Be’er Sheva had the lead at halftime, but a third quarter yellow comeback was enough to secure the 66:64 home win. John DiBartolomeo (22P&2A) finished with MVP honors
Coach Spahija’s starting five: Black, Roll, John-Di, Cohen
and Kane. The visitors were the first to score but John-Di and Cohen gave Maccabi the 5:2 lead, John-Di proved to be unstoppable on both ends of the court as he led Maccabi to a 10:5 lead. Be’er Sheva completed an 8:0 run to take the 10:13 lead. O’Bryant made it 15:16 but Kravitz reacted from downtown as the visitors finished the first quarter ahead 15:19.Swing increased the visitors’ lead to 15:21 at the beginning of the second quarter, Avdija’s dunk and Zoosman’s
three pointer brought Maccabi to within a striking distance with the scoreboard showing 20:21. Be’er Sheva increased their lead again but this time it was Zoosman’s free throws that kept Maccabi close with the second quarter reaching its halfway mark (24:26), Swing and Christon were effective for the reds as they took the 25:31 lead with just under two minutes remaining in the second quarter. John-Di and Roll brought Maccabi back to 29:31 but Swing and War each reacted with back to back threes to put the visitors ahead 29:37. Tyus completed a three point play but Be’er Sheva had the final say in the first half having the 32:39 lead.Maccabi climbed all the way back to 40:41 at the beginning of the third quarter thanks to Tyus and Zoosman, Donaldson reacted for the reds but John-Di found his stroke deep again as he tied the game (43:43). Caloiaro completed the yellow comeback who continued firing on all cylinders with Deni making it 51:46 deep in the third quarter. John-Di found Caloiaro for an op open three to finish the third quarter with a bang as the yellows lead 57:46.
John-Di increased Maccabi’s lead at the beginning of the fourth to 59:46, Christon sparked a comeback attempt for
Be’er Sheva who came all the way back 64:58 with under five minutes remaining in the game. Be’er Sheva continued their comeback attempt with Christon capitalizing on a steal to make it 66:64 with 01:16 remaining in the game, from that point both teams failed to score until the end as Maccabi remains perfect domestically with a 66:64 win.
