By Amy Samin
In the first of what will be three away games this week, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Ashdod 82-70. Devin Smith led three players with double doubles with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Alex Tyus also claimed a double double (13 points, 13 rebounds) and was named MVP, while Sylven Landesberg added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Yogev Ohayon had 12 points and 8 assists and Jeremy Pargo contributed 11 points.
Maccabi's starters were Jeremy Pargo, Devin Smith, Brian Randle, Alex Tyus, and Yogev Ohayon. The game got off to a slow start, and halfway through the first quarter the score was only 7-6 Ashdod. Four straight points by MarQuez Haynes got Maccabi moving, and Tyus, Pargo, Smith and Ohayon also scored to make it 17-12 at the end of the period.
Four straight points for Maccabi at the start of the second quarter wrapped up an 8-0 run that put them up 21-12. The hosts tried to get back in the game, but Sylven Landesberg (baseline jumper)and Tyus (midrange jumper and dunk) increased Maccabi's lead to 32-19 halfway through the period. The next few minutes were not as productive for the visitors, and Ashdod took advantage and closed to within seven as the teams went into the break, 38-31.
After a three by Smith put Maccabi's lead back in double digits, Ashdod got back into the game and cut their deficit to six. A dunk by Tyus and a trey from Ohayon made it 46-35 Maccabi after two and a half minutes. Once again the home team went to work, closing to 46-41 until Smith, Tyus, Randle, and Landesberg broke open a comfortable 68-52 lead for the yellows as the period came to an end.
The fourth quarter was also slow, with Maccabi leading 73-59 halfway through thanks to points by Randle and Ohayon. In a final attempt at a comeback, Ashdod managed to reach -9, 76-67 with three and a half minutes left in the game. Four straight points by Pargo (including a dazzling 360 jumper in the paint) wrapped things up, and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv came away with an 82-70 victory over Maccabi Ashdod.