Hapoel Galil Elyon dropped Hapoel Beer Sheva 86-60 as James Feldeine turned back the clock to ensure that they will spend yet another season up in the top division. The Galilee squad had not played at home all season up in Kfar Blum near the Lebanon border due to the war and struggled to keep a full complement of imports with the team over the course of the campaign. However, Peleg was able to find ways to pick up enough victories to stay in the top league. Feldeine scored 26 points, Lior Carrera scored 15 points and grabbed 10 boards while Juvonte Reddic added 11 points in the win. Roy Paretzky and JaKeenan Gant both scored 17 points in the loss.

The game MVP James Feldeine spoke about the importance of the win,“We were determined and we knew how big this game was. We knew they were coming to play after they beat Eilat and everyone knew what was expected, I was determined to keep this team in the first division. The fans and the organization deserve it and we new what to do. This is one season to remember in my 14th year, players coming and players going, not knowing sometimes where we were going to play and how many hotels we stayed at not having a home court.”

James Feldeine and Lior Carrera scored at will to open the game as Galil Elyon grabbed a 28-11 lead after ten minutes of play. Roi Paretzky, JaKeenan Gant and Kris Bankston tried to cut into the gap but Feldeine kept scoring and Juvonte Reddic added points to keep the hosts in front 48-33 at halftime.

Paretzky and Gant kept scoring to drop the lead down to just a half a dozen points but Feldeine along with Roi Huber and Shaq Buchanan spurred on a 20-0 run to end the third quarter to give Barak Peleg’s team a 74-47 lead after thirty minutes of action. DJ Kennedy along with Reddic and Carrera kept pouring in the points over the final frame to hand Barak Peleg’s squad the win.

Hapoel Eilat sunk Bnei Herzlliya 95-90 in overtime to move out of the relegation zone down by the Red Sea. With the win Jurica Golemac’s squad moved one win ahead of Hapoel Beer Sheva and out of the league’s basement while Dan Shamir’s team was officially eliminated from postseason contention.

Jehyve Floyd, Ethan Burg, Bryson Williams and Frederic Bourdillon all scored to give Bnei Herzlia an early double digit lead but Elijah Stewart, Deishuan Booker and JaJuan Johnson countered for Hapoel Eilat to cut the advantage down to 32-31 by halftime. Adrain Banks along with Floyd and Bourdillon got busy for Dan Shamir’s team but key baskets by Art Zabelin, Stewart, Johnson and Booker thrust the Jurica Golemac’s team into the lead late in the game.

But Tyler Stone drained a last second tripe to send the contest into overtime all knotted up at 76-76. Zabelin, Booker, Johnson and Stewart all found points to get the extra session underway while Stone and Floyd tried to keep the visitors close but free throws by Zabelin and Or Ashkenazi handed Eilat the win.

Stewart scored 28 points, Booker added 21 points, Zabelin scored 17 points and Johnson chipped in with 16 points in the win. Floyd scored 20 points, Burg added 18 points and Stone scored 15 points in the loss.

“It was a rollercoaster of a game and we went up and down the court with Herzliya,” Coach Golemac said. “We should have won the game five times. They scored to tie it ups but we showed character and said that this was going to be our game. Nothing is done yet and we have to keep continuing on.”

Nes Ziona defeated Hapoel Haifa 84-68 as the hosts jumped out to an early lead and never looked back to take the win. Isaiah Whitehead recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists in one of the great all-time game performances in Israeli league history while Rawle Alkins added 23 points and George King scored 18 points in the win. Marcus Bingham scored 15 points and Alex Hamilton chipped in with 14 points in the loss.