In the last test of its tools before the Euroleague quarter-final series against Monaco, which will open this Tuesday, Maccabi Tel Aviv recovered this evening (Thursday) from the surprising home loss to Hapoel Galil Iliyon and returned to winning in the Premier League, when it defeated Ironi Ness Ziona 66:88 away in a game from the round 25.
In the absence of Lorenzo Brown, who was rested for the second game in a row, and Bonzie Coulson, who was injured in the previous round, the one who took advantage of the opportunity was Darren Hilliard, who got into excellent shape just in time for the season's money time, while Alex Poithers also continued to return to form after four and a half months out, and provided a good performance.
Jarel Martin abandoned the match at the beginning of the third quarter after a bad step on his leg, and Josh Nibo also hurt his hand during the second half, but neither of them suffered a serious injury to the joy of Oded Ketch.
Ness Ziona, with a third loss in the last four games, will probably reach the playoffs from sixth place.
Tyler Bay and Jerome Mainsey provided the usual output, but from the second quarter Elad Hassin's team was left behind and could not keep up with its opponent.
Shaq Buchanan and Nes Ziona did not beat Maccabi Tel Aviv this season (photo: Danny Maron)
Guy Panini and his friends are back on the winning track (Photo: Danny Maron)
Lance Ziona scored: Tyler Bay 20, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, Jerome Mainsey 18 and 10 rebounds, Shaq Buchanan 9, Tomer Levinson 7, Ronnie Harrell 4 and 3 steals, DJ Cooper (13 assists and -5 steals) and Tsof Ben Moshe 3 each, Raz Adam 2.
Scorers for Maccabi Tel Aviv: Darren Hilliard 18 (4/7 for 3), Alex Poithers 16, Jake Cohen 13 (3/3 for 3) , Rafi Manko 7 and 3 steals, Wade Baldwin (10 assists), Roman Sorkin (6 rebounds, 3 steals), Josh Niebo and Petah Ziv 6 each, Jarel Martin and Guy Pennini 4 each, John DiBartolomeu 2.
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Josh Nibo (Photo: Danny Maron)
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an unforgettable evening, and this is only the beginning: Hapoel Tel Aviv is on the right track
the progress of the game
1st quarter:
Nivvo scored the first two, and five consecutive by Hilliard put Maccabi Tel Aviv up 0:7 and sent Nes Ziona to an early timeout.
After came a basket by Mainsy, Cohen put it back, Bey Dyke from the line and Mainsy sank on the way to 9:6.
Hilliard sniped another 3-pointer, Mainsy and Bey reduced it to minus 2, Manko also hit from beyond the arc.
A basket by Bey was answered by a dunk by Nebo, Mainsy the minor with free throws, Martin missed one out of two - 14:18 for the guest.
Buchanan was also accurate from the line, but a 3-pointer by Martin and penalty points by Sorkin increased the difference to 7.
Buchanan scored twice from the line and Poiters did the same on the other side, DiBartholomew got the first basket and Ben Moshe's three made it
27:21
for the blue-yellows after 10 minutes.
DJ Cooper and Co. are still without a victory in the upper house (photo: Danny Maron)
2nd quarter:
Poithers and Panini increased the gap to double digits, Levinson with 5 consecutive points offset it by half, but a three-pointer by Cohen and a basket by Baldwin made it 26:36 for Maccabi, before Cohen added a basket in a burst and Hossein called another timeout.
Mancey and Bey shrunk to minus 7, Hilliard reawakened with 5 in a row and brought it back to double digits.
After Mainsi's basket, Poithers scored a point from the line and Manko took advantage of Panini's assist, Harrell tried to bring the host closer but Hilliard buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer and gave his team a
35:49
lead at the break.
Maccabi Tel Aviv ran away in the second quarter.
Martin Vanivo (Photo: Danny Maron)
3rd quarter:
Poithers increased to plus 16, Bey responded with a basket and a foul, Cohen and Buchanan scored a three-pointer on each side, Poithers and Baldwin made it 41:58.
Bay, Cooper and Buchanan brought it down to minus 10, Hilliard stopped a 7:0 run with free throws, Mainsy sank, but Baldwin penetrated all the way to the points and in the next attack gave an assist to Nivo - 50:64.
Manko continued the momentum with a basket in transition, Levinson returned and made it
66:52
at the end of three quarters.
Wade Baldwin focused on delivering this time, but also provided a nice punch (Photo: Danny Maron)
4th quarter:
Ziv's 3-pointer and a basket move and a foul by Poythers boosted the difference to 20, Harrell tried to stop the drift but Panini, Sorkin and Poythers made it 54:78, the latter answered Mainsy's basket with two easy points, Bye with 4 consecutive Zimek to 80:60.
Cohen shot another 3-pointer and set up a basket for Sorkin, Adam offset temporarily and Ziv sniped from beyond the arc, before Bey scored the last two baskets.
In the end,
66:88
to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
sport
basketball
Super League
Tags
Urban miracle of Ziona
Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball
