By Amy Samin

Off to a good start. In the first game of their training camp in Germany, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv overpowered Telekom Baskets Bonn 89-55. Head coach Guy Goodes said of the game, “For the first practice game after only ten days of practice, it was definitely a good game. The guys are still getting used to one another and to the system we want to run.”

“We guarded very well,” Goodes continued, “especially in the second half, and we tried to run at every opportunity. There are still things we want to improve in our game. The training camp will continue, and the players are all committed and positive. It’s a good start.”

Goodes’ starting five was made up of Jeremy Pargo, MarQuez Haynes, Sylven Landesberg, Guy Pnini and Aleks Mari?. The Euroleague champions opened the game with a 4-0 run in the first minute thanks to Haynes, but the Germans had tied the score by the three minute mark. Maccabi made it 12-7 following a trey by Landesberg, and Alex Tyus came into the game for Mari?.

Sylven was on fire with a string of points, taking Maccabi to 15-8 by the middle of the quarter, as Brian Randle, Yogev Ohayon, and Nate Linhart came into the game. Randle quickly racked up two fouls and was replaced by Pnini, while a three pointer by Nate gave Maccabi a double digit lead, 24-14 with two and a half minutes left in the quarter. A bucket and one for Tyus made it 32-17 at the end of the first quarter.

Bonn looked better as the second period got underway, and within two minutes had narrowed the gap to 34-24. Randle was called for his third foul, and Maccabi had scoring trouble and got stuck at 36-24. Landesberg, and MarQuez with a triple, boosted Maccabi to 44-29 while a time out for the Germans didn’t help them much. Pargo sent an amazing dish to Randle, and Sylven – who refused to miss a shot – added to the lead. Haynes added another three, making it 51-36 at the half.

Pargo, Haynes, Linhart, Pnini and Mari? started the second half. The Germans scored from downtown to close the gap a little, but Pargo responded at the other end (assist Ohayon), making it 57-39 four minutes into the period. Pargo continued to show off his skills, and along with Tyus made it 61-40 with three and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Ohayon made a nice assist to Randle and also added points from outside the arc, keeping Maccabi’s lead comfortable: 66-42 as Ben Altit came into the game. Landesberg scored from the foul line to make it 69-43 as the period ended.

The momentum stayed with Maccabi in the early minutes of the fourth quarter, as the Israeli champions’ lead swelled to 76-45 with points from Ohayon, Altit, and Jake Cohen. Randle, despite playing most of the second half with four fouls, continued to play well in the paint and protect Maccabi’s lead. Altit also played well, and off a terrific assist from Linhart made it 89-55 as time ran out.

BOXSCORE

Landesberg 15 points, 6 rebounds; Haynes 13 points (3 of 3 from downtown); Pargo 12 points, 5 assists; Ohayon (5 assists) and Tyus (8 rebounds) 11 points each; Mari? 7 points; Randle 6 points; Altit 5 points; Pnini 4 points, 3 steals; Linhart 3 points, Cohen 2 points.

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