It was a game for the record books, with seven players in double figures, a season record-setting first quarter and half, 50 rebounds, and 30 assists as Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv completed dominated Hapoel Tel Aviv 116-86 in the derby.
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By Amy Samin
It was a game for the record books, with seven players in double figures, a season record-setting first quarter and half, 50 rebounds, and 30 assists as Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv completed dominated Hapoel Tel Aviv 116-86 in the derby. Sylven Landesberg led all scorers with 21 points. Trevor Mbakwe and Dagan Yivzori scored 15 points each, Gal Mekel added 13 points and 7 assists, Richard Hendrix (8 rebounds), Guy Pnini, and Ike Ofoegbu scored 10 points each.
Maccabi’s starters were Dagan Yivzori, Itay Segev, Sylven Landesberg, Trevor Mbakwe, and Gal Mekel. In their best quarter of the season, Maccabi ran to 10-1 in the first two minutes thanks to triples from Yivzori and Landesberg and a slam by Mbakwe. Mekel and Ike Ofoegbu joined in the party from downtown, and Guy Pnini did as well, and after ten minutes of high octane basketball, Maccabi held a 40-19 lead, a record for points scored in a quarter this season.
The second period was a continuation of the first, with the yellows dominating on rebounds and from beyond the arc. Three pointers from Rochestie and Hendrix along with a huge block by Segev on Robinson of Hapoel and another dunk by Mbakwe made it 57-29 at the halfway mark. Mbakwe dominated in the next few minutes, scoring from all over the court, and together with Rochestie gave Maccabi their biggest lead yet, 66-33 with two minutes remaining. Points by Hendrix and Yivzori wrapped up the first half, with Maccabi up 70-37. This was also a record, for most points scored in a half this season. Also, Maccabi out-rebounded Hapoel 34-9, including 16 offensive rebounds.
Maccabi eased up at the start of the second half, allowing Hapoel to close the gap, but only a little. Segev had a few great minutes, with a dunk and four straight points, but an 11-0 run by Hapoel caused coach Tabak to call for a time out. Landesberg from the top of the arc, Hendrix with a reverse layup, and Ofoegbu with a putback combined to make it 86-58 at the end of three quarters.
Maccabi switched back to dominant mode in the fourth quarter, with Pnini, Yogev Ohayon, Segev, and Yivzori putting the finishing touches on an outstanding 116-86 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv in round 32 of the Israeli Winner Sal League.
