Maccabi Tel Aviv took care of Maccabi Ramat Gan 94-87 as Marial Shayok starred in the Israeli league win. Rokas Jokubatis scored early for Oded Katash’s team but Roberto Gallinat had the hot had for the visitors to give them an early 17-14 lead after the opening quarter, however, Jasiel Rivero and Shayok along with Jokubatis to go up 39-30 at halftime. Shayok began the second half with a pair of 3-pointers while Jaylen Hoard and Jokubatis continued to score to break open the game while Omer Mayer scored at will in the final frame to close out the win.

Shayok scored 17 points as Rokas Jokubatis and Jake Cohen each scored 13 points in the win. Stevens scored 22 points, Roi Huber added 20 and Gallinat chipped in with 19 points in the loss.

“I’m content with the win and we were able to split up the minutes the way we wanted to,” Katash said. “We were able to control the pace except in the last few minutes, bit they derive credit for that at the end of the game as they are a good team.”

“This was a good game for us, but we could have down some things a bit better,” Maccabi Ramat Gan Head Coach Shmulik Brenner said. “We allowed them to run a bit too much. But we played a better team and we will learn from this and improve. We led in the first half and we weren’t hitting our shots but we have to be able to close out the game.”

Omer Mayer looked back at the win, “There are times when things are going better and some times that are tough so we have to take each game one at a time. We watch the video and work together as a team and learn from our mistakes and focus on ourselves.”

Roi Huber also spoke about the game, “We are a good shooting teams and we didn’t hit our shots in the first quarter but did so in the second quarter as we were able to cut down the lead. It’s disappointing and we just didn’t play well enough to take the win.”

Rokas Jokubaitis opened the game with a layup for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Kendale McCullum did the same at the other end while Roberto Gallinat drilled home a comer 3-ball and added a layup for Maccabi Ramat Gan, but Jokubatis scored a pair of buckets to keep pace as the visitors led 9-8 midway through the first quarter. Marial Shayok scored his first points for the yellow-and-blue, Gallinat answered from the inside and outside, Roi Huber dialled up long distance while Jasiel Rivero scored a pair in the paint as Shmulik Brenner’s squad stayed in front 17-14 after ten minutes of play.

Gallinat started off the second quarter with a 3-point play, Rafi Menco scored a runner off the glass, Amin Stevens hit a short jumper, Rivero scored inside, David DeJulius hit a jumper, Will Rayman scored, Huber went from deep but more points from DeJulius kept Oded Katash’s team close but down 25-24 with five minutes left in the first half. McCullum scored, Jake Cohen cleaned up a miss, Jaylen Hoard scored, Shayok scored a 3-point play and added a comer 3-ball, Stevens hit a turnaround and Jokubatis nailed a triple to give Maccabi a 39-30 advantage at halftime.

Shayok nailed a pair of 3-pointers to get the third quarter underway, Hoard with a deuce, John Dibartolomeo went from deep and Jokubaitis scored a pair of baskets to break the game open and take a 54-35 lead midway through the period. Stevens tried to keep Ramat Gan in the game, Cohen went from downtown, Gallinat did the same, Omer Mayer and Huber traded baskets, Crawford and Mayer each went from beyond the arc as did Hoard as the yellow-and-blue went in front 69-53 after thirty minutes of action.

Hoard and Huber scored to start the fourth quarter, Mayer hit a jumper, Yahel Melamed answered, Rivero put in a 3-point play, Huber and Cohen traded triples, Rivero dunked, Stevens responded but Maccabi continued to lead 83-67 with 5:04 remaining in regulation time. Stevens again with points, Cohen scored, Shayok went from deep as did Crawford, Mayer dialled up long distance, Ariel and Huber scored, Srur scored a 3-point play, Omer Poleg went from downtown to cut the lead down to 5-points with seconds remaining but free throws from DeJulius iced the game.

Bnei Herzliya downed Hapoel Holon 89-80 as Xavier Sneed once again paced Yehu Orland’s squad which shot over 56% from beyond the 3-point arc to help chalk up another win and move to 6-2 on the season. Sneed scored 22 points, Ethan Burg chipped in with 17 points and John Meeks added 15 points in the win while Jalen Adams scored 21 points for the purples in the defeat.

“The guys work so hard during the international break, they didn’t take a vacation and they did the best that they could and we are playing the best that we can,” Bnei Herzliya Head Coach Yehu Orland said.

“We are missing players and we are looking to sign some new one,” Holon bench boss Guy Goodes explained. “I hope that we will find someone soon, but even when we do, it will take time to get them into the swing of things. Everyone needs to do more and give more, but there are no excuses, we have another game coming up this week in the Basketball Champions League against a very good team.”

Hapoel Afula disposed of Nes Ziona 96-86 as J’Covan Brown made his Israeli league return and starred in the victory up in Gan Ner. Along with Brown’s 15 points, Rusty Mutts and JP Tokoto each scored 17 points while Jake Van Tubbergen scored 18 points in the loss.