Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Ramat Gan 93-80 as the Reds pulled away in the third quarter to notch the win. Next up is a date against Paris in the EuroCup as the Red will try and take the victory against one of the best teams in the competition.

Both teams matched each other almost shot for shot throughout the opening half with Alex Hamilton and JP Tokoto pacing the hosts while Tomer Ginat, Idan Zalmanson and Bar Timor scored for Danny Franco’s squad to head into halftime all knotted up at 41-41. However, Will Cummings and Kyle Alexander got busy for Hapoel over the course of the second half to take the victory.

Ginat led the way with 22 points, Zalmanson scored 20 points and Bar Timor scored 18 points in the win. Hamilton scored 22 points, Tokoto chipped in with 14 points and Jordan Cohen scored 12 points in the loss.

The game MVP Tomer Ginat said, “It’s just natural that when there are injuries others have to step up which is something we see in sports across the board. The three of us, Zally and Bar play well together and we know exactly what the other is going to do. I’m happy that we had a big part in the win.”

Hapoel Jerusalem overwhelmed Hapoel Eilat 95-57 down south by the Red Sea. The Reds ripped off a 10-0 run and ended the first quarter in control 26-8. However, the second quarter saw Eilat mount a comeback as Ido Harel, who scored his career high in points spurred his team to cut the lead to under 10 points. But Illias Kantzouris’s squad outscored the hosts 48-23 as Chris Johnson, Gaby Chachashvili and Brynton Lamar all stepped up to helped take the win.

Randolph scored 19 points while Chachasvili and Johnson each scored 13 points a piece in tor win. Harel scored 14 points and Sacar Anim added 13 points in the defeat.

“Good mentality and we played our game from the defense,” Jerusalem coach Illias Kanzouris said after winning his debut on the Jerusalem bench. “It’s one win and we move on. I believe that this team has principles and values and have to work on them and improve them. As for becoming the new head coach, everyone is different and has their own style but the team is in good shape.”

Levi Randolph also spoke about the victory, “We are just trying to stay true to our principles and apply them to the game. I’m starting to feel more comfortable in our system as last year was a learning year.”

Hapoel Holon dropped Hapoel Galil Elyon 84-72 in a contest that was never in doubt ahead of their critical Basketball Champions League win or go home decisive Game 3 Play In matchup against Oostende that will take place in Riga where the purples have been playing this European home games due to the ongoing war against Hamas. Should Amit Sherf’s team advance they will punch their ticket to the Round of 16 Group Stage of the competition.

Justin Smith scored 16 points, Hans Vanwijn added 14 points and Shawn Dawson scored 13 points in the win. Lior Carreira scored 20 points and Omar Silverio added 15 points in the loss.

Hapoel Haifa clipped Hapoel Beer Sheva 99-97 as Eric Griffin came back to haunt his old team and help the Carmel Reds to the win. Griffin scored 28 points, Jon Davis added 18 points while Gur Lavi and Dakari Tucker each scored 16 points in the win. Egor Koulechov scored 24 points to pace the hosts as Grant Sherfield scored 18 points in the defeat.

Nes Ziona came out flying against Kiryat Ata as they downed the team from the Krayot 78-64. Elad Hasin’s team raced out to a 24-9 lead after the first quarter and never looked back as Rawle Alkins and Zuf Ben Moshe led the way with 19 and 14 points respectively while Isaiah Whitehead dropped 11 points and George King scored 10 points in his debut. Ben Saraf and Tomer Porath each scored 12 points in a losing effort.