Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, led by Jeremy Pargo with a dazzling performance (34 points and 8 assists) gave Hapoel Jerusalem a 96-76 smackdown at Menora Mivtachim Arena in the game of the season. Haynes added 17 points, Smith contributed 14 points, and Randle scored 11 points. (Photo by Noam Galai).
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By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, led by Jeremy Pargo with a dazzling performance (34 points and 8 assists) gave Hapoel Jerusalem a 96-76 smackdown at Menora Mivtachim Arena in the game of the season. MarQuez Haynes added 17 points, Devin Smith contributed 14 points, and Brian Randle scored 11 points.
Maccabi’s starters were Devin Smith, Yogev Ohayon, Jeremy Pargo, Brian Randle, and Alex Tyus. Maccabi came out strong and ran to 7-2 in the early minutes, thanks to points by Pargo, an oop from Smith to Tyus, and a trey by Smith in the left corner. Hapoel started to get into the game, but points by Randle, Smith, and Pargo (including a slam on an alley oop from Randle) made it 20-10 Maccabi. Jerusalem closed to six but a pair of three pointers by MarQuez Haynes and Smith closed out the period with Maccabi leading 29-17.
The visitors played well as the second quarter got underway, outscoring Maccabi 12-5 and making it 34-29 after three and a half minutes. Although Maccabi started collecting early fouls, Haynes downed a pair of treys to put the hosts up 40-31 halfway through the period. Jerusalem chipped away at Maccabi’s lead until they had taken a one point lead, 47-46 going into halftime.
Randle and Pargo put the lead back in Maccabi’s hands as the second half began, and Tyus added a slam to make it 58-53 at the halfway mark in the period. Randle dominated at both ends of the court, while Smith added a reverse layup and one, 61-55. A huge buzzer-beating three Haynes ended the quarter with Maccabi up 71-60.
Pargo and Haynes combined for three three pointers to start the fourth quarter, making it 80-63 after two and a half minutes. Alex added points and a block, and although McKee and Jerusalem weren’t ready to give up, Pargo rented space downtown, scoring nine straight points from there and adding a layup and one just to change things up. In the end, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv crushed Hapoel Jerusalem 96-76.
