Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated the French team Nancy on Thursday night, 89 – 86 in the first game of the Angers tournament in France. Eidson was top scorer for Maccabi with 21 points, Fischer added 16. Tonight (Friday) Maccabi faces Cholet in the second game of the tournament.
By Amy Samin
Twenty-four hours before Israeli fans will be able to watch their team play for the first time this season, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv faced SLUC Nancy in the first game of the Angers tournament and defeated their opponent 89 – 86 in front of a crowd of 3,000 in France.
Maccabi opened the game against Nancy with Wisniewski, Eidson, Anderson, Fischer and Lasme.
Wisniewski scored the first points of the game, and together with Anderson took Maccabi to a 13 – 10 lead, but Nancy tied the score at 17 all halfway through the quarter.
Lampe, who came into the game for Fischer, played his first minutes in the yellow and blue.
Maccabi broke ahead with five straight points, 22 – 17, with two minutes remaining in the quarter.
Mekel and Perkins subbed into the game, and through Eidson’s (10 points) ability Maccabi was able to end the first quarter still in the lead, 29 – 25.
Maccabi got off to a good start in the second period with Limonad making his first appearance, and increased their lead to double digits, 37 – 27 after three minutes.
Fischer got called for his third foul of the game, and Lampe stepped in, as did Pnini.
Lasme shook off his lethargy and showed off his fine talent, on the way to Maccabi’s taking a 42 – 31 lead with four minutes left in the half.
When Lampe racked up his third foul, Yaniv Green entered the game. In spite of the foul trouble of the big men (who were quickly joined by Anderson with three of his own) Maccabi had no trouble staying on top, 44 – 34 with two minutes left before halftime.
Nancy woke up just before the end of the period, closing the gap slightly and setting the score at halftime at 49 – 42.
At the half, Eidson led Maccabi in scoring with 13 (3 of 4 from three point range) along with 4 rebounds.
Lasme had 9 points and 6 rebounds, while Anderson and Fischer each contributed 8 points.
Wisniewski, Eidson, Perkins, Lasme and Lampe opened the second half for Maccabi, taking Maccabi to a 54 – 42 lead after two minutes of play. Nancy was able to put a stop to Maccabi’s run, closing the gap to 56 – 48 in just two minutes.
Maccabi was unshaken, and thanks to Lasme (7 rebounds) was able to maintain a comfortable lead, 68 – 58 with two minutes left in the third period.
Neither team did much to stop the other from scoring, but by the end of the quarter the more talented Maccabi team had regained a double digit lead, 74 – 62, with Eidson leading scorers with 21 points (5 for 10 from three point range) and 6 rebounds.
Maccabi continued to do well at the start of the final period, when an Israeli quartet (Pnini, Mekel, Limonad and Green) took the team to a quick 78 – 62 lead.
The foreign players got a chance to rest while the Israelis took care of business, keeping a good lead (85 – 74) with 3:30 left in the game.
The French team, which chased after Maccabi the entire game, managed to narrow the gap to 85 – 80 in a minute and a half.
Pnini, with a great foul plus basket play helped put Maccabi up 88 – 80 with 1:20 left on the clock.
Anderson added another point from the foul line, with 50 seconds remaining.
The game ended with Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv putting their first W of the season on the board, 89 – 86.
Box Scores
Maccabi: Eidson 21 points, 6 rebounds; Fischer 16 points, 6 rebounds; Lasme 13 points, 8 rebounds, Pnini 9 points; Anderson 8 points; Limonad 6 points; Wisniewski 5 points’ Perkins 5 points, 5 rebounds; Lampe 4 points; Green 2 points.
Sharon Drucker: “This was our first practice game, an away game, and all in all we’re satisfied with it.
It gave us an indication of how to best combine players on the court.
We’re basically building the foundation, and most of all we want our players to be healthy.
We led the entire game, at one point by 16, so the final score is kind of deceptive.
By the end of the game we weren’t playing the way we wanted to, we eased up a bit which is natural.
We wanted to give every player time on the court.
This time it was Eidson and Lasme who were the standouts, next time it could be someone else.
We’re at the start of a tough series of games; we’re pleased so far and are looking ahead to the next game.”
David Federman: “I get the feeling we picked a great group of foreign players; they all look good.
The Israeli players also played and contributed.
Some were excellent, and we’re very pleased with them.
The team we’ve got coming together will be a lot of fun to watch.”
Maciej Lampe: “It was a weird game, but I’m happy we won because it was the first game.
Maccabi is a team that suits me very well because I love to run and Maccabi is a team that runs.
I have a feeling that this year I have put my injuries behind me, and will be able to live up to the expectations that people have always had of me.”
Stephane Lasme: “I am supposed to bring the “extra” to the team.
I am expected to bring a lot of energy, and that’s what I did this time.
Though I’m only 2.03 meters, blocks and rebounds are a central part of my game.”
