Hapoel Tel Aviv cruised to 79-59 win over Hapoel Holon in a game that was held at the Jerusalem Arena due to a infraction levied on the Reds. Stefanos Dedas’s team jumped put to an early lead as John Holland, Xavier Munford and Tomer Ginat paced the offense but Justin Smith kept Amit Sherf’s team close 40-37 at halftime. However, Braian Angola, Idan Zalmanson and Ginat scored at will over the course of the second half while the hosts defense went into high gear to take the victory.

Ginat scored 13 points, Holland added 12 points and Zalmanson scored 11 points in the win. Juston Smith scored 19 points and Niv MIsgav chipped in with 12 points in the loss.

“Tactically we were very ready to execute the game plan,” Hapoel Tel Aviv Head Coach Stefanos Dedas said. “Holon needed another guard but they have been able to get some big wins this season, it’s difficult to score playing with many forwards. We tried to break them which we did in the third, McCall, who is not a shooter was able to keep the game close with a 3-pointer. We used Tomer Ginat and Xavier Munford while Isaiah Miles scored a crucial basket to finish the game. This was my third win in a row, ’ve been learning my team and tried to find the right combinations on the court.”

“The first half we had a tough time, but in the we kept it close,” Hapoel Holon Head Coach Amit Sherf said. “In the second half we started to give up points. We have to change some things to get back to normal. We have to get our guys back to playing as to how they were earlier in the season. We will get back CJ Harris and Drew Crawford soon and then we will have some proper balance on the team as well.”

Josh Holland also spoke about the game that was, “This is only the third game with Coach Dedas and we are learning the system. So there will be ups and downs. Plus we are adding people and guys are coming back. We’ve been doing this all year and it’s difficult. Your role shifts as to whatever everyone does. If you have enough guys with experience we can do it, we are getting more and more comfortable as we learn his system. We have to keep building everyday.”

Xavier Munford, John Holland, Braian Angola and Kyle Alexander all scored for Hapoel Tel Aviv to get the game underway, Niv Misgav and Justin Smith responded for Hapoel Holon while Idan Zalmanson and Dusty Hannahs scored in the paint to give the Reds a 18-12 lead after ten minutes of play. Tahjere McCall, Kevin Hervey and Shawn Dawson started to cut into the lead for the purples, Bar Timor answered with a pair of baskets, Tomer Ginat scored and Holland went from deep, Yotam Hanochi and Misgav dialled up from long distance as did Ginat to keep the hosts in front 40-37 at halftime.

Angola and Holland started off the third quarter with triples, Ginat added a pair of baskets, Shachar Amir scored for Holon but Alexander handed Stefanos Dedas’s squad a 58-45 lead after thirty minutes of action. McCall began the fourth quarter from deep, Zalmanson matched him, Ginat dropped a 3-point play, Isaiah Miles went for a pair from downtown as Angola and Zalmanson continued to find points to take the win.

Nes Ziona clipped Hapoel Eilat 85-79 to give new head coach Meir Tapir a win in his debut. The Red Sea squad started the game off strong and grabbed a 49-36 lead at halftime, but the hosts came back with a 24-9 third quarter and took the win. Isaiah Whitehead scored 22 points, Tzuf Ben Moshe added 17 points and Jerome Meyinsse chipped in with 13 points in the win. JaJuan Johnson scored 27 points, Deishuan Booked added 19 points and Elijah Stewart scored 18 points in the loss.

Hapoel Galil Elyon slipped by Hapoel Afula 85-82 thanks to a late 3-pointer by Roi Huber and free throws by James Feldeine to sew up the win. Juvonte Reddic scored 23 points, while Feldeine and Shaq Buchanan each scored 14 points a piece in the victory. Cassius Stanley scored 24 points, Marcellus Earlington scored 17 points and Noam Avivi scored 15 points in the loss.