In week 24 of the Israeli Winner Sal League, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv dropped a key home game against Hapoel Jerusalem, 93-65. Hickman finished with 18 points, Schortsanitis added 10 points.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv was defeated by Hapoel Jerusalem 93-65 at Nokia Arena in week 24 of the Israeli Winner Sal League. Ricky Hickman led Maccabi’s scorers with 18 points, Sofo Schortsanitis scored 10.
Blatt’s starters were Guy Pnini, Devin Smith, Ricky Hickman, Yogev Ohayon and Sofo Schortsanitis. The early minutes of the game were close, with Hickman and Sofo scoring to make it 7-5 Maccabi after three minutes. Jerusalem took a slim lead, but Pnini quickly responded from downtown. A foul plus a technical called on Sofo gave Jerusalem a springboard, and they quickly grabbed an 18-12 lead. Two straight layups by Tyrese Rice put Maccabi within three, but Halperin scored to keep Jerusalem in the lead as the period ended, 27-19.
David Blu from the top of the arc and Sofo in the paint and on the foul line helped Maccabi, but Jerusalem’s lead stood at 34-23 after three minutes. Maccabi’s shots weren’t dropping, and Jerusalem’s lead continued to grow. With three minutes left in the half the visitors went up by twenty; five points by Pnini didn’t help much, and the teams went into the break with Jerusalem leading 53-34.
Early points by Hickman in the third quarter didn’t stop Jerusalem, and after three and a half minutes they led 61-43. Two layups by Sylven Landesberg and points from the free throw line chipped away at the visitors’ lead a bit, but not enough as the period ended with Jerusalem up 68-52.
Points from Hickman cut the deficit to 14, but a pair of three pointers for Jerusalem reopened the lead to 76-56 two minutes into the fourth quarter. Nothing Maccabi tried seemed to work, while Jerusalem scored at will. In the end, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv lost to Hapoel Jerusalem 93-65.
