For the first time in 13 years, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv headed south to the city of Eilat to take on Hapoel Fattal Eilat, defeating the new addition to the premier league 79-68 in week 6 of Israeli League play. Eliyahu was outstanding with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
By Amy Samin
In week 6 of the Israeli Winner Sal League, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Fattal Eilat by a score of 79-68. Lior Eliyahu was top scorer with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Ricky Hickman added 17 points, Devin Smith contributed 16 points, and Malcolm Thomas scored 15 points and pulled down 7 rebounds.
Maccabi’s starters were Devin Smith, Ricky Hickman, Shawn James, Lior Eliyahu and Yogev Ohayon. Eilat jumped to a 5-2 lead early in the period, but a layup by Ohayon and free throws by Eliyahu made it 8-5 Maccabi after two minutes of action. Smith added points from the top of the arc, plus two buckets in the paint (the second off a great dish by Eliyahu) to make it 17-12 just before the halfway mark in the period. Eilat redoubled their efforts, cutting their deficit and then retaking the lead, 20-19. The lead changed hands several times in the next minutes, but the quarter ended with the hosts leading 24-21.
The second quarter got underway with a dunk by Malcolm Thomas for Maccabi, but Eilat hung on to the lead through the first half of the period. A triple and 1 by Hickman set the stage for Eliyahu’s tying shot, 33-33 with 5:03 on the clock. Hickman added another trey and Smith’s steal/dunk made it 38-33. Maccabi’s defense kept a tight hold on Eilat, while Thomas added more points in the paint, including a bucket off an assist from Smith that made it 44-35 Maccabi at the half.
Eilat came out in the third quarter with guns blazing, going on a 13-4 scoring run that tied the score at 48 with 6:12 on the clock. Maccabi worked to stay close, but the hosts ran away to a 9 point lead, 59-50 with a minute left in the period. Points by Thomas in the paint, a steal and free throws from Smith and a putback by Eliyahu at the buzzer ended the period with Eilat clinging to a 59-56 lead.
Two drives to the basket by Hickman and points by Eliyahu gave Maccabi back the lead in the early minutes of the final period. A huge three pointer by Moran Roth added some breathing room, and six straight points by Thomas extended the lead to double digits, 71-61 with just under four minutes remaining. Maccabi’s defense kept a stranglehold on Eilat’s shooters, holding Eilat to only 9 points in the quarter, while Hickman, Eliyahu and Smith went to town. In the end, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Fatal Eilat 79-68.
BOXSCORE
Maccabi: Eliyahu 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists; Hickman 16 points, 5 rebounds; Smith 16 points; Thomas 15 points, 7 rebounds; Ohayon 4 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists; Roth 3 points; Pnini and Caner-Medley 2 points each.
