By Amy Samin

In week 14 of the Israeli Winner Sal League, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv claimed a 72-49 road win over Maccabi Rishon Lezion. Shawn James was outstanding with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks. Top scorer for Maccabi was team captain Lior Eliyahu, who finished with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Yogev Ohayon added 10 points. Rishon Lezion hit a record low for fewest points scored in a game this season.

Yogev Ohayon, Ricky Hickman, Darko Planinic, Devin Smith and Lior Eliyahu started the game for Maccabi. Things got off to a slow and balanced start, and midway through the period the score was 6-6. Maccabi took a five point advantage thanks to Hickman and Shawn James, but the hosts scrambled back, taking a 15-14 lead. Smith, who had 9 points in the period, made it 19-15 Maccabi as the quarter ended.

Things stayed slow at the start of the second quarter, with the home team coming within two, 21-19, after a few minutes of play. James rejected every shot Rishon attempted in the paint, and added a dunk at the other end that made it 25-19 by the middle of the period. Eliyahu added several buckets, and the half ended with Maccabi leading 34-29.

The pace continued to crawl as the second half got underway, with the first points of the third period lighting up the scoreboard after four minutes as James and Ohayon put Maccabi up 38-29. Rishon finally scored a minute later, but Ohayon continued to play well, giving Maccabi a double digit lead. Eliyahu added one of his classic floaters, and Sylven Landesberg delivered from downtown to make it 48-35 as the period ended.

Maccabi opened the final quarter at warp speed, going on a 10-0 run in the first two and a half minutes. Eliyahu continued to rack up points, and James accumulated more rebounds and blocks; after five minutes the score was 60-39. In the end, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv walked away with a decisive 72-49 victory over Rishon Lezion.

BOXSCORE

Maccabi: Eliyahu 18 points, 5 rebounds; James 12 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks; Ohayon 10 points; Smith 9 points; Hickman and Landesberg 7 points each; Logan 6 points; Caner-Medley 2 points; Planinic 1 point.