In a championship game held on the number two seed’s home court, former champion Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv lost 86-79 to Maccabi Bazan Haifa.
By Amy Samin
In the Israeli Winner Sal League championship game, Maccabi Bazan Haifa defeated Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 86-79.
Starters for Maccabi were team captain Lior Eliyahu, Yogev Ohayon, Devin Smith, Shawn James and Ricky Hickman. The game got off to a fast start, with the teams trading baskets at rapid speed. A three by Hickman, a floater by Eliyahu and a steal by Smith (which led to a dunk by Hickman) made it 9-8 Maccabi after two and a half minutes. A dunk by James and a reverse layup by Ohayon extended Maccabi’s lead to 13-10, but Haifa reclaimed the lead shortly after. The game stayed close, but Maccabi continued to trail until with only a minute and a half left points by Sylven Landesberg tied the score at 21. A tip in by Darko Planinic put Maccabi up, and the quarter ended with Maccabi leading 25-24.
Haifa reclaimed the lead with two quick buckets early in the second quarter, 29-25 after two and a half minutes. Two baskets by Eliyahu kept Maccabi in the game, though down 34-29 near the halfway mark in the period. Two straight layups by Hickman put Maccabi within one, 34-33 with four minutes left in the half. The pace remained full-throttle, with plenty of steals and deflections but no scoring, until points from the foul line by Smith put Maccabi back on top 35-34 with less than three minutes left in the period. Both teams scored from the charity stripe, but a layup and free throws by Hickman made it 40-36 Maccabi with :29 remaining. Smith scored to end the period with Maccabi up 42-37.
Smith also scored at the start of the third quarter, both from inside the arc and from downtown, making it 47-40 Maccabi after four minutes. Haifa woke up and managed to close the gap, but James opened it up to 53-50 with three minutes left. Both teams continued to play full-out, trading steals until Haifa tied it at 53 with two minutes left. Haifa briefly claimed the lead, but Hickman drained a trey from way beyond the arc, then followed it with a layup to end the period with Maccabi leading 58-57.
Once again two baskets by Haifa put the home team on the lead, 62-58 after two minutes of play. Points from Guy Pnini put Maccabi within one, 63-62. Ohayon scored from the right wing to put Maccabi up 65-63 just before the halfway mark, but Haifa tied the score, then took a 69-65 lead with less than four and a half minutes remaining. Neither team let up on the intensity, but the shots didn’t fall for Maccabi, as Haifa cruised to 74-67 with just under two and a half minutes left in the game. Hickman scored from the left wing to cut the deficit to four, but Haifa opened up a seven point lead with :50 remaining, 81-74. In the end, Haifa claimed the victory and the championship after defeating Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 86-79.
