Holds the trophy for the last two years out. Maccabi Rishon Lezion defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 84:90 tonight (Thursday) after a wonderful thriller at Drive-In. The advantage shifted from side to side, the momentum changed, but the one who made the difference for Guy Goodes was Golan Gut. The Guard’s 22 points and a 3-pointer demonstration lifted the runner-up to the state cup final.
Scored for Maccabi Rishon LeZion: Gutt 22, Taylor 17 (5 assists), Mitchell 16 (8 rebounds), Lewis 15 (5 assists, 3 steals), Monroe 8 (11 rebounds), Tishman 4, Avivi and Dovrat 3 each, Fleischer 2.
Scored for Hapoel Jerusalem: Braimo 27 (9 rebounds), Hill 23 (9 rebounds), Brown 11 (10 assists), Thomas 7, Zalmanson 6, Blatt 5 (7 assists), Wilson 3, Cohen Saban 2. Yes Partner: Ariel.
Goodes and his trainees put the troubles behind them. Despite a challenging season and a less than good period that included a surprising loss to Nahariya, the Rishon LeZion Oranges rose in the moment of truth and gave a fantastic display. Taylor, Monroe, Mitchell and Lewis looked great, but the game story was Golan Gut. The 26-year-old guard opened the season In a bad way, he appeared for Money Time with 22 points, including five threes, and led his team to the Cup final, where he will try to win the first trophy for the club.
Hapoel Jerusalem, which is going through a difficult season by its standards, hoped to take comfort in winning the factory it has controlled for the past two years. But despite an excellent game by Suleiman Braimo (27 points) and a double-double by Jacoben Brown who returned from injury (11 points and 10 assists), Maccabi Rishon LeZion surpassed it at the right moments. The runner-up did not give up the game for even one moment. Despite a record 11-point lead in favor of the Jerusalemites in the second quarter, the Oranges from the City of Wine managed to produce a big run and equalize the result at the end of the third quarter.In the fourth quarter Gutt and his team closed the story with a great fighting display.
the progress of the game
Hapoel Jerusalem’s quintet: Blatt, Hill, Thomas, Braimo, Brown
Maccabi Rishon Lezion’s quintet: Monroe, Mitchell, Taylor, Gutt, Spring
The groups went up very determined to the floor. Blatt and Brown’s good moves were answered by beautiful baskets by Goodes’ trainees. The one who came up excellent for the first quarter is Golan Gut who scored three times from a distance and helped his team to take the lead. In contrast, the Edomites’ trainees failed to be accurate beyond the arc and missed all 10 of their shots for three in the first quarter. Despite good first-minute minutes, the Jerusalemites managed to narrow the gap to just two points, also thanks to two misses from Gutt’s penalties in the final seconds. 20:22 To Rishon LeZion at the end of the first quarter.
Jerusalem, and especially Hill, rose excellently to the second quarter. Three consecutive threes by the American returned the advantage to the team from the capital. Hill continued to be passionate and gave a nice assist to Thomas. Adomitis’ teammates did not stop being dominant in the second quarter and Braimo increased the difference to 9 after a beautiful dunk. But even though it seemed that the Jerusalemites were on their way to an escape, a late awakening and a great run by Goodes’ trainees in the last two minutes of the half brought the Oranges back into the game. 39:41 Hapoel Jerusalem at the end of the first half.
Jerusalem started the third quarter well and managed to bring the gap back to eight in the first three minutes. But Golan Gut continued his great game and kept Rishon LeZion in the game. The Jerusalemites failed to open a gap, and whenever it seemed that they managed to escape, Gut and his teammates continued to narrow. A dramatic equalizer at the end of the third quarter sent the game into a dramatic final quarter. 60:60
Rishon LeZion managed to rise to the desired advantage already with the opening of the fourth quarter. A huge three by Avivi jumped Goodes’ bench. The advantage passes from side to side – three by Braimo along with wonderful moves by Golan Gut create a great drama in Drive In. Missed too much, Gutt and his teammates made a great defense and closed out the game on84:90. Maccabi Rishon Lezion in the state cup final.
