Gilboa/Galil tops Mac Haifa to continue recent run

Haifa got off to a good start, opening a double-digit margin in the first period and leading 22-14 after 10 minutes.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Gilboa Galil 311 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Hapoel Gilboa Galil 311
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Hapoel Gilboa/Galil claimed its fourth BSL win in five games on Saturday night, defeating Maccabi Haifa 82-70 to remain in the chase for a top-four finish and home-court advantage in the quarterfinal playoffs.
Haifa, which has lost 14 of its last 16 league games, got off to a good start, opening a double-digit margin in the first period and leading 22-14 after 10 minutes.
A Marco Killingsworth basket gave the visitors a 12-point gap (29-17) at the start of the second quarter, but Gilboa answered back with a 16-2 run, capped by Gal Mekel’s two points.
Haifa still held the advantage (37-35) at halftime, but Gilboa had the edge (57-53) after three periods and maintained a slender margin for the entire fourth frame on the way to the win.
Courtney Fells led Gilboa with 23 points, with Warren Carter and Mekel adding 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Killingsworth had 15 points for Haifa, which continues to struggle desperately.
Bnei Hasharon hosts Barak Netanya on Sunday, while Maccabi Ashdod visits Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
On Monday, Maccabi Tel Aviv welcomes Hapoel Holon, with Ironi Ashkelon visiting Hapoel Jerusalem at Malha Arena.
Maccabi Tel Aviv coach David Blatt announced on Friday that he will remain the Russian national team coach through the 2012 London Olympics. Blatt led Russia to the European Championship title in 2007 and guided the team to a seventh place finish in last year’s World Championships.