Bnei Herzliya sent shockwaves through the Israeli basketball world with a stunning 98-93 overtime victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maurice Kemp paced Oren Aharoni’s team in the first half while Chris Babb did the same in the second as Julian Gamble scored important points down the stretch to help the visitors take the win.

Herzliya jumped all over the yellow-and-blue from the get go and took a quick 21-9 lead as Maurice Kemp scored at will, but Oded Katash’s squad led by Jalen Adams came right back with points from deep to head into halftime ahead 46-39.

The hosts held serve in the third quarter as Darrun Hilliard hit the mark from the outside but Quinton Hooker, Sandy Cohen and Babb all found points in the final frame to tie the game up at 85-85 and send the contest into overtime. In the extra session Babb got to work as he scored from beyond the arc, nailed a jumper and stole the ball for a layup while Gamble also scored down the stretch to give Herzliya the upset win.

Kemp led all scorers with 29 points, Babb added 26 points with half a dozen 3-poinetrs and Gamble added 15 points in the win. Adams paced Maccabi with 25 points, Hilliard chipped in with 15 points and Sorkin scored 14 points in the loss.

“The game was played at a very high level and playing against Maccabi is always very important,” Aharoni said at the post game press conference. “We started the game well which is very important when you play against Maccabi and in the second quarter they made big shots and we went down to the lockerroom down. But we knew that if we continued to play well we would be able to stay in the game and a number of players scored some big baskets for us down the stretch to take the win.”

“We didn’t have focus and aggressiveness at the start of the game and that’s always a battle for us,” Katash explained after the game. “One could see that from the get go and I don’t want to take credit away from Herzliya who started the game off well. We have to look at how we as a staff can expand the rotation and it’s not going to be easy to do with the losses that we have incurred especially in an Israeli league game. We were very laid back and the result is what occurred.”

Babb reflected on the victory, ״We showed the caliber of team that we can be when we play hard and compete and limit teams to one shot. “It was a good step for us to show what this team is capable of. We prepared like we have for this game like have don for the rest of the games this season and we have showed signs that we are a good team.”

“We were more cohesive with better communication and more focus,” Kemp said. “It was a good bounce back for us after we were really disappointed with how we performed for the last month or so. I feel like I let my team down last game. Glad we did it in this one.”

Adams looked at the game from his point of view, “We have to find a way to play a full game. There are moments we look good and moments where we don’t but we have to lock in on defense. As for starting slow, I don’t know, we have a habit of doing that and we have to find a way to bring energy and win the first five minutes of the quarter.”

Hapoel Tel Aviv dropped an overmatched Hapoel Beer Sheva 95-83 to move into first place with a 7-1 record in Israeli league play. The Reds raced out to a 54-37 lead at halftime as Chinanu Onuaku dominated the paint for Danny Franco’s team as they cruised to the never in doubt victory which featured five players in double digits.

Onuaku led the way with 20 points and 9 rebounds, Xavier Munford and Tomer Ginat while Bar Timor chipped in with 14 points and Idan Zalmanson scored 10 points in the win. Khalil Ahmad paced Beer Sheva with 18 points, Greg Whittington added 17 points and Joaquin Szuchman scored 13 points in the loss.

“We put aside the disappointing loss to Hamburg and we were ready for the Israeli league,” Zalmanson said. “We couldn’t wait to step on our home court and hear our fans that love us in the stands. We all want to continue the great start to the season together with our supporters.”