Maccabi Tel Aviv got by Hapoel Galil Elyon 89-81 to head into the international break with yet another win. The yellow-and-blue came out a bit rusty over the course of the first half after having defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 48 hours earlier, as Lior Carreira and Roi Huber gave the visitors a 45-35 lead at halftime. However, Lorenzo Brown and Wade Baldwin shifted into high gear in the second half to help Oded Katash’s team take the victory.

Brown scored 24 points, Baldwin added 18 points and Josh Nebo scored 17 points in the win. Omar Silverio scored 27 points, Lotan Amsalem chipped in with 15 points and Lior Carreira scored 12 points in the loss.

“It wasn’t going to be easy as we knew that the vacation time was coming right up and our first half was awful across the board,” Maccabi coach Oded Katash said following the game. “I told the guys I understand what they are going through but I said at halftime let’s really come out for the last twenty minutes and give a big push.”

The coach also spoke about the opposition and the tough time they have had this season due to not being able to play at their home arena due to the war, “We also have to give Galil credit, who prepared very well for this game and are doing an incredible job under horrible circumstances not playing at home due to the war. They are getting so much more out of that team and they bring the right energy every game, they are really giving so much more. Barak Peleg and Avishay Gordon are doing a tremendous job and you can’t ask for much more.”

“It’s a bit disappointing if you see how we started and we pretty much were able to do what we wanted to,” Galil Elyon coach Barak Peleg said. “We caught Maccabi Tel Aviv after a big win over Hapoel Jerusalem and ahead of the break, but we had to hold in there for another couple of possessions. We were just done at the end, I’m very proud that we are team that leaves it all on the court every game. But the loss was still very disappointing.”

Peleg also talked about having the chance to play in a large arena with a terrific atmosphere for the first time since the beginning of the war, “I was very happy to see the arena full and it was a very good to be here, every one of us felt that atmosphere. The fans and sports have been able to bring us together and give us a smile and some passion since the war began. For me basketball hasn’t the same since October 7th, but to have this game, the energy and passion, this is what the players need and it’s great for Israeli basketball.”

Josh Nebo spoke about the win, “I’m very proud of the team and for finding a way to show up and try our best, it’s our 4th game in 7 days and it was very tough to find energy but I’m proud we were able to get it done. We weren’t surprised by Galil’s start but they made every shot and they played really well and we didn’t come out well with the right mentality. The environment was great and the fans helped us find the energy and thanks to them they gave us the extra push for the second half.”

Omar Silverio reflected on the contest and getting the chance to play at Yad Eliyahu “It was a competitive game, a great game, we had our run but we came up short in the end and Maccabi figured it out and closed it out. Our composure at the beginning of the third quarter hurt us and we should have probably slowed down our pace. As for playing on the biggest stage, it’s what you dream of and playing against Maccabi fans it’s loud the whole game. I’m proud of myself and the team as to how we performed.”

Alphonso Anderson scored on the inside, Roi Huber went from the outside to get Hapoel Galil Elyon off and running to an early 11-3 lead midway through the first quarter. Lotan Amsalem scored at will, James Feldeine and Lorenzo Brown added their names to the scoresheet, as did Daniel Rosenbaum with a corner 3-ball and Roman Sorkin with a pair of deuces, Wade Baldwin took the ball to the hoop and Sorkin dunked as Maccabi Tel Aviv got back into the game but down 23-17 after ten minutes of play.

Baldwin opened the second quarter with a jumper, Antonius Cleveland dialled up long distance, Lior Carreira and Huber responded, Feldeine went from way downtown and Omar Silverio scored to bump the lead back up to 36-35 with five minutes left in the first half. Carreira and Feldeine both scored in the paint, Baldwin went from the outside and inside, Josh Nebo dunked, Brown went to the basket, but a bucket by Carreira as the half came to and end kept Barak Peleg’s squad in front 45-35.

Brown led off the second half with a trio of triples and added a deuce, Anderson responded, Rafi Menco and Baldwin scored layups, Cleveland went from deep, Silverio and Carreira came back with points while James Webb scored his first basket of the game to give the yellow-and-blue a 61-59 lead after thirty minutes of action.

Huber and Cleveland both went from downtown to begin the fourth quarter, Nebo and Brown scored inside, Silverio went to the hoop for a pair of baskets and Amsalem scored to knot the game ultimately at 72-72 with 5:37 remaining in regulation time. Nebo and Sorkin each put in a pair, Baldwin scored a quartet from the line, Silverio came back with a 3-point play but Brown scored a layup to polish off the game and give Maccabi the win.

In other Israeli league action, Hapoel Eilat sunk Bnei Herzliya 96-93 after having built up a double digit lead by halftime and then holding on to record their second victory in a row to move out of the league’s basement. Elijah Stewart scored 30 points, Jujuan Johnson added 23 points and Deishuan Booker chipped in with 22 points in the win while Eitan Burg scored 22 points, Marcus Carr scored 19 points and Frederic Bourdillon put in 17 points in the loss.