National League Basketball Heats Up With Top Teams Clash

The sixth round of the Israeli National League "Winner" basketball season is set to tip off on Friday, November 13, 2026, featuring a highly anticipated matchup between league leaders Maccabi Rehovot and Maccabi 'Av-Gad' Ra'anana. Both teams currently hold a 4-1 record, sharing the top spot with Ironi Nahariya and Elitzur Netanya.

Maccabi Rehovot enters the game on a three-game winning streak, coming off a dominant 92-66 victory over Ironi Ashkelon where they dished out 29 assists. Lamont West leads Rehovot with an average of 18.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Ra'anana, on the other hand, secured a dramatic 75-72 win against Elitzur Netanya with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Braelie Liam Albert, who was named to the league's weekly honor roll. Davon Burns is Ra'anana's leading scorer, averaging 22.4 points per game, and was crucial in their last win. Notably, Rehovot defeated Ra'anana 91-77 in their previous encounter at Barzilai Hall on October 30, 2024, though Ra'anana was promoted to the Premier League at the end of that season.

Other key matchups include Maccabi Petah Tikva (2-2) hosting Elitzur Yavne, who are still searching for their first win of the season. Petah Tikva boasts the league's best offense, averaging 89.8 points per game, led by Brandon Tab, the league's top scorer at 28 points per game. Yavne, despite a 0-5 record, showed resilience in their last game, erasing a 15-point deficit before falling 88-81. Elitzur Netanya, after an initial four-win streak, suffered their first loss on a buzzer-beater against Ra'anana. They possess the league's best defense, with five players scoring 10 or more points, led by Ishmael Lane. They will face newcomer Lior Rosen's team, which has one win in four games and is still seeking its first road victory.

In Saturday's games, M.K. Otéf Drom (3-2) hosts Ironi Ashkelon (2-3). Otéf Drom is undefeated at home and is coming off their first road win, an 88-81 victory fueled by Vince Cole's 33 points. Ashkelon, under new coach Hanan Hirshovitz, is on a two-game losing streak and has yet to win away from home. A.S. Ramat HaSharon Yerak HaSadeh (3-1) will play host to Hapoel Migdal HaEmek/Yizre'el, who have lost five straight and concede the most points in the league. Ramat HaSharon is the league's top rebounding team, led by Cody Riley. Finally, Ironi Nahariya (4-1), tied for the lead, will host A.S. Ashkelon/Kiryat Gat. Nahariya has won three in a row but scores the fewest three-pointers in the league. Kiryat Gat celebrated their first win in dramatic fashion, overcoming a 26-point deficit to win by one point, but subsequently released import Marcus Thius. Derek Walker will aim to contain Nahariya's Amin Stevens, the league's second-leading scorer.

The round concludes on Sunday with Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin hosting Elitzur Shomron. Kiryat Motzkin has only won at home this season, while Shomron has yet to lose on the road. This marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams in the National League.