Maccabi Tel Aviv scored early and often as the took a 97-73 win over Nes Ziona. The yellow-and blue continued their fine play from their EuroLeague victory over Panathinaikos as Josh Nebo proved to be unstoppable for Oded Katash’s squad went 17/34 from beyond the arc to notch the win.

Nebo scored 22 points, James Webb added 18 points and Lorenzo Brown chipped in with 13 points in the win. George King scored 18 points and Rawle Alkins added 13 points in the

“Other than the start of the game when we began with a lack of energy we were able to start playing and we won due to the way we defended in the game,” Katash said. “The game against Kiryat Ata was just something totally different on the mental side that we put to the sire against Panathinaikos.”

“I’m proud of the guys as sometimes things go your way and other times not. The first five minutes we were there but then Maccabi started to get their guys off the bench. I’m always proud of my guys if we win or if we lose.”

The game MVP Josh Nebo spoke about the win, “I was just playing hard and do what I could do and things just worked out. Every year as a player the goal is to improve and I worked hard over the summer to so that. Now I’m trying to do that each game.”

James Webb knocked down a trio of triples while Josh Nebo dunked as Lorenzo Brown also scored to take a 30-20 lead over Nes Ziona who saw Itay Segev pace the hosts over the opening period.

George King started to cut into the yellow-and-blue lead in the second quarter with dunks, layups and 3-pointers, Nebo had the hot hand for Oded Katash’s squad as Maccabi took a 52-42 advantage into halftime.

Brown dropped a pair from deep to begin the third quarter, Isaiah Whitehead tried to keep Elad Hasin’s team in the game but Nebo and Bonnie Colson scored at ease to give Maccabi a 74-55 lead after thirty minutes of action.

Tamir Blatt led off the fourth quarter with two triples while John Dibaetolomeo did the same as Maccabi rolled to the win.

Up North, Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Kiryat Ata 97-89 as six players scored in double digits to take the road win up north in the Krayot. The hosts got off to a terrific start as James Batemon looked to set the tone early. However, Bar Timor, Kyle Alexander and Xavier Munford all scored to move ahead and take the win.

Timor scored 22 points, Alexander added 17 points and 13 rebounds while Munford chipped in with 16 points in the win. Batemon and Tomer Porat scored 17 points and Amin Stevens added 16 points in the loss.

“We didn’t have as much depth as usual but we came back after a tough first quarter,” Hapoel coach Danny Franco said. “It was important for us to make a step up defensively and to win the game after Kiryat Ata had won at the Drive In.”

“We weren’t good enough defensively,” Kiryat Ata coach Sharon Avrahami. “We gave them the chance to score some easy baskets and they are very talented as well. But we also have to look at the fact that they have very deep roster and we seemed a bit tired coming into the game.”

The game MVP Bar Timor spoke about the game that was as well as his connection with Kyle Alexander, “I felt good after a period of time that I was a bit ill. I really like playing with Kyle Alexander who gives us a ton both on and off the court. We were very aggressive as well on the ball in this game.”

James Batemon went wild from deep with a trio of triples to get Kiryat Ata off and running as Xavier Munford tried to keep Hapoel Tel Aviv close but the hosts grabbed a 25-20 lead after ten minutes of play.

Bar Timor began to fill the basket for the reds to begin the second quarter, Ben Saraf and Raz Adam answered for Sharon Avrahami’s club but Kyle Alexander and Will Cummings helped give Danny Franco’s team a 48-44 lead at halftime.

Dez Wells got Hapoel going to start off the third quarter, Amin Stevens countered but at Timor scored at ease to bump up the lead to 77-60 after thirty minutes of action.

Alexander and Munford scored, Tomer Porat responded but Tomer Ginat who finished the game with a double-double scored to polish off he victory.