Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 81-77 at Romema Arena in the first of two Final games for the Israeli Winner Sal League championship. Rice was outstanding, scoring a record 30 points and delivering 7 assists. The second game will be played on Wednesday at Nokia Arena.
By Amy Samin
In the first of two Finals for the Winner Sal League championship, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv secured an 81-77 victory on the road against Maccabi Haifa thanks largely to 30 points and 7 assists by Tyrese Rice. Ricky Hickman added 14 points and David Blu contributed 12 points. One Wednesday at Nokia Arena the two teams will face off again for the second championship game.
Starters for Maccabi were Devin Smith, Ricky Hickman, Guy Pnini, Sylven Landesberg and Sofo Schortsanitis. Haifa took a 5-0 lead in the first two and a half minutes, but Hickman, Landesberg and Sofo responded, putting Maccabi up 6-5 a minute later. Haifa stayed close until another Maccabi run that included a smooth reverse layup by Smith, a fadeaway jumper by Sofo and points from the foul line by Landesberg made it 13-9 with four minutes left in the period. Haifa only managed one bucket before Maccabi went on another scoring run, with Tyrese Rice and Hickman combining for 8 points that made it 21-11 with two minutes on the clock. The hosts woke up in the final minutes of the period, but a three pointer by David Blu and points by Sofo and Rice made it 27-19 as the quarter ended.
Haifa tried to get back into the game as the second period got underway, but three pointers from Rice, Landesberg and Hickman kept Maccabi’s lead at ten, 36-26 after three minutes. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, with a dunk by Smith, points by Alex Tyus and a reverse layup from Rice lighting up Maccabi’s side of the scoreboard. A pair of bucket and 1s by Rice wrapped up the half with Maccabi still leading by ten, 47-37.
Early in the third quarter Haifa began working on their deficit, cutting it in half after two minutes, 49-44. Despite points by Hickman and Blu, Haifa added seven unanswered point to close within one, 54-53 halfway through the period. A pair of treys, a steal plus layup and points from the foul line by Rice opened up Maccabi’s lead to 65-57 with two minutes left in the quarter. The hosts didn’t give up though, and the period ended with with the score 69-62.
Once again Haifa dominated the early part of the period, tying the score at 70 with four minutes left in the game. Maccabi didn’t score a field goal in the quarter until Rice scored with two minutes on the clock, 73-71. Randle tied things up for Haifa, but a three by Rice and five straight points by Blu led to an 81-77 victory for Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv over Maccabi Haifa. The second Final will be played at Nokia Arena on Wednesday.
