A tremendous second half by the yellows was enough to make it to the finals with the 98:74 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv, Tyus finished the game with MVP honors (18P&9R), Pargo added 18P&3A, Cole, Thomas and John-Di scored in double digits
Coach Spahija’s starting five: Pargo, Kane, Roll, Cohen and Tyus. Pargo and Cohen gave Maccabi the early 5:2 lead, Gaffney tied the game but Pargo reacted from downtown (8:5). Tyus capitalized on Cohen’s pass to complete the
three point play as Maccabi took the 13:7 lead forcing coach Franco to call for a timeout. Hapoel Tel Aviv completed the comeback forcing coach Spahija to call for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 15:16. Maccabi shooter’s play paid off as Thomas made the three pointer (18:16), Banks gave the lead to Hapoel but Cole tied the game (19:19). Roll and Gaffney exchanged threes as the first quarter ends with the reds having the 22:24 lead.Cole started the second quarter with eight points as the yellows take the 30:26 lead; Thomas turns great defense into instant offense as he increases Maccabi’s lead to 32:26. Ginat and Banks tied the game with just over four minutes remaining in the second quarter (32:32). Banks gave Hapoel the 35:36 lead but Kane and Roll’s hustle plays gave Maccabi the 40:36 lead, Pargo found John-Di for a corner three to put the yellow’s ahead 43:38 but Gaffney managed to score again as the second half came to an end with the yellows ahead 43:40.
Roll, Tyus
and Kane made it 50:40 at the beginning if the third quarter forcing coach Franco to call for a timeout, Limonad brought Hapoel closer to Maccabi but Pargo reacted (54:45). Pargo scored from deep to make it 59:48; Tyus capitalized with a follow dunk as the yellows take the 61:49 lead with four minutes remaining in the third. McNeil trimmed Maccabi’s lead to 63:55 but Thomas kept Maccabi’s lead alive (67:59), McKee’s free throw sent both teams to the final quarter with the yellows ahead 67:60.Thomas and Tyus gave Maccabi the 72:60 lead at the beginning of the fourth, Banks scored his free throws but Tyus and John-Di increased Maccabi’s lead to 78:62 three minutes into the fourth, Maccabi kept firing in all cylinders as Thomas made it 83:63, a lead from which the reds couldn’t recover as Maccabi took the 98:74 win qualifying to the championship game on Thursday.
