Hap J’lem records another dominant BSL conquest

Hapoel Jerusalem claimed its third straight BSL victory on Saturday night, thrashing Maccabi Haifa 93-76 in Nesher.

By ALLON SINAI
will solomon 311 (photo credit: Hapoel Jerusalem website)
will solomon 311
(photo credit: Hapoel Jerusalem website)
Hapoel Jerusalem claimed its third straight BSL victory on Saturday night, thrashing Maccabi Haifa 93-76 in Nesher.
Oded Katash’s team seems to be gelling with every week that passes, and after opening its Eurocup regular season campaign with a one-sided victory over VEF Riga on Tuesday, the Reds proved on Saturday that they can be forceful in the BSL as well, outscoring Haifa 40-15 in the first 13 minutes of the second half.
Yogev Ohayon led Jerusalem with 19 points and eight assists, while Jason Rich and Sam Clancy added 17 and 15 points, respectively, for Hapoel, which flew out to Spain early Sunday morning ahead of Tuesday’s Eurocup game at Cajasol Sevilla.
Larry O’Bannon scored 21 points for Haifa, which fell to 2-4, but can at least draw some encouragement from Elishay Kadir’s debut, with the forward who is on loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv, contributing 17 points and nine rebounds.
On Sunday, Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Barak Netanya, Hapoel Gilboa/Galil visits Hapoel Holon and Maccabi Rishon Lezion welcomes Ironi Ashkelon.
Bnei Hasharon hosts Maccabi Ashdod on Monday.
Haifa got off to the better start on Saturday and led by six points (19-13) after 10 minutes.
A three-point move by Avi Ben-Shimol at the start of the second period increased Maccabi’s lead to 22-13, but Jerusalem answered with a 14- 2 run and a tight second period would end in a 37-36 Hapoel lead.
However, the visitors would not need long in the second half to surge into the lead, opening the third quarter with an 18-4 run capped by a Rich basket to move into a 55-40 advantage.
The hosts managed to close to within seven points (57-50) with two minutes to play in the third period, only for Will Solomon, who had gone scoreless until that stage, to hit three consecutive three-pointers to put Hapoel in a commanding position once more.
From there, the visitors continued to pile the misery on Haifa until the clock ran out.