By Amy Samin
In week 26 of the Israeli Winner Sal League, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv was defeated by Hapoel Fattal Eilat 89-82. Maccabi had five players scoring in double figures, led by David Logan with 19. Shawn James (12 rebounds) and Yogev Ohayon scored 14 points each. Devin Smith was given the night off to rest.
Maccabi's starting five included Shawn James, David Logan, Ricky Hickman, Yogev Ohayon and team captain Lior Eliyahu. The game got off to a great start with two three pointers (Ohayon and Logan) and a great block by Eliyahu, but Eilat quickly got their act together, tying the score at 6 after four minutes. James racked up two quick fouls and Eilat took advantage, grabbing a 13-10 lead. Hickman and Sylven Landesberg both responded with treys from the right wing, and the quarter ended with Maccabi leading 16-14.
The hosts opened strong at the start of the second quarter, jumping to a 25-21 lead. Points by Landesberg put Maccabi within one, but Eilat reopened their lead, 30-24 with four minutes left in the period. Again Landesberg put points on the board for Maccabi, and was joined by Eliyahu, Logan and Hickman. Even so, it wasn't enough to retake the lead, and the teams went into the halftime break with Eilat leading 37-34.
A mid-range baseline jumper by James opened the third quarter for Maccabi, and Ohayon added points from the foul line and the paint to put Maccabi within one, 41-40 after four minutes of action. A give and go from Eliyahu to Ohayon and two quick buckets in the paint by Logan and Eliyahu made it 46-43 with four minutes left in the period. Points from the charity stripe added to Maccabi's lead, and a triple by Ohayon (assist Landesberg) made it 52-47 with a minute left. Eilat continued to challenge for the lead, but a basket off the glass at the buzzer by Landesberg made it 55-51 to end the quarter.
Ohayon and Logan combined to put Maccabi up 63-56 after two and a half minutes, but Eilat soon pulled within three. A bomb from beyond downtown by Logan reopened the lead, and Guy Pnini added a layup to make it 68-62 at the halfway mark. James added a putback dunk, but the home team came back again, pulling within one, 70-69 with a minute and a half left. James added a bullet pass to Pnini in the paint for the layup, then grabbed a key rebound on offense and later scored to put Maccabi up 74-71 with :27 on the clock. Eilat tied the score seconds later, Maccabi was unable to reclaim the lead, and the game headed into overtime.
Eilat opened the extra period with points from the field and the foul line, but James responded to make it 78-76, Eilat. The hosts scored at will, while points by Hickman weren't enough; 84-78 with less than a minute and a half left in the period. A drive in the lane by Landesberg ended up as an assist to James, who drained a three from the top of the arc to cut the deficit to 85-81 with a minute left. Once again Eilat stepped up their game, and ended up defeating Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 89-82.