Hapoel Tel Aviv slipped by Hapoel Beersheba 112-108 in overtime to notch the tight win at Yad Eliyahu and improve its Israeli league record to 14-1 and remain in first place.
The Southern Reds played the hosts tight from the get-go as CJ Elleby, Cody Demps, and Brandon Angel all contributed to a 51-49 halftime lead for the visitors. Antonio Blakeney, Johnathan Motley, along with Tomer Ginat and Bar Timor, picked up the pace in the second half to open up a late double-digit lead.
However, Rami Hadar’s squad ripped off a 15-0 run as Damian Dunn and Yoav Vitlem led the charge while Angel scored the tying basket to send the game into the extra session. In overtime, Beersheba held its own, but Ginat grabbed an offensive board and scored to put Dimitrios Itoudis’s side in front for good as it took the victory.
Blakeney scored 27 points for Tel Aviv, Motley added 23 points, and Ginat put in 19 points in the win. Elleby and Vitlem each scored 22 points for Beersheba, and Demps and Dunn each added 20 points in the loss.
Tel Aviv coachItoudis shared his thoughts on the tough win.
“Congratulations to the team. It seems we have some kind of issue where we want to give up a lead and make the game interesting. We have to take these wins. The other team was very good, and we weren’t there defensively, but we’re the same team that came back in the second half and showed up well.”
Beersheba bench boss Hadar spoke about his team’s showing.
“I think we played very well, especially on the offensive side. Our ability to come back from a big deficit and force overtime makes me very happy. Our breaking point is high. On the other hand, we lost the game after we were right there; we had the game in our hands, but that’s how things go, and we move on.”
Israeli basketball games throughout the day
In other action, Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Ramat Gan 98-91 by the skin of its teeth and needed to mount a pair of double-digit comebacks to take the win on the road at the Zisman Arena.
Shmulik Brenner’s Ramat Gan squad grabbed a 50-43 advantage at halftime on the strength of a superb first half by Ronaldo Segu and Adam Ariel, but Oded Katash’s Tel Aviv charges – led by Tamir Blatt, TJ Leaf, and a charged-up Oshae Brissett – turned the tables in the second half to snatch the win.
Blatt scored 23 points, Leaf put in 20 points, and Brissett scored 17 points in the victory for the yellow-and-blue, while Ariel scored 23 points and Segu added 22 points for Ramat Fan in the loss.
Next up for Maccabi Tel Aviv is a visit to Valencia in Euroleague action on Thursday.
Katash was reflective after the game.
“In the first half, we weren’t there; we didn’t disrupt them. We were all over the place offensively, but I liked our response in the second half. We protected the ball better, defended better, and were more aggressive. We’re coming off a week that wasn’t easy in terms of scheduling, but we got through this game. There are no easy games in the league. We need to remember this game and take things from it.”
Blatt, the game’s MVP, also shared his thoughts.
“I’m happy that I’m playing well and helping the team win. Ramat Gan is a very well-coached team that plays in a specific system, and that made things difficult for us. In the second half, we got more stops, and that’s what brought the win.”
Meanwhile, Hapoel Jerusalem got by Hapoel Galil Elyon 81-76 in a game that was neck-and-neck for the entire 40 minutes at Kfar Blum.
Yonatan Alon’s Jerusalem team jumped out to a quick 15-3 lead thanks to Jared Harper’s sharpshooting, but Raz Adam helped Idan Avshalom’s squad to a 43-42 advantage at halftime.
However, Jerusalem with Khadeen Carrington, Justin Smith, and Yovel Zoosman was able to outscore Cyril Langevine, DJ Kennedy, and Toney Douglas to take the win.
Harper scored 17 points while Smith and Carrington each scored 12 points in the win, as Langevine led Galil Elyon with 16 points, Adam added 15 points, and Kennedy put in 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the loss.
Jerusalem coach Alon commented after the contest.
“We’ll prepare for our upcoming games in full seriousness, the same way we prepare for every game, and we hope to get the job done, just like we have so far in the big games.”
Avshalom also shared his thoughts.
“Kennedy’s layup came up short, while battling alone isn’t enough, we need to collect wins.”
Also, Hapoel Holon crushed Kiryat Ata 94-63 as Adama Sonogo starred in his debut with the Purples, a game that saw Yoav Shamir’s squad take an early lead and never look back to record the win.
Sonogo scored 20 points, Netanel Artzi added 18 points, and Derrick Walton put in 17 points in the win, while Jemaya Neal scored 14 points and Ilay Dolinski put in 12 points in the loss.
Finally, Elitzur Netanya defeated Ness Ziona 95-91 as Amit Gershon led the way, as six players scored in double digits to help the diamond city squad continue its fine play under new head coach Eli Raby.
Gershon scored 20 points, Or Cornelius scored 14 points, and Diante Baldwin added 13 points in his Netanya debut, while Bryce Brown scored 24 points and Desi Rodriguez put in 15 points for Ness Ziona in the defeat.