Hapoel Galil Elyon sunk Hapoel Eilat 80-73 as Lior Carreira’s 26 points in what was a career game helped the visitors to the win. With the victory, Barak Peleg’s squad moved their record to a surprising 3-4 with only two import players as a third is on his way in Harrison Henderson.

Sacar Anim, Elijah Stewart, Or Ashkenazi and Yehonatan Levi scored for Hapoel Eilat while James Feldiene and Meron Ruina answered for Hapoel Galil Elyon but the hosts grabbed a 27-21 lead after ten minutes of play. Omar Silverio got busy for the visitors while Lior Carreira and Daniel Rosenbaum scored to pull to within 40-39 at halftime.

Stewart came out strong for Max Menneti’s squad, Carreira began to score at will for Barak Peleg’s team as the northerners grabbed a 61-51 lead after thirty minutes of action. Ashkenazi tried to pull his team back into the game but Feldiene with a pair from downtown sealed the win. 

Carreira led the way with 26 points, Silverio added 14 points and Feldiene scored 12 points in the win. Stewart scored 18 points, Anim chipped in with 15 points and Ashkenazi scored 12 points in the loss.

“We were very soft in the first quarter and gave up 27 points,” Galil Elyon coach Baral Peleg said. “Eilat have some great talent but once we found our energy we were on our way. Just because we won this game doesn’t mean we will be in the championship playoffs, we have plenty of work to do as we really play together.”

“To play basketball without a big man is impossible,” Hapoel Eilat coach Max Menneti said. “We struggled with fouls and we really lost it in the 3rd quarter as it was tough to play with just Yehonatan Levy as a center. The only thing that I am upset about is when we have problems, frustration begins and then we give up.”

The MVP of the game Lior Carreira commented, “It was great and many people didn’t believe that I would be here due to my injuries but I believed in myself. You can see how much we play together and one game it can be me another maybe Roi Huber or a different player.”