The Yellow & Blue get back into the win column towards the match against Hapoel Jerusalem. Avdija excelled, scoring 24 points and grabbing seven rebounds, Caloiaro and Sandy Cohen each added 18 points
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv’s magic number is down to 1 as they near securing the first place seed for the third straight year. Three days before the matchup versus Hapoel Jerusalem in the Pais Arena, the reigning champions keep a two-win advantage with two regular-season fixtures to go, beating Hapoel Holon 100:69 in a game which took place in HaKiriya Arena in Ashdod.
Scottie Wilbekin, Yovel Zoosman, Deni Avdija, Angelo Caloiaro, and Amar’e Stoudemire opened the game in the starting five. Caloiaro scored five consecutive points, which gave the Yellow & Blue a quick 9:2 Maccabi lead. The momentum shifted with a Guy Pnini three as Jimmy Hall completed a 10:1 Holon run, 10:12. Zoosman tied it at 12, and Sandy Cohen hit a deep shot, but Shlomi Harush and Hall gave the hosts a three-point advantage. Avdija nailed two from the free-throw line to finish the first 10 minutes, 18:19.
Sandy Cohen performed well on both sides of the court, leading the visitors to a 12:3 run scoring 9 of those points, including an impressive slam, 30:24. Avdija found Caloiaro for an easy layup, and Scottie Wilbekin, with two from the line, gave Maccabi their first double-digit advantage of the night, 40:30. Jake Cohen scored four consecutive points as Shavon Coleman and Hall reduced the deficit to end the first half, 44:36.
Avdija began the second half with a three, and Stoudemire added a point from the line, but Jermaine Love and Coleman led a 7:1 host stretch, 48:43. Wilbekin knocked two straight triples, and Caloiaro completed a four-point play, 58:46. The most notable play of the night came from Avdija that dished an alley hoop to Sandy Cohen, who slammed it down, as the red hot Caloiaro hit another triple, 65:50. Avdija and Hunter increased the advantage in the final minutes of the quarter, 72:55.
Wilbekin extended the lead up to 22, as Dori Sahar nailed his first three points of game, 82:57. Avdija and Zoosman were in charge of Maccabi’s next 12 points as Maccabi took a 35 point advantage, 95:60. With a minute left, Desi Washington shot Holon’s first field goal of the quarter as Yonatan Atias scored the Yellow & Blue’s 100th point. Maccabi beat Holon 100:69.
