By Amy Samin

In their first game played on Israeli soil this season, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Gilboa/Galil 73-58 in the quarterfinals of the Israeli Winner Sal Cup competition. MarQuez Haynes led Maccabi’s scorers with 16 points, Yogev Ohayon scored 13 points, and Sylven Landesbeg contributed 12 points. Maccabi will face Ironi Nes Ziona tomorrow (Tuesday) in the semifinal.

Starters for Maccabi were Jeremy Pargo, Sylven Landesberg, MarQuez Haynes, Guy Pnini and Aleks Mari?. Gilboa started strong, taking a quick 5-0 lead until a three pointer by Haynes in the corner put Maccabi on the scoreboard after three minutes of action. Gilboa hung onto the lead despite points from Jake Cohen, Landesberg and Ohayon, and the period ended with the score 18-15.

Three points by Cohen and a bucket from downtown by Ohayon tied the score at 21 in the early minutes of the second quarter. Haynes drained another long three (assist Pargo) then sent a dime to Landesberg, who made it 27-23 Maccabi just past the halfway mark. Cohen continued to play well at both ends of the court, and Haynes added back to back triples (a catch and shoot and a step back jumper from the top of the arc). Gilboa had a hard time keeping up, and the half ended with Maccabi holding a 38-29 lead.

Maccabi continued to dominate as the second half got underway. Two buckets by Pargo, a triple from Ohayon (assist Pnini) on the right wing and a drive in the lane for the dunk by Alex Tyus made it 47-36 midway through the quarter. Pnini, Landesberg and Haynes lit up the scoreboard, and points by Ohayon ended the quarter with Maccabi leading 56-46.

Despite being plagued by a sore neck, Tyus dominated at both ends in the fourth quarter, and Maccabi fans got their first taste of what they’ve been missing, two Pargolicius spinning drives to the basket that made it 73-53 with less than three minutes left in the game. Maccabi eased up on the gas, and in the end defeated Hapoel Gilboa/Galil 73-58, advancing to the semifinals where they will face Ironi Nes Ziona.

BOXSCORE

Haynes 16 points; Ohayon 13 points; Landesberg 12 points, 6 rebounds; Pargo 9 points, 6 assists; Cohen 7 points, 9 rebounds; Pnini and Tyus 6 points each; Linhart 4 points.