Hapoel Holon stunned Hapoel Beer Sheva 87-85 as Derrick Walton’s basket with 30 seconds to go gave the purples the lead just in the nick of time to help the hosts take the win. Prior to the game, former hostage Bar Cooperstein was honored and gave the Holon faithful a huge energy boost, but Beer Sheva controlled the contest for almost the entire 40 minutes including a 10-point lead with under five minutes to go. But Xavier Munford hit his shots and free throws while Walton gave the hosts the elad for good as they took the dramatic win.

Walton scored 25 points, McRae added 14 points and Munford scored 13 points in the win, while Brandon Angel scored 22 points, Cody Demps chipped in with 16 points as did CJ Elleby in the loss.

Hapoel Beer Sheva jumped out to a big lead out of the gate as Brandon Angel, Yoav Vitlem and CJ Elleby doing the damage as Idan Zalmanson was active for Hapoel Holon but aa deuce by Michael Foster gave the visitors a 22-15 lead after ten minuets of play. Derrick Walton and Jordan McRae got busy in the second quarter while Cody Demps and Angel countered as points from Lior Carreira cut the southern reds advantage to 42-37 at halftime.

Munford, Carreira and Walton all scored to begin the third quarter, Angel, Vitlem and Demps all went from deep while Foster and Elleby dunked to keep Beer Sheva in front 64-59 after thirty minutes of action. Walton and McRae scored, Vitlem went from the outside and inside, Munford and Foster traded triples, Munford and Carreira scored to cut the gap while Walton’s free throws tied the game up and then the guard hit the game winning shot with 30 seconds to go to take the victory.

Hapoel Holon Head Coach Danny Franco talked about the win, “For a lot of minutes we weren’t the better team but we fought and were intense. But everything goes into proportion as we played with Bar Cooperstein’s spirit. It’s always good to get a win. There are things we aren’t doing well enough and we have to adapt during the game.”

Hapoel Beer Sheva bench boss Rami Hadar reflected on the stunning loss, “What am I supposed to say. The game escaped because we are missing 1 player and we will sign him. I’m satisfied from some players and not from others but I’m happy with how we played.”

Derrick Walton who scored the winning basket spoke about the victory, “I just try to make plays down the stretch more than anything finding a way to win even if it’s not the way we want to win. Everyone really wants to win here.”