A collapse against Partizan Belgrade?
Defeat at the hands of Olympiakos?
Losing your temper in the final minutes of the derby?
If all these were not enough, then after the loss this evening (Sunday) 86:78 to Kiryat Ata in Hichal, it can be stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv is in crisis.
The Yellows got Lorenzo Brown back from his back injury and he stood out for the better, but even that wasn't enough against Sharon Abrahami's group that continues to surprise this season.
Before the game, the host held a ceremony in memory of the late Lior Liubin, who passed away today, when the yellow team's coach Oded Ketch arrived directly after the funeral in the Golan Heights of his partner. The host started well and was dragged into a close game with a low score, but in the second quarter, the guest opened fire and signaled for the future to come. Maccabi Tel Aviv came back from a 3:14 run by Kiryat Ata, but in the second half a 2:16 run came and when the visitors reset their intentions the advantage had already grown to 17. Maccabi Tel Aviv made sounds of a turnaround with a 2:15 run, but it was too little and especially Too late. The loser dropped to 3:3 in the league, the winner with an impressive 4:8.
James Bateman exploded in the second half and finished with 27 points, Amin Stevens scored 18 and 17-year-old Ben Sharaf added 15 on the biggest stage of Israeli basketball. 18 points for Lorenzo Brown on the other side, 16 for Wade Baldwin.
Another loss to the collection.
Blatt/Danny Maron
Scored for Maccabi Tel Aviv:
Lorenzo Brown 18, Wade Baldwin 16, Roman Sorkin 11, John DiBartholomeo 7, Tamir Blatt and Rafi Manko 6 each, Bonzie Coulson and James Webb 5 each, Hasiel Rivero 2. Partner and did not score : Jake Cohen.
Scorers for Kiryat Ata:
James Batemon 29, Amin Stevens 18, Ben Sharaf 15, Raz Adam 14, Akia Pruitt 5, Tomer Porat 3, Guy Palatin 2. His partner and did not score: JJ Kaplan and Yriv Amiram.
An impressive victory in the hands of Eliyahu.
Ben Sharaf/Maor Alxalsi
the progress of the game
1st quarter:
Maccabi Tel Aviv started well with two three-pointers, Kiryat Ata came back to 10:10 and then Lorenzo Brown scored his second three-pointer.
Guy Palatin completed a 0:6 run that gave the guest a first advantage, but the quarter ended
at 16:17 for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
2nd quarter:
Tamir Blatt and Rafi Manko went outside the arc, the forward completed five consecutive points that made it 21:25 for the host.
James Bateman and Raz Adam scored 3-pointers and Kiryat Ata took the lead 29:35 with a run of 3:14.
Wade Baldwin had a great room and dribbled with a basket move and a foul, Ben Sharaf increased the lead to 34:39 with an impressive three-pointer.
At halftime, Kiryat Ata led 38:39.
The most negative momentum he had this season.
Ketch/GettyImages, Roberto Finizio
Quarter 3:
On the buzzer of the shot clock, James Batemon scored a hard three-pointer from the corner and broke the tie - 40:43 for Kiryat Ata.
John DiBartholomeo woke up and gave Oded Ketch the advantage back, but it continued to move from side to side and Oded Ketch called a timeout 52:47 behind.
It didn't really help, because Bateman led the guest to a first double-digit lead of 49:61.
Tamir Blat reduced it
to 61:52 at the end of the quarter.
4th quarter:
Sheraf Sniper three and eight minutes to the end, it's already 15 difference in the hall.
Sharon Abrahami asked for a timeout after four consecutive points by the yellows, the hot Batemon continued to punish outside the arc and set a new record advantage with 58:75.
Batemon and Sharaf did not stop, but then the yellows showed signs of awakening with a 2:15 run that shifted to 82:78 in the last minute, but the last word was Kiryat Ata who left the hall with an
impressive 78:86 at the end.
More on the same topic:
Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball
Urban Kiryat Ata