Tamir tops 40, Warriors slay Steelers
MACCABI Warriors earned a famous 89-76 win away to the Western Port Steelers on Saturday night as Warriors star guard Benji Tamir took his game to even greater heights, pouring in a career-high 41 points.
MACCABI Warriors earned a famous 89-76 win away to the Western Port Steelers on Saturday night as Warriors star guard Benji Tamir took his game to even greater heights, pouring in a career-high 41 points.
The spectacular scoring effort, on the back of 53 per cent shooting and a scorching six out of seven from three-point territory, catapulted Maccabi to its third win on the season.
These numbers are unseen at the club since the 2006 season when Maccabi icon Gili Smolboard notched 50-point games on several occasion.
Tamir added eight rebound and four steals to round out a heroic stat line, as well as nullifying the impact of Steelers’ import, Manny Hendrix (25 points), who scored 17 less points than his previous game against the Warriors.
Maccabi point guard Yoav Molcho also had a breakout performance.
The Israeli X-factor received his first start for the season and justified the selection with career-highs in points (21) and rebounds (8).
It was back-and-forth action early on, with both teams enjoying a run-and-gun style of play.
Maccabi tightened up its defence and this led to several costly turnovers for the Steelers, which Tamir and Molcho capitalized on by converting fast break opportunities.
In the second quarter, Maccabi’s offence stagnated and it allowed the Steelers back in the contest.
Young centre Samson Baron came off the bench and made his presence felt with a couple important shots, while Molcho provided several highlight plays that helped settle Maccabi, including a hanging lay-up attempt that seemed impossible until it dropped through the hoop.
With the scores even at 40 and seconds remaining in the first half, Tamir dribbled out the clock and launched a prayer from two meters behind the three-point arc only for the buzzer-beater to drop and Maccabi head into the break with the brunt of momentum.
The third quarter continued in similar effect for Tamir and his incredible shooting led a game-defining 26 to 13 Maccabi run.
Lay ups, mid-range swishes and three-point bombs, Tamir was destructive from all angles and was well helped by the penetration of his teammates, which led to the open looks.
Maccabi’s Gavin Katz (5 assists) passed the ball with composure during the final stanza, feeding big man Nick Alexandrou (10 points, 8 rebounds) whose deft finishing underneath the basket helped closeout the result.
ADAM BLAU
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