Maccabi NSW masters brave in basketball GF defeat

BENNY’S Ball – Maccabi NSW Basketball Club’s masters team in the City of Sydney C grade competition – won their last two summer 2021 regular season games, and then upset minor premiers the Newtown Deuces 27-23 in the semis, to earn an unlikely grand final berth last Sunday night.

Up against a strong Inner City Hawkes side, they battled bravely and were in the hunt for most of the match, but eventually lost 34-54.

Maccabi only had five players available in the grand final – the bare minimum – due to strict COVID health and safety protocols.

Their cause wasn’t helped when a hyper-extended elbow injury happened mid-match to sharpshooter Gaby Anger. A medical timeout paused play with Benny’s Ball down by 9-15.

With no subs on hand, Anger bravely returned to the court and immediately nailed back-to-back three-pointers, as part of a run of play that saw his team gain, albeit briefly, a 17-15 lead.

With Daniel Lemish creating attacking opportunities, and Justin Goldberg driving hard to the basket and top-scoring for Maccabi with 14 points, Benny’s Ball only trailed by 22-28 at half-time.

In the second half, their well dried up in offense. Despite Gid Huberman controlling the glass and finishing with 9 points, and Josh Marks locking down defensively, Newtown put the result in no doubt with a string of three-pointers.

Meanwhile, the first men’s Premier League and Division 1 season in 2022 got under way on Monday night at Comets Stadium.

The Maccabi Lakers trounced UNSW Gold 119-71 in the Premier League, with Marcel Ninio continuing his excellent form from last year in offense, top-scoring with 26 points, and Zac Ehrenfeld and Jake Sharwood both scoring 20 points.

In Division 1, the Maccabi Kings lost a close one by 48-51, with their forward Matt Joffe scoring 17 points, while the Maccabi Rockets had a first round bye.