Maccabi Tel Aviv downed Kiryat Ata 108-86 as seven scored in doubt dights to take the win and punch the yellow-and-blue’s ticket to the State Cup semifinals. Noah Locke, Ilay Dolinski and Jemaya Neal helped Kiryat Ata to an early lead, but Jaylen Hoard, Roman Sorkin and Tamir Blatt who drained a 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter gave Maccabi Tel Aviv a 52-51 advantage at halftime.

Malik Hall and Bodie Hume continued to find the bottom of the basket for the hosts, while Iffe Lundberg and Will Rayman responded as did Marcio Santos, Oshae Brissett and Hoard to close out the win. Hoard scored 21 points while Sorkin and Santos each put in 14 points in the win. Hall scored 21 points and Locke put in 11 points in the loss.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach Oded Katash talked about the win, “I have to give credit to Kiryat Ata who were missing some players. We weren’t focussed enough at the start and it was a tough game for us to keep playing in the Cup and when the game are knockouts there is a totally different stress. The win was important as we start a Euroleague double week.”

The MVP of the game, Jaylen Hoard spoke about his performance, “I felt like I played pretty well, my teammates and coaching staff have said that I should be more assertive. I’ve been frustrated in my performances of late but I have stayed confident and I am pushing forward. Every game builds momentum for us and hopefully that will be the case when we play Partizan.”

Hapoel HaEmek eased past Hapoel Holon 96-78 as five players scored in double figures to notch the win and advance to the Israel State Cup semifinals. Adama Sanogo was hot early as the Hapoel Holon big man scored at will while Netanel Artzi added points as well, but Kyler Edwards, Elijah Childs along with Roie Netzia and Niv Misgav all found points to give Hapoel HaEmek a 39-34 lead at halftime.

Cameron Henry, Misgav and Childs kept filing the basket as the HaEmek lead hit double-digits and cruised to the 18-point victory. Misgav scored 22 points, Childs scored 19 points and Edwards added 17 points in the win while Sanogo scored 18 points and Xavier Munford scored 11 points in the loss.

Hapoel HaEmek Head Coach Sharon Avrahami reflected on the game, “I told the guys that we had to do things that we do well as this is a knockout game and not to try and do anything different. Niv has the keys to this team and he’s a great and tough player. He has no ego and moves the ball with ease. The fans all came out for this and it was a huge game for us as we now move into the semifinals.”

Hapoel Holon Head Coach Yoav Shamir talked about the loss, “Our intensity went down somewhat at times and we saw that in Europe as well. We have fans that will follow us everywhere and we are a big club and we must do better as well with the responsibility on us.”

The game MVP Niv Misgav spoke about the win, “This game for the franchise was very important as we advanced to the final four of State Cup. This was something we stressed to all of the players and this was important for me personally. We have a number of very talented offensive players and our defense has really come together as we give it all in every game.”