Galil/Gilboa 79-Maccabi Haifa Heat 72 (2/3/2009)

Gilboa/Galil snagged an important 79-72 away win from Maccabi Haifa Heat, keeping itself in the playoff picture, and raining on the debut of Haifa acquisitions Malik Dixon and Cheyne Gadson. Haifa seemed in control of the game until the final quarter, taking a 59-52 lead into the final period.

However, Galil's perimeter game shifted gears down the stretch, allowing forward Brian Randle to penetrate more easily, as the offense produced 27 fourth quarter points. On defense, big man Brad Buckman adjusted along with Randle to set up an aerial defense that shut down Haifa's Brooks Sales and Ido Kozikaro.
In the league's second contest last night, Maccabi Rishon Letzion dogged host Hapoel Holon for over 45 minutes but fell apart in the second overtime, losing 107-106. The underdogs had trailed by as much as nine points late in the third quarter, but the State Cup champs could not put away their weaker opponent.

Rishon Letzion tied the game at 80-80 at the end of regulation on a prayer of a basket by DeMarco Johnson, then repeated the feat in the waning seconds of the first overtime. After Holon ran off the first six points, Johnson brought Rishon back. With three ticks left, Robert Conley rebounded Johnson's errant free throw and stuck the ball back in the hole to knot the game at 92-apiece.

In the second OT, it was Rishon's turn to reel off the first six points, but then the visitors lost their steam. Holon stormed back as two free throws by Luis Flores put Holon ahead for good with 8.7 seconds left.