Coach Sfairopoulos’ starting five: Wilbekin, Zoosman, Kane. Cohen and Black. Rishon Le Zion took the early 0:8 lead forcing coach Giannis to call for a timeout. The oranges continued to control the tempo with Tarik and Scottie being the ones to score for the hosts (4:15). Scottie sparked Maccabi’s offense forcing coach Goodes to call for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 13:23. Roll scored three threes to trim Rishon’s lead down to 22:25. Monroe and Simpson scored but Scottie had the final say in the first keeping Maccabi close to the visitors (24:29).

Tyus started the second quarter with four point to put the crew in yellow blue within a striking distance (28:29). Tyus and Roll completed the comeback but Cameron Long tied the game from deep (33:33); Alex and Deni got the job done on both ends of the floor enroute of a 43:34 lead. Long tried to spark a comeback for the visitors time and again but the hosts reacted from deep with Avdija and Johnny (49:42). Simpson brought Rishon to within a striking distance but Johnny and Tarik got the job done on the offensive end again; Scottie was the last to score in the first half with a beautiful buzzer beating fade away mid-range jumper to put Maccabi ahead 59:52.

Black was the man for coach Giannis at the beginning of the third quarter keeping Maccabi ahead (63:57). Simpson fought to keep Rishon Le Zion close to Maccabi but Tarik and Kane kept them at bay (72:66). Hamilton and Ariel ended the third quarter with a 7:1 run to tie the game (73:73).

Rishon took the 76:78 lead in the fourth but I was short-lived as John-Di and Johnny reacted with back to back threes to take the 82:78 lead. Monroe made both of his free throws but great ball movement by the hosts resulted with Johnny making the corner three (85:80). John-Di completed the three-point play and Scottie added a three pointer to increase Maccabi’s lead (91:84). The squad of coach Sfairopoulos could not be denied with Johnny and Scottie as they put their team ahead in double digits securing the 97:87 home win.