By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv lost their second game in the Gomelsky Cup tournament to Panathinaikos Athens 80-74. Devin Smith was once again outstanding for Maccabi with 23 points. Joe Ingles scored 13 points, Guy Pnini added 12 points, and Sofo Schortsanitis contributed 11 points. Shawn James and Ricky Hickman did not suit up for the game. The team will return to Israel tomorrow ahead of the opening practice and the Israeli Winner Sal Cup.
Smith, Sofo, Ingles, Tyrese Rice and Yogev Ohayon opened the game for Maccabi. The early minutes of the game were close, with Ingles tying the score at 12 just past the halfway mark. The Greeks opened up a small lead, but a diving baseline layup by Smith and five straight points by Ingles put Maccabi up 20-19 with two minutes left in the period. Ramel Curry sank a triple to put Panathinaikos up at the end of the quarter, 24-21.
A desperation shot in the paint and 1 by Pnini tied the score at 26 early in the second quarter, andAlex Tyus scored to put Maccabi Electra up by two. The Greeks responded but Smith and Pnini both scored from downtown, making it 34-31, Maccabi. Ingles and Smith added another pair of treys, and the half ended with Maccabi Electra leading 45-39.
Panathinaikos opened strong in the third quarter, going on a 21-3 scoring run that made it 60-48 to the Greeks. A three pointer by Pnini stopped the run with less than three minutes left in the period, which ended with the score 65-54.
Sofo opened the fourth quarter with points including a nice reverse layup that kept Maccabi in the game, 70-60 after three minutes of action in the period. After several scoreless minutes the Greeks made it 75-62 midway through the quarter. Points by Sylven Landesberg and Smith didn't help much, and Panathinaikos Athens defeated Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv by a score of 80-74.
BOXSCORE
Maccabi: Smith 23 points; Ingles 13 points; Pnini 12 points; Schortsanitis 11 points; Tyus 5 points; Rice and Ohayon 4 points each; Landesberg 2 points.