Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv was able to keep their advantage from the previous game, winning the 2013-14 Israeli League Championship despite losing to Maccabi Bazan Haifa 84-82 in the second game at Nokia Arena. Hickman was outstanding with 22 points, and Rice contributed 15 points.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has won the 100th title in the club’s history, and their 51st Israeli League championship, despite losing 84-82 to Maccabi Haifa in the second game of the finals, thanks to having won the first game by four points. Ricky Hickman was outstanding with 22 points, and finals MVP Tyrese Rice contributed 15 points. Alex Tyus added 10 points, 9 rebounds, and a huge block at the end of the game. Joe Ingles also had a good game, scoring 9 points.
Starters for Maccabi were Devin Smith, Ricky Hickman, Guy Pnini, Sofo Schortsanitis and Sylven Landesberg. The hosts got off to a good start, going 5-2 after two minutes, thanks to points by Hickman and Sofo. Haifa tied things up at 8, but Hickman soon punished them with a three pointer at the other end. The guard added another triple, and together with Alex Tyus at both ends of the court increased Maccabi’s advantage. Haifa scored to cut that down to one, 18-17 at the buzzer.
Points from the charity stripe enabled the visitors to take a 26-18 lead at the start of the second quarter, as Sofo got into foul trouble early, quickly racking up three. Tyrese Rice scored six straight and David Blu scored to put Maccabi within two in the middle of the period. Haifa tried to regrow their lead, but Joe Ingles with five straight points, including points from outside the arc at the buzzer, sent Maccabi into the halftime break with a 38-37 lead.
Maccabi had trouble scoring at the start of the second half, enabling Haifa to jump to a 47-40 lead within three minutes. Smith and Sylven Landesberg stopped Haifa’s run, but couldn’t pull even thanks to foul trouble early in the period, and Haifa took an eight point lead halfway through the quarter. Ingles, together with Pnini from downtown, were able to tie the score, but once again Haifa was able to claim a lead as the period ended with the visitors up 59-56.
Hickman and Rice started strong in the fourth quarter, giving Maccabi a 64-59 lead after two minutes. Haifa didn’t give up, and Randle and Smith put them back on top 69-66 in the middle of the period. A string of great plays by Hickman tied the score at 71, but Haifa once again retook the lead with a pair of threes, 77-72 with two minutes left in the game. Tyus and Hickman cut Maccabi’s deficit to four with one minute on the clock. Smith scored at the buzzer for Maccabi, but after review the referees didn’t allow the basket, and the game went into overtime with Haifa leading 79-75.
Rice, Blu and Tyus tied the score 80-80 in the first two minutes. Haifa was able to take an 84-82 lead but a huge block by Tyus prevented them from making their lead large enough to make a difference, and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv claimed the 51st Israeli League championship in the club’s history.
