By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered a narrow 86-84 defeat to Hapoel Herzliya in its first preseason training game, despite a strong individual performance from Keaton Wallace, who led the Yellow-and-Blue with 20 points.
The closed-door game was played at the multi-purpose sports center in Hadar Yosef and was not open to fans or the media.
Maccabi started the game strongly and controlled the opening stages. At the end of the first quarter, the Tel Aviv side led 23-17, with Wallace already making his presence felt by scoring 10 points.
The visitors maintained their advantage through the second quarter. Maccabi went into halftime with a 53-38 lead, as Wallace reached 14 points. Will Rayman added eight points, while Amit Abu, Jundy, and Bonzie Colson contributed six apiece. Armand Bykota and Shane Hunter had four points each.
Maccabi continued to hold the upper hand in the third quarter, entering the final period with a 72-63 advantage. However, Hapoel Herzliya produced a strong finish and managed to turn the game around in the closing stages, eventually securing an 86-84 victory.
Despite the defeat, Wallace’s 20-point performance provided one of the main positives for Maccabi in its first preseason outing.
Head coach Oded Kattash entered the game with a depleted squad, with several players either away on national-team duty, injured, or still working toward full fitness.
The roster available for the preseason matchup included captain John DiBartolomeo, Amit Abu, Armand Bykota, Sagi Godes, Nitai Dudu, Brandon Edwards, Oshae Brissett, Will Rayman, Tamir Gold, T.J. Clark, Keaton Wallace, Shane Hunter and Bonzie Colson.
Roman Sorkin, Yam Madar, Daniel Ties, Ife Lundberg and Jaylen Hoard were away with their respective national teams. Jimmy Clark was sidelined through injury, while T.J. Leaf and Gur Lavi had yet to return to full fitness.
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