After Hapoel Jerusalem was left alone at the top and Hapoel Holon was surprised at home, tonight (Sunday) the 10th round of the Premier League continued when the stressed Maccabi Tel Aviv scratched a very difficult victory for Hapoel Galil Elyon only after extra time. Later, Hapoel Haifa will host Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Hapoel Galil Elyon – Maccabi Tel Aviv 88:84 (at the end of overtime)
The Yellows’ real trouble right now is the six-game losing streak in the Euroleague, but in the last two rounds of the league they have succumbed to Nes Ziona and have not shone in the victory over Beer Sheva. Both coach Yannis Sapropoulos and the players know that this or that shock will surely be carried out if they continue to record bad results, so a loss to the newcomer is out of the question tonight, even though Barak Peleg’s side have looked excellent since the start of the season. Although the host arrives after a loss away to Hapoel Holon, it is based at the top and hopes that the crowd that filled Kfar Blum will help it surprise the champion. Cameron Taylor, Angelo Cloiaro and Jaylen Reynolds were not included in the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad.
The newcomer started the game great, when Gabi Chechashvili amazingly blocked Oz’s dunking attempt, which symbolized the opening quarter. Nimrod Levy was simply excellent and swept his teammates to a double-digit advantage. 16:25 To the Upper Galilee at the end of the first quarter. The trend continued in the second quarter as well, with the visitors scoring just 3 points in three and a half minutes. Galil went up to 23:39, but Maccabi Tel Aviv recovered a little, when a basket by Zizic on the buzzer set 33:41 Local in half.
Sapropoulos’ players advanced to the third quarter and erased all of the host’s advantage in just three minutes, while completing a 2:18 run from the second quarter. Shabon Lewis scored first points for Upper Galilee in the third quarter, but Evans and Wilbkin took care of the turnaround. Ike Iribo, who was quiet until that moment, made a basket and foul move and returned the advantage to Barak Peleg’s team. A three by Jake Cohen on the buzzer set 57:57 Towards the decisive quarter.
Galil went up to 59:61, but Maccabi Tel Aviv ran 0: 7 and Barak Peleg called a timeout. The guest was stopped, and two threes by Ike Ireibo made it 68:72 for Barak Peleg’s team. Keenan Evans laid down an important layup. Half a minute to go, with Galil leading 70:73, James Nanley squeezed a foul to three and accurate from the line three times. The newcomer missed three times in the last attack and the game went into overtime after 73:73 At the end of 40 minutes.
The newcomer took the lead at the opening of overtime, but Yiftach Ziv scored debut points from the line and found Wilbkin for an important three that set 79:80 for the visitors. Nimrod Levy committed a fifth offense, with Jake Cohen scoring a big three from the corner that set 82:86, less than half a minute to go.
Hapoel Haifa – Hapoel Beer Sheva 37:16 (Quarter 2)
Elad Hussein’s team, which defeated the rival from the Negev capital in the two meetings between them last season, is one victory away from securing its place in the state cup after winning three of its last four games, including the 71:80 over Gilboa / Galil in the previous round. On the other hand, Hapoel Beer Sheva, which stretched Maccabi Tel Aviv last Saturday, hopes to register a premiere victory under coach Christophorus Libadiotis.
Monday Games:
Maccabi Rishon Lezion – Bnei Herzliya (19:00)
Hapoel Tel Aviv – Gilboa / Galil (20:30)