Maccabi capitalized on an intense game and are now 40 minutes away from securing a F4 spot in the domestic league. Thomas (18P) finished the game with MVP honors, Cole added 15P & 6A
Coach Spahija’s starting five: Pargo, Kane, Roll, Cohen and Tyus. Cohen found Tyus for an easy dunk and then scored a three of his own to give Maccabi the early 5:0 lead. Brown and Zana scored for the visitors but Kane and Roll made back to back threes (11:6). Kane finished a fastbreak with a dunk forcing coach Zilberstein to call for a timeout (15:6). Kadir completed an 11:0 run to take the lead but Cohen and Cole gave the lead back to the locals but Zana tied the game from the free throw line (24:24). Thomas turned great defense into instant offense giving Maccabi the 29:26 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Zana scored for the visitors at the beginning of the second quarter but Cole reacted (31:28). Tyus connected with an amazing
no look pass by Pargo to make it 35:31. Cook scored four points to give Ness Ziona the 36:37 lead. Tyus tied the game from the free throw line, both teams exchanged baskets with the visitors capitalizing taking the 41:46 lead with under a minute and a half remaining in the first half. Cohen’s free throws made it 47:49 but Brown’s buzzer beater ended the first half with the visitors having the 47:52 lead.Kane’s
three pointer at the beginning of the third quarter sparked a 12:4 run giving the 59:56 lead to the yellows. Brown and Zana reacted with a 5:0 run to take the lead but Cole tied the game (61:61). Both teams exchanged baskets with neither side being able to capitalize. Thomas gave Maccabi the 67:65 lead but Zana tied the game from the free throw line. Zoosman and Cole made sure Maccabi will finish the third quarter strong with the 74:70 lead.Zana scored from the free throw line but Thomas reacted with six points as the hosts increased their lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter (80:71). Kane’s thunderous dunk gave Maccabi the
double digit lead with 07:25 remaining in the game (82:71). Wyatt’s three pointer completed a 5:0 run for Ness Ziona forcing coach Spahija to call for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 82:76. Thomas and Cole made it 85:76. Ness Ziona made another run at a comeback with Zana completing the three point play, Pargo scored but Cook reacted with a three pointer (91:88).Pargo scored a huge
three pointer and then connected with Tyus to put the yellows ahead 96:88 with two minutes remaining in the game. Cook made it 96:91 but Cole kept Ness Ziona at bay scoring both free throws giving Maccabi the 98:91 lead from which Ness Ziona couldn’t recover. Roll secured the 102:93 win with Maccabi being one win away from a domestic final four.
