Hap Jerusalem nets much-needed victory

Gilboa/Galil suffers OT setback

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Jerusalem returned to the top of Eurocup Group G on Tuesday, beating CEZ Nymburk 91-82 at Malha Arena to improve its record to 3-1.
Jerusalem held a slender lead at the break (42-36), but would pull ahead in the third period on its way to a comfortable win.
Will Solomon scored 26 points for Hapoel, with Sam Clancy adding 24.
Meanwhile, Hapoel Gilboa/Galil’s chances of making the next stage of the Eurocup are all but over after falling to 1-3 in Group D following a 92-88 overtime defeat to BC Azovmash in Ukraine on Tuesday.
The loss means Gilboa will have to win its final two games against Cedevita Zagreb next week and at Aris Thessaloniki, and for other results to go its way, to have any hope of making the last 16.
“I’m very frustrated,” Gilboa coach Lior Lubin said. “Had we been more composed we would have won the game. We had a terrible run of turnovers and in such a tight game that cost us dearly.
“We still have a chance to progress, but we no longer have our fate in our own hands.”
After comfortably beating Gilboa at Malha last week, Azvomash dominated the start of Tuesday’s game as well, beginning the night with a 11-2 run.
The visitors answered with a 15-4 surge to take the lead, but the Ukrainians ended the period with a 10-0 run of their own to open a 25-17 margin after 10 minutes.
Azovmash maintained its lead throughout the second quarter, taking a 39-35 margin into the break.
However, a tight third frame ended tied at 57-57 and a Gal Mekel bucket with less than a minute to play gave Gilboa a 71-70 lead.
Demetrius Alexander hit a three-pointer in Azovmash’s subsequent possession, but Warren Carter quickly tied the score and after the hosts missed at the buzzer the game went to overtime.
There was nothing to separate the two teams in the extra five minutes either, but the hosts would score the final four points of the game from the free-throw line to clinch a win that all but ends Gilboa’s hopes.
Jack McClinton led Gilboa with 20 points, with Carter and Tyler Wilkerson adding 19 and 16 points, respectively.
Fred House led five Azovmash players in double-figures with 17 points.
Also Tuesday, Maccabi Netanya closed in on a place in the last 16 of the EuroChallenge, improving to 3-1 in Group D thanks to a 78-67 victory over Belgacom Liege.
After the first half ended in a 39-36 Netanya lead, the hosts pulled ahead in the third period and maintained a margin until the final whistle.
Adrian Banks had 24 points for Netanya, with Romeo Travis contributing 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Maccabi Haifa improved its chances of a top two finish in Group B on Tuesday, beating Skyliners Frankfurt 54-53 in Nesher thanks to a Sylven Landesberg free-throw with five seconds to play.
Landesberg was Haifa’s only player in double-digits, scoring 16 points.