Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv battled their way to an 88-85 road victory over Maccabi Ashdod in week 15 of the Israeli Winner Sal League. Rice and Blu scored 13 points apiece, and Ohayon finished with a double double of 12 points and 10 assists.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv claimed their twelfth straight win with a hard-fought 88-85 road victory over Maccabi Ashdod. David Blu and Tyrese Rice each scored 13 points, while Yogev Ohayon (10 assists) and Alex Tyus (6 rebounds) added 12 points apiece. Ricky Hickman, who suffered a shoulder injury, contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds before leaving the game. Tomorrow (Tuesday), Maccabi heads to Lithuania for their upcoming Euroleague game against Zalgiris Kaunas.
Maccabi’s starters were team captain Shawn James, Ricky Hickman, Slyven Landesberg, Jake Cohen and Yogev Ohayon. The game got off to a slow start, with James lighting up the scoreboard after two and a half minutes to tie the score at 2. Halfway through the period the score was only 8-7, with the hosts holding the lead. A triple from the left corner by Hickman gave Maccabi their first lead of the game, and a pair of freebies by Tyrese Rice made it 12-8 with three and a half minutes left in the period. Ashdod reclaimed the lead, though points by Hickman as time ran out cut Maccabi’s deficit to one, 19-18.
Ashdod continued to play well in the second quarter, extending their lead to 28-23 after three minutes of action. Two straight buckets plus a free throw by James tied things up at 28, and while the hosts took the lead again, they couldn’t build up a cushion of more than four points. Landesberg and Tyus put Maccabi within one, 41-40. The hosts again took a five point lead, but Rice scored to cut that to 45-42 as the period ended.
Ohayon tied the score in the opening seconds of the second half but Ashdod soon opened up a 53-49 lead. David Blu came through with one of his patented catch and shoots from downtown, and a slam by Tyus (assist Ohayon) gave Maccabi a 54-53 lead halfway through the period. Smith scored from downtown off a dime from Hickman, who added points from outside the arc himself, 60-57 Maccabi. Ashdod fought back, claiming a 65-64 lead as time ran out.
The fourth quarter followed the same pattern as the rest, with Maccabi staying close behind the home team, until Ashdod opened up a seven point lead, 76-69 after three minutes. Tyus, Rice and Ohayon scored to tie things up at 80 with just over two and a half minutes left in the game. Another layup by Rice put the visitors on top shortly after, and despite the hosts’ best efforts Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv hung on to defeat Maccabi Ashdod, 88-85.
