In a thriller, Hapoel Gilboa Galil slipped by Hapoel Galil Elyon 117-115 in double overtime in what will go down as one of the greatest Galilee Derbies. Down by 17-points, 47-30 at halftime, Gilboa was able to mount a historic comeback that saw Rami Hadar’s team wipe out a 10-point advantage in the final minute of regulation as Justin Gorham, Payton Willis and Josh Perkins with a 3-pointer at the buzzer sent the game into the extra session.

However, the tables turned in the first overtime when Gilboa was up 104-94 with two minutes remaining and Jalen Hudson hit a trio of triples to knot the score up at 104-104 which forced a second overtime period. Willis scored the final couple of baskets as time wound down and Deishuan Booker missed a last gasp chance to tie the game up at the buzzer for Barak Peleg’s squad as Gilboa snatched the Derby victory.

Willis scored 35 points, Gorham added 22 points and Josh Perkins chipped in with 20 points in the win. Booker paced Gilboa with 27 points and 10 assists, Hudson added 25 pints and Bryce Washington had 24 points and 16 rebounds in the loss.

“We stuck together and found a way to win a tough game,” Gorham said. “That just shows the type of players we have on our team. We might get hit a couple of times but we will get up and find a way to come out on top.”

Hapoel Tel Aviv demolished Hapoel Eilat 98-59 in a one-sided affair at the Drive In Arena in Tel Aviv. The Reds jumped out to a 53-27 lead at halftime as Xavier Munford, Chris Horton and Tomer Ginat did the damage for the hosts as they cruised in the second half to the 39-point victory. Munford led the way with 19 points, Horton added 13 points, Tomer Ginat chipped in with 12 points and 9 rebounds while Idan Zalmanson recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards in the win. Jared Terrell was Eilat’s high scorer with 10 points in the loss.

“We had 9 preseason games that we worked on many different things and we were also able to get to know each really well,” game MVP Xavier Munford said. “We really get along well off of the court and that helps or game on the court. We ran and made stops while grabbing rebounds and that is how we play the game as we work all week long and we can see the results.”

Israeli league newcomer Kiryat Ata stunned last season’s finalist Bnei Herzliya 79-70 to open the campaign with an important win. Visiting Herzliya took a 38-30 lead into the second half but the hosts under head coach Sharon Avrahami were able to cut the advantage down to just one point by the end of the third quarter while a big final frame by Amin Stephens, Yotam Hanochi, Karam Mashour and Garrett helped sew up the victory.

Garrett paced Kiryat Ata with 24 points, Stephens added 17 points and Karam Mashour scored 13 points in the win. Maurice Kemp led Herzliya with 17 points, Chris Babb added 14 points and Sandy Cohen chipped in with 11 points in the loss.

Diante Garrett reflected on the win, “I thought it was a good game and great test for us. It was a great first game for us and we came out with the victory. We want to use this as motivation going forward as we keep getting better every game and every day and see what happens towards the end of the season. We started off well and it was a great win for us.”

Hapoel Haifa got by Hapoel Beer Sheva 96-92 thanks to Devonte Upson’s big fourth quarter to take the road win in the southern capital. After a close first half, David Efiyani and Ben Moore helped Lior Lubin’s squad take the lead by the end of the third quarter. But down 83-73 in the final frame, Upson, Anthony Hickey, Kadeem Allen and Amit Simhon spurred a tremendous comeback for Sharon Drucker’s team over the last 7 minutes of the game to take the win.

Simhon led all scorers with 25 points, Upson added 23 points, Allen chipped in with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists while Hickey scored 15 points and dished out 9 assists in the win. Egor Koulechov was Beer Sheva’s high soccer with 18 points, Efiyani added 16 points while Ben Moore and Joaquin Szuchman each scored 15 points in the loss.

Devonte Upson spoke about the keys to win, “We didn’t play our best basketball today for sure but It was big for our team to continue to fight. Even with being down 10 late in the 4th quarter, we didn’t give up and prevailed in the end. That’s the biggest thing from the match.”