Hapoel Tel Aviv downed Hapoel HaEmek 76-68 in Israel Basketball Premier League action as Yam Madar made his return to the court for the first time since this summer’s EuroBasket.
It took only a few minutes for Madar to shake off the rust as he came back from injury to put in an MVP performance and lead the Reds to the tough victory.
Madar led the way with 14 points, Malcolm added 13 points and Blakeney put in 12 points in the victory while Edwards scored 17 points to lead HaEmek, Shedrick chipped in with 11 points and Goldenberg scored 10 points in the loss.
Tel Aviv coach Dimitrios Itoudis commented on the win.
“We had half a day-and-a-half to practice and prepare for this game. They came in with a number of wins in a row and they had a week to prepare for the game. We missed a number of free throws and our shots as well, but we showed compassion and defensively we were focused to make stops.”
HaEmek coach Sharon Avrahami spoke about the defeat.
“It’s disappointing that we lost and we were there near the end of the game only a few points away but we just couldn’t find a way to score down the stretch. I’m proud that we did a very good job and we battled without two of our main Israeli players. We will continue to work hard and do our talking on the court and not off of it.”
A yellow-and-blue blowout
Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv blasted Maccabi Rishon Lezion 104-73 as Lonnie Walker began the game on fire with half-a-dozen 3-pointers and 24 first-half points to set the tone for a yellow-and-blue blowout victory ahead of the Euroleague’s return to Israel this Thursday.
ASVEL Villeurbanne will visit Yad Eliyahu later this week in what will be the first Euroleague game back in the Holy Land since Partizan Belgrade played in Tel Aviv back on October 5, 2023, less than 48 hours before the war with Hamas broke out.
Walker scored 27 points, Jimmy Clark put in 15 points while Marcio Santos and Will Rayman each scored 13 points for Tel Aviv in the win, while DJ Burns scored 25 points and Amin Stevens scored 14 points for Rishon in the loss.
“I’m very happy with the win and how we came into this game,” Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach Oded Katash began. “We are starting games much better from the defensive end and we are making a step up on that end. The first quarter was crazy and not normal, which Lonnie also knows. We have things to work on but we are understanding what we need to do the past couple of games and have also used fouls properly.”
Katash also commented on the Euroleague return.
“We have gone through two difficult years and here we are about to host a Euroleague game with the last one having been against Partizan. We’re all so excited and we know there will be a full house and a great atmosphere that the fans will create with their energy. To be able to prepare for a Euroleague game here in Israel is also so important for us.
Katash discussed the fact that many players haven’t yet played a Euroleague game in Israel at home.
“I’m a bit worried that this will be tough for some guys as they have never experienced a Euroleague game here at Yad Eliyahu. This is an issue because some guys just don’t have the experience in this whatsoever. Iffe [Lundberg], for example, knows what it’s like and has that know-how and he is really helping us off of the court.”
Rishon coach Drucker also spoke about the game.
“Lonnie Walker – that’s my summary of the game. He was incredible. We had hands in his face, defended him every which way and he didn’t let up. This was the first time the guys played here and Maccabi scored one 3-pointer after the next which shocked them. We tried our best to get the team back onto the game plan where we were better in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough.”
Up north, Hapoel Jerusalem hung on to defeat Kiryat Ata 88-84 as the Reds were able to fend off a late rally by the hosts to chalk up the win.
Jared Harper, Yovel Zoosman and Justin Smith were able to help the visiting capital city squad to a 21-point lead in the second quarter. But Noah Locke and Malik Hall led a furious comeback for Eldad Bentov’s side to take a late 79-78 lead with under five minutes to go.
However, Harper scored seven straight points to put Yonatan Alon’s team in front for good. Overall, Harper scored 20 points, Smith added 16 points and Zoosman put in 13 points for Jerusalem in the win, while Locke led Kiryat Ata with 22 points and Hall chipped in with 17 points in the loss.
Alon reflected on the game from Hapoel’s perspective.
“I’m very happy that we won. The guys here are under crazy pressure and every time another player is injured it just increases the load on the others. As for the lead we have, in the year 2025 it’s nothing, a few 3-pointers and it’s gone.”
Kiryat Ata coach Eldad Bentov commented on the game.
“It was very hard for us to get into the game. The fact that we even built that late lead surprised me. At the end of the day, they went on a run with the crowd’s energy. I’m very proud of the players, they showed character.”
Harper, the game’s MVP, said: “Another win to keep the streak going. It was a tough game and we knew it would be. Their home record isn’t for nothing, but we knew what mindset we needed to come in with. We came back from the deficit and kept our confidence. We missed a lot of open shots in the first half, but that’s basketball.”
Also, Bnei Herzliya downed Maccabi Ra’anana 107-96 as Elijah Stewart and Max Heidegger combined for 55 points to ruin Joe Ragland’s return to Israel.
After a close first half that saw Herzliya head into halftime in front by a single point (50-49), the Stewart-Heidegger duo proved to be unstoppable in the third quarter to open up a 81-65 lead and never look back to take the win.
Stewart scored 30 points, Heidegger added 25 points while Chinanu Onuaku and Noah Carter each scored 12 points in the victory. Yotam Hanochi scored 20 points for Ra’anana, Daylen Kountz put in 18 points in his debut while Ragland scored 18 points and dished out 12 assists in the loss.
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