Maccabi Raanana claimed a hard-fought 87-79 win over Ramat Hasharon in the Club Friendship tournament, using a strong second-half performance to pull away in a local derby that was far closer than the final score suggests.

Match Overview

Friendly competition or not, there was nothing friendly about the intensity in this one. Both sides traded baskets through a tight opening half, with Raanana's shooting keeping them just ahead while Ramat Hasharon stayed within touching distance behind aggressive drives and offensive rebounding.

The decisive stretch came after the interval, when Raanana tightened their defence and turned stops into transition points, building a lead they protected comfortably down the stretch. The 87-79 scoreline reflects a game decided by a single dominant run rather than sustained dominance.

Key Moments

• Tight first half: Neither side led by more than six points, with both teams shooting well from the perimeter.
• Third-quarter break: Raanana's defensive pressure created a run that pushed the lead into double digits.
• Ramat Hasharon fightback: A late flurry cut the deficit and forced Raanana to keep their starters on the floor.
• Closing free throws: Ice-cold shooting from the line in the final minute secured the result.

Tactical Story

Raanana's coaching staff made the key adjustment at half-time, switching to a more aggressive pick-and-roll coverage that disrupted Ramat Hasharon's rhythm and forced contested jumpers. Offensively, Raanana moved the ball quickly and attacked closeouts, generating open looks from beyond the arc and second-chance opportunities inside.

Ramat Hasharon's best basketball came when they played through the post and crashed the offensive glass. Their problem was consistency — brief scoring droughts in the third quarter gave Raanana exactly the opening they needed.

Standout Performers

Raanana's guards controlled the game in the second half, combining scoring with smart distribution, while their interior players won the rebounding battle and protected the rim. Ramat Hasharon got strong contributions from their wings, who kept the team competitive with timely shooting and hustle plays throughout.

What It Means

The Club Friendship tournament is designed to sharpen teams before the serious business of the season, and for Raanana this was a useful test of late-game execution and defensive discipline. Ramat Hasharon leave with positives of their own — a competitive performance against a strong local rival and clear areas to refine in the coming weeks.