Hapoel Holon clipped Kiryat Ata 90-85 as half a dozen purples players ended the game in double digits to help the hosts take the win. Kiryat Ata came out strong as Amin Stevens, JJ Kaplan and Ben Saraf led the way early but Tahjere McCall, Kevin Hervey along with Drew Crawford and Netanel Artzi helped Amit Sherf’s team take a 51-46 lead into halftime. Justin Smith and McCall kept scoring for Holon, but Raz Adam, Stevens and Saraf kept Sharon Avrahami’s squad hanging around, however, Shachar Amir with huge buckets down the stretch helped Holon to the victory.

McCall scored 18 points, Amir added 14 points, Smith scored 13 points and Artzi scored 11 points in the win. Stevens scored 20 points, Saraf chipped in with 19 points and Adam scored 18 points in the loss.

“We gave up a couple of 3-pointers to start the game,” Holon coach Amit Sherf said. “Kiryat Ata gained some confidence which allowed them to get into the game. It took us some time to get our players to do the same and we had some trouble as they went after many offensive rebounds. But all in all I’m happy with teh win as we look to get home court advantage for the postseason.”

“What we saw in this game is what we have been all season long as guys stepped up and filled in for those that weren’t available due to injury,” Kiryat Ata coach Sharon Avrahami said. “JJ Kaplan is the epitome of this team which has the ability to come in work hard and not give up. I’m proud but also it was a bit of a missed opportunity. As for the postseason if we can come into the playoffs healthy we can definitely make some noise. We want to keep winning ahead of the postseason.”

Netanel Artzi spoke about ensuring that Holon gets home court in the playoffs as well as looking back at the game itself, “There’s always a chance and we have to get to the last game against Jerusalem and win which will also give us home court advantage. For the majority of the season we lose some of our focus and I’m happy that we were able to pull it together in time. We know that this is an issue and it’s part of basketball. I do feel that we have players who have taken a step up to help the entire team.”

JJ Kaplan also reflected on the contest, “I think we lost focus within the team as we got close. We got excited and we lost that focus to stay steady, that cost us and that will be the difference in the playoffs as well. We have to go back to the film and check out the mistakes we made. A lot of people will keep overlooking us and we know how much trust and faith we have in each other, iron sharpens iron like people sharpen people.”

Isaiah Mucius went for a pair from deep and Amin Stevens scored inside for Kiryat Ata to get the game started while Justin Smith and Tahjere McCall found points for Hapoel Holon, Raz Amir and JJ Kaplan went from downtown as Shachar Amir put in a pair from long distance and Kevin Hervey scored inside to give the hosts a slim 29-28 lead after ten minutes of play.

McCall and Hervey dialled up long distance to begin the second quarter Kaplan and Ben Saraf countered with a dunk and a deuce respectively, while the latter added an off balance jumper and a breakaway dunk to give Sharon Avrahami’s team a 41-38 lead with five minutes remaining in the half. Drew Crawford went from deep, Smith scored inside and Netanel Artzi went from beyond the arc to quickly put Holon back into the drivers seat, Adam and Mucius responded with 3-pointers but Crawford had the last word with a deuce to give Amit Sherf’s team a 51-46 advantage at halftime.

Smith dunked and McCall put in a step back jumper to start the third quarter, Saraf went from deep, Stevens scored on the inside, Artzi and Crawford answered as did Amir, but Adam put in a pair of baskets while Hervey dialled up long distance to give the purples a 75-72 lead after thirty minutes of action.

Adam opened up the fourth quarter with points, McCall answered with a bucket and a 3-point play, Stevens put in a deuce inside, Niv Misgav went from deep, Kaplan did the same, Amir drilled one from long distance, Stevens put in a 3-point play, but Amir iced the game with a pair of free throws to hand the hosts a 5-point win.

Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Ramat Gan 82-71 as the reds have win four straight under new head coach Stefanos Dedas since joining the club. Hapoel got off to a good start and took a 43-35 lead into halftime, however, Shmulik Brenner’s team fought back as Michael Devoe helped know the clash up at 65-65 with five minutes left in the game. But big baskets down the stretch by Tomer Ginat, Isaiah Miles, Kyle Alexander, Braian Angola and Xavier Munford helped the hosts to the win.

Alexander scored 16 points, Munford added 15 points, Angola scored 13 points while Ginat and Miles each scored 10 points in the win. Devoe scored 23 points, JP Tokoto added 13 points and Yahel Melamed scored 12 points in the loss.

Kyle Alexander who was named the MVP spoke about the win and working under their new bench boss, “We fought our way back as they made a run but we found a way to take the win down the stretch. With our new coach, Stefanos Dedas it’s been an adjustment and new style of basketball but we have a group professionals that can get it done.”