Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv scraped out a 79-75 win over Maccabi Rishon Lezion on the road. Ohayon was outstanding with 12 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals.
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By Amy Samin
In interim head coach Avi Even’s final game leading the team, Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv scraped out a 78-75 win over Maccabi Rishon Lezion on the road. Yogev Ohayon was outstanding with 12 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Ike Ofoegbu led Maccabi’s scorers with 14 points and 9 rebounds, Devin Smith posted an impressive 13 point, 10 rebound double double, Trevor Mbakwe contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds, and Guy Pnini added 10 points.
Maccabi’s starting five included Yogev Ohayon, Devin Smith, Jordan Farmar, Ike Ofoegbu, and Arinze Onuaku. Smith and Farmar combined for four three pointers that put Maccabi up 14-6 close to the halfway mark in the period. Monroe and Wright got the hosts back into the game, but Trevor Mbakwe and Ohayon reopened Maccabi’s lead to 26-15 as the quarter came to an end.
Despite a floater by Guy Pnini in the paint at the start of the second quarter, Rishon responded with five straight that put them within eight, 28-20 after three minutes. Ohayon from the top of the arc and Onuaku combined to make it 35-30 midway through the period. The home team sank three three pointers that cut their deficit to only six, but a bucket at the buzzer by Smith sent the teams into the break with Maccabi up 42-34.
Rishon managed to pull within four, 44-40, but then Ofoegbu scored five straight to give Maccabi some breathing room after two and a half minutes of action in the third quarter. A putback by Mbakwe and more points from Ofoegbu made it 53-42 at the halfway mark. Rishon took advantage of Maccabi turnovers to close to 57-52 with a minute left in the period. A bucket and one for Dagan Yivzori put an end to the hosts’ run, and the teams headed into the final period with Maccabi leading 60-54.
The home team’s momentum continued in the fourth quarter, until Maccabi’s lead had been whittled down to four. Ofoegbu and Pnini responded to ensure that the lead wouldn’t evaporate completely, and at the five minute mark the score stood at 66-60. Ofoegbu with a basket and one and a huge trey from Ohayon at the buzzer made it 72-64 with under two minutes remaining. Rishon didn’t give up and battled for every point; a triple by Hanochi with :19 on the clock made it 75-73, but Smith scored from the foul line to assure a 78-75 win for Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv over Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
