Maccabi Rishon Le Zion edged Ironi Eilat 87-85 in a dramatic Israel Basketball League Cup matchup on September 15, 2026, using a late surge to secure a two-point home win.

Match overview

The contest was tightly contested throughout, with both teams trading runs and neither able to pull away. Rishon Le Zion started strongly, but Ironi Eilat responded before halftime and kept the pressure on after the break. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, decided only in the final seconds.

• Q1: Rishon Le Zion 22, Ironi Eilat 19
• Q2: Rishon Le Zion 20, Ironi Eilat 24
• Q3: Rishon Le Zion 23, Ironi Eilat 21
• Q4: Rishon Le Zion 22, Ironi Eilat 21
• Final: Rishon Le Zion 87, Ironi Eilat 85

Key moments

Ironi Eilat led 83-81 with less than two minutes remaining, but Rishon Le Zion responded with a decisive 6-0 run. Amit Cohen hit a step-back three to give Rishon the lead, then Daniel Levi grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put-back. Eilat cut the deficit to two with a quick layup, but Rishon ran the clock down and forced a difficult final attempt that missed at the buzzer.

Tactical story

Rishon Le Zion leaned heavily on their pick-and-roll game, with Cohen and Levi connecting repeatedly in the half court. Their offensive rebounding created extra possessions, especially in the fourth quarter. Ironi Eilat used a fast-paced attack and three-point shooting to stay in front for long stretches, but they struggled to contain Rishon’s late penetration and committed costly turnovers in the final minutes.

Standout players

Amit Cohen paced Rishon Le Zion with 22 points and 7 assists, hitting the biggest shot of the night. Daniel Levi added 18 points and 10 rebounds, dominating the paint. For Ironi Eilat, Tomer Ben David scored 24 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, while Yonatan Mizrahi contributed 15 points off the bench.

What it means

The win sends Maccabi Rishon Le Zion forward in the Israel Basketball League Cup and gives them confidence ahead of their next fixture. Ironi Eilat exit with a narrow defeat, but their performance showed they can compete with top opposition. Rishon’s late-game execution and rebounding will be key factors if they are to make a deep run in the competition.