Moshe Barda 31/01/2021 21:00
Maccabi Tel Aviv players (Itzik Belnitsky)
The 15th round of the Winner Basket League continued tonight (Sunday) when Maccabi Tel Aviv had no trouble defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv in a 69:85 derby.
Although the Yellows came after two consecutive losses, to Fenerbahce and Gilboa / Galil, it was clear from the beginning that this meeting was going to be a different story for them, when already in the first quarter Maccabi ran away with a double-digit gap.
Despite Bar Timor’s incredible three-pointer from three-yard pitches at the end of the quarter, the trend did not change in the second quarter, quite the opposite. Scotty Wilbkin warmed up, and the Yellows halved the lead at 28:51 which actually ended the story of the game. Hapoel still tried to return in the third quarter, but the Yellows’ victory was not in doubt for a moment.
Scored for Hapoel Tel Aviv: Yam Madar 22, 6 rebounds and 4 turnovers, Bar Timor 13 and 7 assists, Tyrrick Jones 11 and 8 rebounds, Jonathan Moore 6, Reggie Apshou 6, Gabe York 4, JP Tokoto 4 and -4 losses, Raz Adam 3.
Scored for Maccabi Tel Aviv: Scotty Wilbkin 23 points, Yuval Sussman 13 and 5 rebounds, Othello Hunter 10, Oz Blazer 9 and 6 rebounds, John Dibertolomao 9, Ante Zizic 8, Angelo Cloiaro 8 and 7 rebounds, Dori Sahar 3, Tyler Dorsey 2.
First quarter: 18:25 to Maccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv’s quintet: Yam Madar, Bar Timor, Reggie Apshou, JP Tokoto and Tyrick Jones.
The Maccabi Tel Aviv quintet: Scotty Wilbkin, Yuval Sussman, Angelo Cloiaro, Oz Blazer and Ante Zizic.
Wilbkin and Sussman sniped from the outside in the opening, Madar scored the first two baskets in red but Wilbkin with a successful penetration and assist for a three by Cloiaro from the corner increased to 4:11. Jones’ dunk put the host in charge, Madar scored nicely on one leg and Apashou scored from outside, but substitutes Othello Hunter and John Dibertolomeo kept the lead, 13:20. The excellent Hunter set up a 12-point lead, but the quarter closed with a rare basket from Bar Timor from three quarters of a yard. 25:18.
Second quarter: 28:51 to Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv recovered quickly from Timur’s crazy three, kept excellent and with a dunk and Paul by Zizic and another by Wilbkin escaped to 18:31. The gap to 24:45 Jones and Madar tried to take advantage of Wilbkin’s drop to rest to narrow before the break, but Blazer and Tyler Dorsey only widened further, 28:51 At recess.
Third quarter: 48:65 to Maccabi Tel Aviv
Madar started well in the third quarter with a basket in color and an assist for Timor, Cloiaro with a basket and an offense and an assist for Wilbkin kept the gap, 34:56. An impressive dunk by Jonathan Moore and a three by Madar sent Yannis Sapropoulos to a timeout, after which they sniped it over the arc with a laser, Apshaou and Dibertolomeo, 42:62. Penalty shots by Tokoto and Timor after unsportsmanlike for DiBartolommeo brought down to65:48 At the end of the third quarter.
Fourth quarter: 69:85 to Maccabi Tel Aviv
Sussman and Hunter collected points from a second chance, Moore scored 1 of 2 from the line and Cloiaro returned the difference to 20, 51:71. Jones and Hunter exchanged baskets in color, Timor reached double digits and Wilbkin in a beautiful three set up 56:76. Sussman buried the 12th 3-pointer in yellow, Žižić blocked a dunk attempt by Apshaw and Dibertolomeo increased it to 58:81. Moore scored from the outside, Žižić answered with a basket and an offense with a lot of power, Madar and Raz Adam only shrank to85:69 At the end.
