Maccabi Tel-Aviv now leads Winner League

At the end of Round 12 in the Israeli Winner League, Maccabi Tel-Aviv has emerged as the new league leader after crushing Ironi Nes-Ziona, 118-89. The victory takes them to 10-2 and they have supplanted Hapoel Jerusalem atop the league standings. Hapoel Jerusalem lost at home against Ironi Nahariya 84-87. Ironi Nes-Ziona, now at 7-5, fell from third to fifth place.

The game won by the club sporting blue and yellow started off close, with their guests even coming out ahead with a slight, 28-29 lead at the end of the first quarter. The game turned around in the second period. Maccabi T-A’s offense got into gear and they demonstrated why they are such a dangerous team to face. Excellent ball movement allowed them to find the open man and it resulted in the team finishing the game 32-21 assist advantage and impressive 18-of-32 shooting from beyond the three-point arc. By the halftime break, Maccabi Tel-Aviv amassed a daunting 60-44 lead.

After the break Maccabi Tel-Aviv continued where they left off and pushed the pace according to coach Guy Goodes’ design. More three-point bombs rained down on Ironi Nes-Ziona as both Sylven Landesberg (photo above) and Marquez Haynes both caught fire and launched triple after triple from downtown. The visitors’ perimeter defense could not keep them in check. They made a push in the fourth and final period, but it was too little, too late and Maccabi Tel-Aviv held on to secure the massive win.

Sylven Landesberg shot 6-of-10 from deep en route to his game-high 31 points. Marquez Haynes only attempted seven shots for the game, but he sank them all. Incidentally, they were all three-pointers and he ended up with 21 points. It was not a two-man show, as four other teammates also managed to score in double figures.

Meir Tapiro led Ironi Nes-Ziona with 20 points and six assists.