By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Hapoel Beer Sheva fought bravely to the very end. Still, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv prevailed again and advanced to the Israeli League semifinals with an 82-77 win in Game 3 of the quarterfinal series.
Wade Baldwin, Josh Nebo, Austin Hollins, and Jalen Adams were rested, while Jarrel Martin set out the match due to a sore foot, but that didn’t stop Oded Kattash’s team from winning.
Lorenzo Brown led the way with 14 points and seven assists, while John DiBartholomeo added 13. Alex Poythres was a rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points, while Roman Sorkin scored 11 with seven boards.
As for the losing side, who dropped an eight-point lead in the last quarter and succumbed in the final minute, David Efianayi had 20 points, Joaquin Szuchman added 15, Ben Moore finished the match with 14, and Khalil Ahmad with 11.
Maccabi will face defending champions Hapoel Holon in the best-of-three semifinal series. On the other side, Hapoel Tel Aviv awaits Hapoel Jerusalem or Bnei Herzliya (1-1).
Israeli Winner League, quarterfinals (Game 3):
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Beer Sheva 82-77 /3-0/
Hapoel Holon – Hapoel Galig Elyon 97-88 /3-0/
Hapoel Jerusalem – Bnei Herzliya 74-69 /2-1/
Hapoel Tel Aviv – Ironi Ness Ziona 102-69 /3-0/