Basketball Super League Bnei Hasharon Returns to Winning Ways

Bnei Hasharon's foreign acquisitions helped the hoopsters snap a four-game losing streak by topping Gilboa/Galil 81-74 last night.

In the other Super League contest Monday night, Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Netanya 89-82 on the road.

The good news for Bnei Hasharon is that Derrick Caracter and J.R. Reynolds are helping it look like a team again. Bnei Hasharon showed character. Even after Gilboa twice came back to tie the game, Bnei Hasharon responded without looking desperate.

Caracter came through in the final seconds, grabbing an offensive board that translated into a second-chance basket. Caracter then rebounded the ball on Gilboa's next possession, drew a foul and made his free throw.

Gilboa can only find comfort in the recovery of Dagan Yivzori, who scored 13 points in the second half.

Maccabi's win in Netanya suggested that the league leader still has two different teams on David Blatt's roster. When the second team came off the bench, Netanya dictated the pace of the game.

Devin Smith shone in the first half with 21 points, but Netanya came back. After the hosts cut Maccabi's lead to one, Ricky Hikcman stepped in with seven points in two minutes to put the game away.

Danny Franco, Netanya's coach, expressed frustration that his team played offense the way it wanted to but committed 24 turnovers.