Maccabi takes the 1:0 lead after a 94:62 home win against Ness Ziona

Coach Spahija’s starting five: Pargo, Roll, Kane, Cohen and Tyus. Both teams started the game rather hesitantly with the yellows being the first to capitalize taking the 4:1 lead three minutes into the game. The visitors took the 4:6 lead after a made three pointer by Golan Gutt, Pargo reacted from downtown and Cohen made it 10:6 for the locals. Cohen kept making buckets and Cole increased Maccabi’s lead 20:12. Pargo and Segev connected but Wyatt scored from deep to take the locals’ lead down to just four points. Cohen was the last to score in the first quarter as the yellows took the 29:21 lead.

Cohen who already scored in double digits, also gave Maccabi the double digit lead (34:23) at the beginning of the second quarter. Kane and Pargo increased the locals’ lead to 38:25. Ness Ziona started reacting as they completed a 6:0 run to trim Maccabi’s lead to seven points. Kane ended Ness Ziona’s comeback attempt and Roll, Cohen and Pargo fired on all cylinders as Maccabi took the 45:31 lead at half time. The visitors managed to take the yellows’ lead down to 47:38 at halftime.

Kane and Cohen increased Maccabi’s lead to 53:40 two minutes into the second half. Ness Ziona took Spahija’s squad lead down to 10 points but Maccabi remained poised with Pargo and Kane increasing the yellow lead once again (57:43). Both teams struggled to score as the scoreboard was showing 59:43. Segev showcased his vertical lead with a series of dunks to give Maccabi the 65:43 lead. The yellows were up by 27 points but Gutt scored to send the teams to the fourth quarter with Maccabi being ahead 77:52.

The fourth quarter was strictly for the protocol as Maccabi kept imposing their will during which Segev set a new career high for himself and Deni Avdija scored his first points for Maccabi’s first team as the yellows claims the 1:0 lead in the series with a resounding 94:62 win.