109-97; and Ramat Hasharon, which sent Hapoel Tel Aviv to its worst loss in a decade with an 85-38 drubbing. Bookmark to del.icio.us   The Eilat bus crash At least 24 Russian tour guides were killed in one of Israel's worst road accidents. Setting it straight Livni: Syria peace must involve more than just eating hummus in Damascus.

Read & React Bradley Burston / The Madoff betrayal: Life imitates anti-Semitism Responses: 54 Adam Keller: Boycott of settlements' industries is taking its toll Responses: 83 Akiva Eldar: Democracy in West Bank? Not if it's up to Israel Responses: 20 UN human rights commissioner: Israel should attend Durban anti-racism summit Responses: 21 Agreement in Hamas: Cease-fire to end Friday Responses: 45 More Headlines 01:52 Mofaz: Eilat crash due to thuggery of two drivers 01:59 'I awoke and saw everyone was down on the ground around me' 21:33 BACKGROUND / Thousands of Russians expected to visit Eilat over winter 23:13 UN Security Council: Israel-PA peace process is irreversible 01:55 Jihad says 'rockets will rain on Israel' as 7 Qassams hit Negev 19:22 Livni: Syria peace must involve more than just eating hummus in Damascus 14:03 Bradley Burston / The Madoff betrayal: Life imitates anti-Semitism 23:04 UN human rights chief slams Israel for expelling envoy Richard Falk 21:13 Abbas says he'll call for elections in Gaza, West Bank 'very soon' 20:02 Argentina seizes Iran diplomat's property in Jewish center bombing probe 20:30 Dutch FM threatens to skip UN racism meet over anti-Israel statements 17:55 Poll: Most Israelis oppose leaving West Bank for Arab world's recognition 18:36 Italian MP says Vatican didn't do enough to help Jews in WWII 16:30 Russia in talks with Iran over sale of anti-aircraft missiles, despite Israeli objections 17:38 British PM Brown urges Olmert to end freeze on Palestinian economy 18:06 Elie Wiesel, Steven Spielberg said among victims of Madoff Wall Street affair Previous Editions Select Day 16 dec 15 dec 14 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 08 dec 07 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec

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