Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv won the Winner League Cup on an 88-77 victory over rivals Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem. Landesberg (21 points) was named MVP of the tournament. Smith also was outstanding with 19 points.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has won the Winner League Cup for the fourth straight year with an 88-77 victory over rivals Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem. Sylven Landesberg, who scored 21 points, was named MVP of the tournament. Devin Smith added 19 points, Ricky Hickman contributed 15 points, and Joe Ingles scored 14 points. Yogev Ohayon scored 8 points and made 6 assists. Guy Pnini and Sofo Schortsanitis did not suit up for the game.
Maccabi’s starters were Devin Smith, Ricky Hickman, Jake Cohen, Yogev Ohayon and team captain Shawn James. Jerusalem got off to a strong start, running to 11-3 in the first three minutes of the game. A triple and three free throws from Hickman helped Maccabi get into the game, and Joe Ingles added a three of his own to put Maccabi within two, but Jerusalem added to their lead and finished the period still on top, 25-18.
The early minutes of the second quarter belonged to Sylvan Landesberg, who dazzled on both ends of the court, though Jerusalem clung to their lead, 33-27 halfway through the period. Maccabi pulled within two off points from James, but a buzzer-beater from the corner by Ronald DuPree put Jerusalem up 41-34 as the teams went into the halftime break.
Maccabi came out from the break with renewed determination, outscoring Jerusalem 11-2 and taking their first lead of the game off a catch and shoot by Landesberg (assist Ingles) that made it 45-43 Maccabi after three and a half minutes. Zack Rosen tied the score at 49 for Jerusalem but points at the buzzer by Ingles, a steal plus coast to coast layup by Landesberg, a three from the top of the arc by Smith and points from Ohayon gave Maccabi a comfortable 58-49 lead with less than four minutes left in the period. Jerusalem battled their way back but the period ended with Maccabi leading 63-58.
A mid-range jumper by Landesberg and points by Ohayon gave Maccabi their first double digit lead of the game, 70-60 two minutes into the fourth quarter. Points by Landesberg and Ingles increased that lead, but Jerusalem fought their way back and a slam by DuPree cut the lead to only eight with less than a minute and a half left in the game. Maccabi kept their cool, and a huge three by Smith and a layup by Hickman didn’t hurt, as Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem 88-77 and won the Winner League Cup for 2013-2014.
BOXSCORE
Maccabi: Landesberg 21 points, 6 rebounds; Smith 19 points; Hickman 15 points; Ingles 14 points; Ohayon 8 points, 6 assists; James 7 points, 8 rebounds; Tyus and Rice 2 points each.
Top scorers for Jerusalem: Duncan 20 points; DuPree 16 points.
