It came with negative momentum, with quite a few players not in full shape and at times it seemed like it would get tangled up over its head – but when it comes to the cup, it seems that Hapoel Jerusalem feels comfortable. Tonight (Monday) she proved it with 65:80 against Gilboa / Galil in Gan Ner, which guaranteed her a ticket to the semifinals alongside Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Holon and Maccabi Rishon LeZion.
Scored to Jerusalem: Thomas 24 (9 rebounds), Braimo 14, Blatt 12, Brown 11, Zalmanson 10, Wilson 5, Cohen Saban 3, Kramer 1. Scored for Gilboa: Cousins 13, Floyd and Blackshire 12 each, Artzi and Ziv 8 each, Hanochi and Thomason 5 each, Srur 2.
In fact, Gilboa got all the tools to complete a surprise: the Northerners, who continue to impress since the start of the season, got Yiftach Ziv back on the floor – while the rival from the capital came after two painful losses to Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ness Ziona, with Brown and Blatt after injuries and no man Ariel In fact, in many stages of the game Oded Katash’s team was not at all in the business – at least not as we used to see it at the start of the season – but Tyson Thomas’ great ability (24 points and 9 rebounds) made all the difference.
The first half of the tackle was mostly characterized by losses, and less by spectacular attacks. Gilboa started better and wrote the pace – while hitting exactly the opponent’s weak point, the color defense, and enjoying Floyd’s output – but Jerusalem remained close all the way and good minutes from Jacoben Brown brought it down to the break with a minimal advantage.
The second half, on the other hand, was already marked by one team – and its name is Hapoel Jerusalem. Thomas took control of the game and scored points whenever he wanted, Blatt warmed up the header outside the arc and Braimo Zalmanson took command under the baskets. Cousins’ attempts to put a stick in the ex’s wheels failed one after another – and after a single 2:17 run, the story ended. Now, Jerusalem is facing a pair of games against Maccabi Rishon LeZion – the first in the Balkans on Wednesday, and the second in the league in the first – while Gilboa is waiting for Hapoel Haifa.
the progress of the game
As in the previous two games, this time too Jerusalem’s problem in the opening was in color – and Floyd took advantage of this to intimidate with two light dunks. On the other hand, Thomas made sure to keep Jerusalem close with 4 points of his own. Cousins warmed up the handle, sniped a three-pointer and a half-distance basket in front of the ex and raised Gilboa to a record 6-point lead, but Katsch called off Jacoben Brown from the bench – and it returned with a basket and an offense and set 15:17 at the end of the first quarter.
Conducted by Brown, the Jerusalem team picked up gear in the second quarter. First with three penalty shots by the quarterback, then with a dunk by Thomas. Hanochi and Floyd did not allow her to escape with their own baskets on the other side. Katsch called Wilson off the bench, and the newcomer took advantage of Gilboa’s series of errors and returned with a three. Katsch’s technical foul in good minutes of Jerusalem brought Gilboa back to a single pass distance, but Wilson again increased the penalty. Ziv’s three set 33:36 at the break.
The second half opened with a 2:11 run by Jerusalem, which gave Yaron a record of eight points – while Thomas and Brown took control of the game. Lubin called a time-out, from which Gilboa came out great. Artzi’s three, Thomson’s penetration and Cousins’ basket completed a 0-9 counterattack and the turnaround was complete. Zalmanson’s four points on the other side brought Jerusalem back to safety, a kidnapping and a light layup by Braimo set up a 53:59 Jerusalem for the decisive quarter.
The trend opened at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and baskets by Braimo and Zalmanson in color raised Jerusalem to a double-digit advantage which was also the record advantage. The pace calmed down a bit and it worked in Jerusalem’s favor, which went out for a 2:17 run and closed out an interest. Attempts by Floyd and Cousins to make up for the difference failed, and the victory remained on the side of Katsch and his trainees – who completed 65:80 and came one step closer to a third straight win.
