By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Holon 87-83 on the road in week 25 of the Israeli Winner Sal League. Devin Smith and Alex Tyus were outstanding with 23 points and 12 rebounds, each. Brian Randle contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds, MarQuez Haynes added 11 points, and Jake Cohen scored 8 points and made 2 blocks.
Maccabi's starters were Jeremy Pargo, MarQuez Haynes, Devin Smith, Alex Tyus, and Jake Cohen. A three pointer by Smith put Maccabi up 5-2 but Holon responded with a 7-0 run that gave them the lead. Despite points by Haynes and Cohen, the hosts ran to 21-13 with less than three minutes left in the quarter. Points by Tyus in the paint and from the foul line put Maccabi within three, but Crocker scored for Holon to end the period with the home team up 26-20.
Haynes scored from downtown and Tyus off the glass early in the second quarter, and six straight points by Brian Randle put Maccabi on top 31-30 after four minutes. The lead changed hands over the next few minutes, until Holon scored five straight; Smith responded with five of his own, and the teams went into the break with the score tied 41-41.
Holon came out of the break with a 6-0 run, but Pargo, Altit, and Smith responded. The hosts kept control of the game, reaching 57-49 halfway through the quarter. Back to back dunks by Randle and a triple by Cohen at the top of the arc put Maccabi within four, but Holon held on to the lead until a three by Haynes and points by Tyus tied the score at 63 with a minute left in the period. A layup and one by Cohen gave Maccabi a 66-64 lead heading into the final period.
Intensity was high in the fourth quarter as the lead changed hands with every possession. A catch and shoot by Smith on the left wing made it 75-74 Maccabi at the halfway mark; he then went on to add five more points. Pargo and Altit scored from the charity stripe and Haynes added a trey (assist Pargo) late in the period. With six seconds left in the game, Tyus downed two free throws to give Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv an 87-83 victory over Hapoel Holon.