Hapoel Beer Sheva downed Kiryat Ata 86-77 in the southern capital to hand new head coach Rami Hadar his first victory back with the club. Sam Iorio, Ray Spalding and Spencer Weisz scored for Hapoel Beer Sheva while Akia Pruitt and Silvio De Sousa paced Kiryat Ata as the first half ended all knotted up at 39-39.

The visitors took a slim 63-59 lead after the third quarter as Chris Smith and Liam O’Reilly scored but Iverson Molinar, Cody Demps and Spalding poured in points in the final frame to take the win. Spalding scored 19 points, Molinar added 15 points and Demps scored 11 points in the win while Smith scored 18 points and De Sousa chipped in with 16 points in the loss.

Rami Hadar reflected on the victory, “It looked like we were born again anew. This was a game with a lot of pressure. A few good minutes of defense at the end of the third quarter got us back in the game and freed us up and from there everything was easier. The only thing I can take away from this game is our character as the actual basketball wasn’t great.”

Eldad Bentov also commented on the game, “From the middle of the third quarter we weren’t able to do what we wanted to as they picked up the pace and we slowed down. We’re in a critical month and the most important player and the leader of the team, Raz Adam is injured and not able to play. We are feeling that loss. I don’t know if he will return this coming round but I hope so. We’re constantly thinking as to what we can do.”

Hapoel Afula defeated Hapoel Haifa 86-74 as Jalen Leque with 19 points and J’Covan Brown with 23 points broke down the Carmel Reds defense in the second half to take the win.