Yellow-and-blue draws first blood in finals

• Published date: 15 June 2021
• Date: 15 June 2021
• Author: JOSHUA HALICKMAN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Angelo Caloiaro and John DiBartolomeo helped Ioannis Sfairopoulos's side open up a small lead over the course of the first half as Jehyve Floyd countered for Avishay Gordon's team.

However, the game's MVP, Scottie Wilbekin, moved into high gear over the course of the fourth quarter to help close out the victory.

Wilbekin led the way for Maccabi with 24 points, Caloiaro added 16 points and Ante Zizic scored 11 points in the win. Floyd was the Gilboa high scorer with 17 points, Iftach Ziv chipped in with 13 points and Kerry Blackshear scored 10 points in defeat.

"We knew that Gilboa is a good team and that they wouldn't give up," said Sfairopoulos following the game. "They always tried to cut down the difference from when we had a 10 or 11-point lead to six or seven points. We can't relax and we need to fight until the end."

Wilbelkin reflected on the keys to the win.

"We played well as a team and we focused on our defense limiting their transition and offensive rebounds. I think we did a good job with our game plan."

Gilboa's coach, Gordon, noted that there is a lot for his team to build on and that his players would not be hanging their heads.

"We came up short in aggressiveness and offensive rebounds," Gilboa coach Gordon explained. "We will work on this and we aren't going to wave the white flag. We worked hard all season for this."

Floyd also looked back on the loss.

"In the first quarter we didn't come out aggressive, including me, and they are a good team. They make you pay when you make a mistake and we have to be better."

Right after tipoff, Zizic scored in the paint while Wilbekin and Caloiaro went from deep for Tel Aviv.

Floyd countered with a pair of baskets inside for Hapoel Gilboa, but the yellow-and-blue stayed in front 13-4 midway through the first quarter.

Ziv went in for a layup, Artzi hit a corner three-pointer and Blackshear scored off a broken play in the paint, but Caloiaro continued with the hot hand from downtown as the hosts held a 21-15 lead after 10 minutes of play.

DiBartolomeo drilled home a pair of triples to open the second quarter while Othello Hunter added a bucket inside as Blackshear scored for visitors, with Sfairopoulos's squad maintaining the upper hand at 31-20 with 6:22...