Hapoel Jerusalem 72-82 Maccabi Haifa

Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Haifa played a pretty even first half with the Greens taking a slim advantage into the second frame. Tony Gaffney led all scorers with 8 points while Will Graves hit two 3-pointers to keep his team in the lead.

The Haifa lead grew to 50-43 after 20 minutes of play as Chanan Colman and Reginald Buckner each finished the half with 10 points apiece. Gaffney continued his strong play and added an additional 7 points to finish the second quarter with a game high 15 points as the team’s headed into the lockerrooms.

Dov Halickman Photography

Hapoel Jerusalem came out of the break on fire going on a 7-0 run to tie up the game at 50, three minutes into the 3rd quarter. The Reds continued their strong play throughout the quarter outscoring Haifa 16-10 to pull within one point 60-59. Matt Janning scored 7-points in the frame while EJ Rowland chipped in with 6-points pacing the hosts.

The fourth quarter however was a totally different story as Haifa ripped Jerusalem to shreds with their suffocating defense and free wheeling offense 22-13 to pick up the 10-point victory. Colman scored another 7pts in the final frame for a game total of 19 points to help his side to the wins.

Ironi Nes Ziona 63-86 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Gal Mekel made a triumphant return to the Yellow-and-Blue as the guard wearing number 99 flirted with a triple-double scoring 16 points, dishing out 10 assists and grabbing 7 rebounds in the 23-point victory. Sylvan Landesberg led all scorers with 21 points while Guy panini drained 5/7 three-pointers good for 15 points. Fuquan Edwin scored 17 points in the loss with Diamon Simpson dropping 12 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort. Guard Elijah Millsap signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv after having played most recently with the Utah Jazz of the NBA.

Hapoel Eilat 74-73 Kiryat Gat

Eilat Coach Oded Katash played with a short rotation of only seven players but came away with the slim 1-point win. Kiryat Gat led at the half by 18 points 48-30 but were outscored in the final 20 minutes in the loss. Alade Aminu picked up a double-double scoring 20 points and pulling down 11 rebounds while Khalif Wyatt dropped 21 points of his own. Nimrod Tishman scored 19 points in the loss for the visitors.

Hapoel Tel Aviv 89-73 Maccabi Ashdod

The Reds featured 6 players in double figures with Raviv Limonad leading the way with 17 points. John Williamson added 16 points and Tre Simmins chipped in with 15 points. Ashdod had only been down by 2 points at the end of the third quester with the score standing at 64-62, but Charles Thomas with 19 points and friends couldn’t find a way to keep to keep up in the final frame.

Ironi Nahariya 94-87 Bnei Herzliya

The Northern club picked up the W me moved into 3rd place as Richard Howell scored 27 points and Michale Umeh added 21 points in the victory.

Maccabi Rishon Le’Zion 84-73 Hapoel Holon

The Orange got back on the winning track in league play after last week’s defeat at Jerusalem by defeating an overmatched Holon 84-73. Darryl Monroe dropped 23 points while Mark Lyons chipped in with 19 points. Will Clyburn had 21 points in the losing effort.