Maccabi Tel Aviv eased by Kiryat Ata 102-77 as the yellow-and-blue scored early to record the victory. Jimmy Clark and Will Rayman paced Maccabi early on while Ilay Dolinski and Deandre Williams countered for Kiryat Ata, but a pair from deep via Iffe Lundberg gave the yellow-and-blue a 31-23 lead after ten minutes of play. Roman Sorkin began to find the basket as did Rob Edwards at the other end, but more points from Lundberg, Rayman and Zach Hankins gave Oded Katash’s team a 52-39 advantage at halftime.

Clark and Jaylen Hoard took the ball to the hoop in the third quarter, Wes Iwundu and Williams responded, but points from Marcio Santos and Lundberg bumped the Maccabi lead up to 76-56 after thirty minutes of action. John Dibartolomeo hit a pair from deep, Oren Sahar also dialled up from long distance while Rayman also scored to close out an MVP performance. Rayman and Lundberg each scored 17 points while Clark and Santos both scored 15 points in the win as Edwards scored 17 points and Williams put in 16 points in the loss.

Oded Katash looked back at the game, “This was a good game from us and I liked the energy and body language. When we came back from the Euroleague we found ways to win but we had issues. I spoke to the guys about how we need to bring back the basics and do the things that we know how to do well in order to win the games and that’s what we did. It was very important for us to do that especially as we head into the playoffs and if we want to win the championship this is why we need to do.”

Kiryat Ata Head Coach Eldad Bentov spoke about the loss, “We didn’t come in with the right mindset to beat a team like Maccabi and we are going through a change in the roster now.”

Will Rayman reflected on the win, “It’s important in these types of games to put away these teams early, we were only up by 13 points at halftime and we were a bit lackadaisical. But we had our second unit come in during the third quarter to increase the lead and create the separation needed.”

Yuval Levin talked about the loss and his own personal season to date, “It’s disappointing and we didn’t have the right energy to win the game, we weren’t physical enough and we will come in to win on Thursday. It’s been a long season and the chapter in college is now over and I’m focusing on Kiryat Ata.”

Also, Bnei Herzliya just got by Elitzur Netanya 108-107 as Evan Bruinsma hit last gasp 3-pointer to win a thriller at the HaYovel Arena. Bruinsma scored 39 points and finished the game with a 50 efficiency rating, while Shalev Lugashi and Zack Bryant each put in 18 points in the victory. Otis Frazier scored 24 points and Maurice Kemp added 21 points in the loss.