Hapoel Jerusalem is currently hosting Hapoel Haifa in the capital’s home arena in a game advanced from the 22nd round of the Winner Basket League, and is trying to put together a third consecutive victory and improve its balance.
The red team is trying to continue to forget the losing streak at the beginning of February, which began against the same Hapoel Haifa and ended in relegation in the semi-finals of the State Cup by Maccabi Rishon Lezion. Now, after the 80:87 over Urbani Nahariya and the 84:97 over Maccabi Rishon LeZion, the players of Dainius Adumaitis are trying to avenge the team from Carmel for the same loss.
On the other hand, Elad Hussein’s Haifa team did not play for exactly a month, due to the closure and then due to sticking with the team. In their last game, they were stopped with a disappointing 91:79 for Bnei Herzliya, and now they want to recover, register another victory over the opponent from the capital after the 99: 101 in Romema about a month and a half ago, continue to establish their status as a top team and stick to Hapoel Gilboa / Galil in fourth place.
First quarter – 13:26 to Hapoel Haifa
Hapoel Jerusalem opened with: Tamir Blatt, Jacoben Brown, Stanton Kidd, Tyson Thomas and Suleiman Braimo. Hapoel Haifa started with: Keenan Evans, Jason Seagers, Amit Simhon, Rocks Buckles and Leonard Freeman.
The game opened with a three by Evans and then a free-kick by Freeman that set 0: 5. Jacoben Brown responded with a 3-pointer, but another Evans three-pointer and Freeman points from the line raised it to 3:10 after two and a half minutes. After a Thomas’ point from the line, Simhon set up 4:12 with a slight penetration and the host took a timeout. Haifa got stuck and Brown dropped to 12: 8, but in the next attack Buckles drowned while Brown was sprawled on the floor and grabbed his shoulder. The Jerusalem guard recovered, the Jerusalemites reduced to 14:13 with a three and points from the line, but in the next three attacks of the guest from a lesson scored twice and delivered one assist, while Jerusalem was stuck, and a three by Simhon set 13:23 minutes to end the quarter. Another Simhon three gave them a 13-point lead and Seagers missed with the buzzer and missed an opportunity to take a 15-point lead.
Second quarter – 42:56 to Hapoel Haifa
Adam Ariel opened the second quarter with two threes and this time Hussein took a timeout. Another three by Jerusalem reduced to only 26:22, but a three by Ofek Avital returned to 7 points. Tamir Blatt reduced to 29:24, Karem Mashur responded with another three, the fifth in the quarter in less than two minutes and Adam Ariel reduced to 32:26. From the hot lesson Shadow, another three and then another basket and raised to 26:37 – again a double-digit gap. Adumaitis took a timeout from which the fiery Adam Ariel returned with another three. But Evans responded with a basket and then a three and raised to 29:42. The escape continued and another three-pointer from Mashur raised him to 15 points and Haifa to an amazing 29:47. Three minutes before the end of the quarter, Hello showed 33:49, Braimo reduced to 12 points with two consecutive baskets, but the guest ran back to 38:54 minutes before the end of the quarter. Braimo’s good minutes continued with another basket, Evans responded with a great penetration and Thomas closed out the half with two points.
Third quarter
Thomas opened the second half with two points, but Buckles responded with two threes and the gap was already 18 – 44:62, and Adumaitis took a timeout.