By Amy Samin

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv improved their record in the Israeli Winner Sal League to 4-0 with an 87-61 victory over Ironi Nahariya at Nokia Arena. Jeremy Pargo led all scorers with 21 points and 6 assists. Sylven Landesberg added 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Brian Randle added 11 points and Sofo Schortsanitis, in his first Israeli League game this season, contributed 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Maccabi’s starters were Brian Randle, Sofo Schortsanitis, Guy Pnini, Yogev Ohayon, and Jeremy Pargo. Maccabi opened with iron clad defense that included three straight steals (Randle twice and Ohayon) that made it 10-3 Maccabi after three minutes. Pnini sent a no-look pass to Randle under the basket, and Sylven Landesberg added a catch and shoot that made it 21-12 with two minutes left in the period. A huge block by Alex Tyus was followed by another bucket by Landesberg, but Nahariya’s Lyons managed to close the gap to only four as time ran out, 25-21.

A long two by Landesberg from the right corner got the second quarter started, but Nahariya and Miller managed to pull within two points after two minutes, 29-27. A triple by Jake Cohen from the top of the arc opened things back up, and a bucket off the glass by Ohayon made it 34-28 at the halfway mark. Points from downtown by Landesberg, Pargo, and Randle (assist Pargo) put Maccabi’s lead in double figures, 43-33 with a minute and a half left. Shulman scored for the visitors, but the half ended with a classic drive to the basket by Pargo, making it 45-37 as the teams went into the break.

Ohayon kicked off the second half with points from the right corner, then Randle scored (assist Pnini) to make it 50-37 after two minutes. A steal by Randle ended in a fast break with the ball going from Pargo to Ohayon and back again for the dunk, then Pargo scored another nine points, including back to back threes from the right ring to make it 65-42 with three and a half left in the period. Along with all the scoring, Maccabi’s defense kept Nahariya in a chokehold, allowing the, a mere 6 points in the period. A baseline drive by Landesberg closed things out with the score 67-43.

Maccabi continued to demonstrate good ability in the fourth quarter, though Nahariya made a small run that briefly put their deficit under 20, 71-54 after three minutes. The home team was unfazed, however, as Landesberg, Pargo, Ben Altit and Tyus lit up the scoreboard on the way to an 87-61 victory for Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv over Ironi Nahariya.