Watch: Great game in Romema. Brisker equalized with the buzzer, but the Reds dominated at the end. 26 for the Cigars, Sorkin’s career record on the other hand was not enough
Haifa is red in the orange ball. After 20 years, the derby came to Carmel in basketball as well, and this game tonight (Sunday) at Romema Hall showed us how much it was worth the wait. Hapoel Haifa defeated Maccabi 91: 100 at the end of extra time and a simply wonderful battle, and how unfortunate that it was impossible to fill the stands with fans for this special event.
They scored for Hapoel Haifa: Jason Seagers 26 (9 of 14 from the field), Keenan Evans 22, Leonard Freeman 18 (8 of 10 from the field, 14 rebounds), Karem Mashur 11, Amit Simhon and Igor Nesterenko 8 each, Taylor Rochesti 5 , Rakim Buckles 2. Partner and not a scorer: Ofek Avital.
They scored for Maccabi Haifa: Roman Sorkin 26 (career high, alongside 12 rebounds), Dontae Smith (8 rebounds and 7 assists) and Michael Brisker 18 each, Rigoberto Mendoza 13 (7 assists), Alex Chubarevich 10, Taylor Baron 6. Partner and not a scorer: Naor Sharon.
The Greens went down with this loss to a dismal 8: 1 balance and are manning the last place in the Premier League table. Precisely in the derby of Daniel Savannah the team hoped to put it aside and try to finish the confrontation with a smile, but the urban rival is much deeper and of better quality. In the end the short roster, given the lack of Devon Jefferson and Avi Ben Shimol, made the difference and the fatigue was felt, as only seven green players were his partner.
Taylor Baron, who received the visa to enter Israel, had already made his debut, but it was quite weak. The one who excelled at the loser was Roman Sorkin, with a career high and a double-double. Michael Brisker was also among the standouts, as his crazy three with the buzzer sent the thrilling fight into overtime. In those five minutes, however, there was only one set on the floor.
On the other hand, the Reds put behind them the last game against Hapoel Holon, and concentrated on trying to win the first derby since they were promoted to the senior league, something they have been waiting for for many years. They are now on a 3: 5 balance. Taylor Rochesti, who was naturally lukewarm in the debut game against Holon, was not so prominent this time either. The standouts were Jason Seagers and Leonard Freeman, who demonstrated fantastic cooperation and whenever Maccabi Haifa tried to escape, they kept their team in business, and even closed interest at the end.
the progress of the game
tidings Maccabi Haifa Starting with a quintet were Rigoberto Mendoza, Michael Brisker, Naor Sharon, Donta Smith and Roman Sorkin. at Hapoel Haifa Opened by Jason Seagers, Keenan Evans, Amit Simhon, Leonard Freeman and Igor Nesterenko.
The game opened with a relatively low score in the first few minutes. Simhon started with a three, but on the other side the Greens answered with a 3:10 run thanks to threes by Smith and Sorkin. The one who brought the Reds back to business and turned the score around was Freeman, and then another three by Simhon set up 14:16 for the visitors. The gap even increased to 5 points, but a basket by Alex Chubarevich and first points by Taylor Baron reduced to19:18 Hapoel Haifa at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Savannah’s team picked up gear, starting with another three by Smith. The huge poster rings of Sorkin and Chubarevich kept a small advantage of the Greens, and later a three of Sorkin and a move of a basket and a foul by Mendoza created a 26:33 advantage. Taylor Rochesti provided 5 consecutive points for the visitors and reduced, but on the other hand Chubarevich answered with two consecutive baskets of his own, which is 31:37.
In the last minute of the first half we got exceptional basketball and a great example of how much we missed such a derby. Chubarevich went up to double digits with a half-distance basket, Karem Mashur scored a 3-pointer with the 24-hour buzzer and reduced to 39:36, but in the closing seconds of the second quarter the patient green attack ended with a pass to Dontae Smith, who buried the third three-pointer His and closed the half with 36:42.
The third quarter was better for Hapoel Haifa, which did not allow its opponent to escape at any stage and as time went on it managed to get closer and closer to it. The gap ranges from 3-6 points in favor of the Greens, and at one point the guest pressed the gas pedal.
Jason Seagers and Leonard Freeman were Elad Hussein’s key players, and together they created a 2: 9 run to reduce and even make it 55:56. In the last minutes of the quarter, a basket chased a basket on the other side, but Roman Sorkin’s miss up half a minute before the end, Hapoel Haifa can close the quarter with an advantage. 62:64, Thanks to another basket of cigars.
At the end of the third quarter, there was a sharp verbal confrontation between Donta Smith and Naor Sharon on the bench of Maccabi Haifa. Smith remarked to Sharon about a defensive move, Sharon answered him – and a verbal quarrel developed between the two that also included curses. Avi Ben Shimol, who did not play tonight, went to reassure the agitated Sharon, who did not really calm down for long moments.
Igor Nesterenko raised Hapoel Haifa to 64:68, but from then on there was a revival from the green side with a 0:11 run. Points by Sorkin, Brisker and Smith set 68:75, but the Reds recorded their own run thanks to Keenan Evans, thus equalizing 77:77. Evans then put his team ahead 77-81, and the small gap was maintained until the final seconds. But then came Michael Brisker, with a crazy three in the last attack, and he led to extra time when he equalized with the buzzer, 86:86.
To the overtime only one group climbed on the parquet, while on the green side the fatigue seemed to prevail. Hapoel Haifa’s 0:11 run closed interest, and the host tried to make rehearsal noises, but without success. 91: 100 At the end.
