This is not how Oded Katash expected to end his term at Hapoel Jerusalem. The coach who will leave tonight (Wednesday) for Panathinaikos lost in his last game on the lines 78:77 to Turk Telecom Ankara Arena. The host lost by 19 points, with the Turks taking the lead in the game 40 seconds to go. Following the loss their balance dropped to 3: 2 and they are not dependent on themselves before the last round.
They scored for Hapoel Jerusalem: Tyson Thomas 15 points, Tamir Blatt 15, Chris Kramer 14, Malcolm Hill 12, Jacobson Brown 10, Suleiman Braimo 7, Idan Zalmanson 4.
Scored for Turk Telecom: Sam Decker 20 points, Nick Johnson 15, Kyle Wiltger 13, Camar Baldwin 11, Mitchell Eric 8, Kane Korkmats 7, Samet Gake 4.
The first half was perhaps the best of Jerusalem this season. 16 assists, off-archery and a tough defense gave Katsch’s team a 19-point lead, which dropped to 15 on the break.
Also in the third quarter the Reds maintained a double-digit lead, with two points from Brown on the buzzer set 55:66 ahead of the decisive quarter.
In the last 10 minutes under Katsch, his players lost their heads. Jerusalem scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter and conceded 23 on the way to a dramatic loss. Decker and Johnson won the Turks’ comeback, with Eric’s accurate free-kick 3.5 seconds to go giving them a first-half advantage. During the last round Brown failed to score and Turk Telecom completed a double victory over Jerusalem.
So what’s next? Jerusalem, which is not independent, will meet Limoges in the last round and will keep its fingers crossed for Turk Telecom, which will compete against Iguoka.
the progress of the game
Quarter 1: Kramer started the game well with five quick points. Three straight threes by the Reds gave a 4:11 lead, but good minutes from Sam Decker reduced the difference to just 3. Jacoben Brown’s basket towards the end of the quarter set 12:19 red.
Quarter 2: Jerusalem maintained a reasonable range from the Turks and threes by Thomas and Blatt set a record advantage of 18:32. The Reds continued to bomb out of the arc and maintained a double-digit lead, thanks to great team ability and 15 assists in the first half, which ended in 34:49.
Quarter 3: The Turks improved their offensive ability in the opening half, but on the other hand another three by Blatt set 42:56. Nick Johnson got into things with the guest and his good minutes reduced the difference to 55:66.
Quarter 4: Three minutes into the decisive quarter Turk Telecom reduced the difference to just 8, but Kramer again sniped out of the arc and maintained a promising gap. However, a number of stops on defense and a three by Decker reduced the gap to 3. 40 seconds to the end the comeback was completed when Baldwin set up 77:77 and a successful penalty shootout by Mitchell Eric set up a dramatic victory.