Maccabi Tel Aviv blew away Hapoel Jerusalem at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Yad Eliyahu 96-76 as point guard Jeremy Pargo led the way with 34 points in a phenomenal performance to exact revenge from Hapoel’s 30 point victory in the Pais Arena a couple of months ago. The yellow and blue started out strong taking the game to Hapoel as Devin Smith and Pargo took Maccabi to a 15-6 lead only 4 minutes into the game. But Lior Eliyahu (16pts) and Bracey Wright (17pts) helped Jerusalem cut the lead in the first frame but three pointers by Marquez Haynes and Smith helped the home side to a 29-17 lead after 10 minutes. However, smart play by veteran guard and national team captain Yotam Halperin along with Tony Gaffney and Wright gave Jerusalem a shock one point lead at the half 47-46.

But that was as close as the Reds who were wearing black got to winning the game as Brian Randle rattled off 5 points in a row for Maccabi and they never looked back, dominating the balance of the game as center Alex Tyus finished off with 8 points and 8 boards, Haynes added 17 points points, including 5 3-pointers, but it was Jeremy Pargo who shined above all on this night.

Pargo’s 34 points and 8 assists in 35 minutes will go down in Maccabi Tel Aviv lore especially because of how personally he took the game and the importance of making sure that the Pais Arena disaster would be long forgotten. For the complete box score click on this link!