In THE game of the Israeli league season, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 93-71 at Nokia Arena and reclaimed their natural place at the top of the Israeli Winner Sal League. Smith was outstanding with 29 points and 8 rebounds.
By Amy Samin
In the game for first place in the Israeli Winner Sal League, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 93-71 and claimed the top spot. Devin Smith was outstanding with 29 points and 8 rebounds. Sylven Landesberg also had a a fantastic game with 16 points, and Sofo Schortsanitis dominated the paint with 15 points. Ricky Hickman and Guy Pnini added 9 points each.
Starters for Maccabi were Guy Pnini, Yogev Ohayon, Ricky Hickman, Sofo Schortsanitis and Devin Smith. Maccabi came out with guns blazing, racing to 10-2 on points from Sofo in the paint and Smith (putback and triple) after three and a half minutes. Maccabi’s domination didn’t stop there, as Sofo added more points in the key, Sylven Landesberg threw down a slam on the fast break, and Smith added another trey, making it 19-4 with just under four minutes left in the period. Jerusalem finally lit up the scoreboard again, but the quarter ended with Maccabi leading 25-8.
Jerusalem looked more alert as the second period got underway, but another dunk by Landesberg and points from downtown by Tyrese Rice kept Maccabi’s lead secure, 30-14 after two and a half minutes. The teams traded buckets, with Smith and Landesberg adding layups that put Maccabi’s lead at 34-21 at the halfway mark, but Jerusalem put together a string of baskets that put them within seven with four minutes on the clock. Two straight treys by Smith from opposite sides of the court reopened Maccabi’s lead, 40-29. The visitors continued to battle, chipping away at the deficit until Ben Altit and Landesberg scored for Maccabi as time ran out, and the teams went into the break with Maccabi leading 45-36.
Smith started the third quarter with a stop and pop at the top of the arc, but Jerusalem scored a couple of baskets to make it an eight point game, 50-42. Landesberg continued to show his talent, added another three pointer and a turnaround jumper and Pnini also scored from downtown. Maccabi’s defense kicked things up a notch, double teaming Jerusalem’s top scorers and forcing turnovers. The period ended with Maccabi leading 65-53.
The start of the fourth quarter was just like the third, except it was Rice who sank a three at the top of the arc. Smith added two more threes of his own, while Sofo continued to do as he liked under the basket, 76-62. Jerusalem put together a pair of buckets, but Maccabi answered with points by Smith, Pnini and Hickman and Smith made a huge block to stop Jerusalem on a fast break with two minutes left. Jerusalem seemed to give up at that point, while David Blu sank a triple and Pnini and Landesberg wrapped things up, giving Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv a 93-71 win over Hapoel Jerusalem.
