Ness Ziona keeps rolling with tough win over Nahariya

Since losing its opener against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Ness Ziona has won six of seven contests.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Gilboa/Galil Alex Young Hapoel Gilboa/Galil guard Alex Young dunks two of his game-high 24 points in 89-77 win over Bnei Herzliya (photo credit: LIRON MOLDOVAN/BSL)
Hapoel Gilboa/Galil Alex Young Hapoel Gilboa/Galil guard Alex Young dunks two of his game-high 24 points in 89-77 win over Bnei Herzliya
(photo credit: LIRON MOLDOVAN/BSL)
Ironi Ness Ziona survived a scare against Ironi Nahariya to continue its impressive start to the BSL season on Monday night and improve to 6-2.
Since losing its opener against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Ness Ziona has won six of seven contests, defeating Nahariya 87-83 on Monday.
A back-and-forth first half ended in a two-point Ness Ziona edge (37-35) and a Preston Knowles basket took the gap to 10 points (50-40) early in the third quarter. However, a 13-2 run saw Nahariya move in front (55-54) and a tight fourth frame would follow. Nahariya never allowed the hosts to move too far ahead, but couldn’t complete a comeback and Tal Dan and Craig Smith ensured Ness Ziona held on for another win.
Dan finished with 29 points, while Smith added 26 points.
Nate Miller led five Nahariya (1-7) players in double figures with 17 points and 15 boards.
Hapoel Holon remained one game behind the top four after thrashing Hapoel Eilat 88-66 to move to 5-3. There was little to separate the teams after a tight first half, with Eilat leading by two points (39-37). However, Holon would steamroll the visitors in the third quarter, outscoring Eilat 30-8 to effectively clinch the victory.
Jordan Taylor had 22 points for the winners, with Tony Crocker scoring 17 points. Elishay Kadir netted 16 points for Eilat, which dropped to 2-6 with its sixth loss in seven games.
Hapoel Tel Aviv moved back to .500 on Monday with an 86-77 win at Maccabi Ashdod.
Tel Aviv outscored Ashdod 30-16 in the second period to take a 48-39 lead into the second half, which the reds controlled to improve to 4-4.
Raviv Limonad led Hapoel with 20 points, six assists and five rebounds. Terrell Harris finished with 20 points for Ashdod, which dropped to 1-7.
Also Monday, Hapoel Gilboa/ Galil beat Bnei Herzliya 89-77.
An 11-1 run in the fourth quarter opened a double-digit gap (82-72) for Gilboa and there was no way back for the hosts.
Alex Young led Gilboa (3-5) with 24 points, with Wayne Chism adding 18 points and 11 rebounds. Kyle Weaver had 21 points for Herzliya (3-5), which had been in good form in recent weeks but remains close to the bottom of the standings following Monday’s loss.