Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv enjoyed a 100-94 victory at home over Rishon Lezion in round 18 of the Israeli Winner Sal League. Mekel was MVP with 17 points and 12 assists.
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By Amy Samin
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv enjoyed a 100-94 victory at home over Rishon Lezion in round 18 of the Israeli Winner Sal League. Sylven Landesberg led six players who scored in double figures with 19 points. Gal Mekel was MVP with 17 points and 12 assists, Ike Ofoegbu dominated the paint with 17 points and 8 rebounds, Elijah Millsap had an impressive first appearance with 12 points in 15 minutes, Devin Smith also contributed 12 points, and Guy Pnini added 11 points.
Maccabi’s starters were Devin Smith, Itay Segev, Sylven Landesberg, Gal Mekel, and Trevor Mbakwe. The game got off to a close start, and after three minutes Maccabi had a one point lead, 9-8. Landesberg, Mbakwe, and Ike Ofoegbu extended Maccabi’s lead to 21-15, but Rishon Lezion came back to tie the score. Guy Pnini scored from downtown to put the yellows back on top, but Lyons scored for the visitors to put them within one, 26-25 at the end of the first quarter.
Newcomer Elijah Millsap scored his first points for Maccabi early in the second quarter, keeping the yellows ahead 32-29 after three minutes. Rishon woke up and got back in the game, reclaiming the lead halfway through the period. A triple by Millsap and Smith with a drive to the basket closed the gap to one. The visitors reopened their lead to six, thanks mostly to Monroe, but Mekel and Pnini made sure to bring Maccabi back; at the half, the visitors led by only one, 45-44.
Mekel and Mbakwe put the lead back in Maccabi’s hands at the start of the second half. Landesberg and Segev kept Maccabi’s run going, making it 60-51 at the halfway mark. The yellows kept the momentum, playing well at both ends of the court, taking a 74-58 lead as Millsap reached double figures. Points by Pnini ended the quarter with Maccabi up 78-63.
The visitors opened the fourth quarter with five straight points, making it a ten point game. Segev stopped Rishon’s run, putting Maccabi up 82-68. Dawson came to life for the guests and cut the deficit to five halfway through the period. Ofoegbu and Pnini scored to reopen Maccabi’s lead to 91-81. Rishon made one last effort and again closed to five, but it was too late. Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv defeated Rishon Lezion 100-94.
