Galil Elyon Coach Seeks Center Reinforcement After Comeback Win

Hapoel Galil Elyon secured a spot in the Winner League Cup quarterfinals with an 83-61 victory over Hapoel Emek on Saturday, finishing atop Group A. Despite trailing by 16 points in the second quarter, the team mounted a significant comeback, outscoring their opponents 21-2 in the third quarter and maintaining their momentum through the end of the game. Key scorers for Galil Elyon included Nate King with 18 points and Maurice Kemp with 16, supported by Ariel Sela and Rani Blecher, who each added 8 points.

Galil Elyon, now 2-0 in the group stage, will have a break before facing Ironi Ness Ziona on September 28th in a direct match for a semifinal berth. Coach Idan Avshalom rallied his team during a timeout when they were down by 16, encouraging them to fight and enjoy the game, a message that resonated with the players who went on to complete the impressive turnaround, aided by home crowd support.

"We didn't throw the first punch, but we knew how to come back and respond," Avshalom stated post-game. "I liked the second half. There's a long way to go. We are looking for a player at the center position to strengthen the team." Maurice Kemp expressed his satisfaction with the team's defensive principles and the coaching staff's preparation, highlighting his role as a veteran leader for the young squad and his desire to test his leadership abilities with the team.