Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 98-92 in overtime in a heated affair at the PAIS Arena in Jerusalem. The Reds came into the contest shorthanded without J’Covan Brown, Lior Eliyahu and Chris Johnson after just being eliminated from European competition by Tenerife while the yellow-and-blue has also just been bounced from continental play last week. Tipping off for the third time this season, the big story going into the game was the big man matchup between Maccabi’s Tarik Black and Jerusalem’s Amare Stoudemire. However, it was a one-sided affair as STAT dominated the paint with 22 points, James Feldeine hit 23 points from the outside and Tashawn Thomas recorded 18 points to help coach Oded Katash’s squad to the victory. Scottie Wilbekin led coach Ioannis Sfairpoulos’s team with 22 points, John DiBartolomeo added 21 points and Johnny O’Bryant scored 15 points in the loss.

Maccabi Ashdod surprised Hapoel Beer Sheva 97-88 in the southern capital. Paul Stoll scored 22 points, dished out 10 assists and grabbed 7 rebounds while Lis Shoshi added 21 points and Mark Tollefsen chipped in with 19 points in the win. Taylor Braun led Beer Sheva with 23 points, Kerron Johnson scored 22 points and Travis Warech dropped 21 points going 7/21 from beyond the arc. Brad Greenberg’s Ashdod held a 64-44 lead at the half thanks to four players already featuring in double digits and Paul Stoll flirting with an early triple-double. A team effort in the third quarter helped Rami Hadar’s squad back into the game, while a trio of triples by Travis Warech further cut the Ashdod lead in the final frame. But baskets by Spencer Weiss and Stoll secured the victory.

Hapoel Eilat sunk Hapoel Holon 87-72 in the Red Sea city. After a close first quarter, Eilat ran off a 28-10 second frame that sent Sharon Drucker’s squad on its way to the win. JP Tokoto and Elijah Bryant each recorded a double-double with 16 points each, while big man Idan Zalmanson dropped 14 points in the win. Shawn Jones was Dan Shamir’s leading scorer with 20 points and Darion Atkins added 19 points in the loss.

Hapoel Tel Aviv used a strong first quarter to blowout Hapoel Gilboa/Galil 92-70 in the Galilee. The Tel Aviv Reds opened the game up with a 31-18 lead after ten minutes and never looked back as Danny Franco’s team won their second straight game. Garlon Green scored 18 points and Jerel McNeal added 16 points in the victory while Greg Whittington scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the host’s in the loss.

Bnei Herzliya defeated Maccabi Rishon Le’Zion 74-66. Arik Shivek’s Herzliya who are battling against relegation, used the second quarter to create separation between the two sides that led to the win. Jerome Dyson scored 24 points while Jeff Adrien chipped in with a double double (15 points, 12 rebounds) as slumping Rishon, who added big man Darryl Monroe for his second stint with the team saw him score 10 points in his Israeli season debut.

Ness Ziona defeated Hapoel Holon 97-84 as Daequan Cook scored 30 points in the win. Visiting Ness Ziona held a 46-43 lead at halftime as Cook with 21 points and Corey Walden with 18 points led the way for their respective squads. Nadav Zilberstein’s side continued their upbeat play over the final twenty minutes thanks to Gary Browne Ramirez and his 19 points to wrap up the 13-point victory. Walden ended his evening with 23 points while Darion Atkins added 19 points in the defeat as Holon has now lost two games in a row.