Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv advanced to the Israeli Cup final, where they will face Maccabi Ashdod on Thursday, after defeating Ironi Nes Ziona 81-66 at Menora Mivtachim Arena.
Share Article
By Amy Samin
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv advanced to the Israeli Cup final, where they will face Maccabi Ashdod on Thursday, after defeating Ironi Nes Ziona 81-66 at Menora Mivtachim Arena. Gal Mekel led Maccabi’s scorers with 22 points and 7 assists, while Yogev Ohayon (game MVP) added 16 points and 6 rebounds. Taylor Rochestie scored 15 points, and Trevor Mbakwe was outstanding on defense with 10 rebounds and 7 blocks.
Maccabi’s starters were Gal Mekel, Sylven Landesberg, Taylor Rochestie, Trevor Mbakwe, and Ike Ofoegbu. Points by Landesberg put Maccabi up 7-6 two minutes into the game, but Nes Ziona shifted gears and claimed a 20-15 lead with two minutes left in the period. Yogev Ohayon came into the game and, together with Mekel, closed the gap to 24-21 as the first quarter came to an end.
Ohayon continued to play well as the second quarter began, and together with Elijah Millsap put Maccabi on top, 25-24 after a minute and a half. Nes Ziona soon took back the lead, 32-27 halfway through the period. Itay Segev scored in the paint and Rochestie added points from downtown to cut the deficit to two, but Nes Ziona ran to 42-34. Segev and Guy Pnini scored and the half ended with Maccabi trailing 42-38.
Nes Ziona opened up a seven point lead, but two three pointers by Ohayon and one from Mekel, as well as a mid range jumper by Rochestie, made it 49-47 Maccabi halfway through the third quarter. Rochestie scored off a nice dish by Mekel, and Mbakwe added to the lead from the foul line. A drive in the paint by Mekel put Maccabi’s lead in double digits, 59-49, going into the final period.
Nes Ziona continued to battle in the fourth quarter and closed to 61-54 two and a half minutes into the fourth quarter, causing Coach Tabak to call for a time out. Rochestie got a hot hand, including an amazing drive to the basket and one that put the score at 69-60 at the five minute mark. Maccabi’s defense went into high gear, thanks especially to Segev and Mbakwe (who finished with 7 blocks), and a three from the corner by Pnini helped wrap up an 81-66 win over Nes Ziona in the Israeli Cup semifinal. Maccabi will face Ashdod in the Cup final on Thursday.
