Hap J’lem cruises to 20-point road win over Gilboa/Galil

Jerusalem has shown steady improvement in the past month, winning both in the BSL and the Eurocup.

By ALLON SINAI
A dominating fourth quarter gave Hapoel Jerusalem an impressive 88-68 victory at Hapoel Gilboa/Galil on Sunday night.
The score at Gan Ner was tied at 57-57 with 10 minutes to play, but Jerusalem outscored the hosts 31-11 in the final quarter and claimed its seventh BSL victory in its last eight games.
Jerusalem has shown steady improvement in the past month, winning both in the BSL and the Eurocup. Coach Guy Goodes got yet another excellent team effort on Sunday, with Tre Simmons leading five players in double-figures with 17 points.
Dijon Thompson and Kevinn Pinkney added 16 and 15 points, respectively, with Yogev Ohayon and Pooh Jeter scoring 10 points each. Gal Mekel scored 15 points for Gilboa, which has lost two straight games, its first losing streak of the season.
“We got back into the game in the third period, but shot poorly in the fourth quarter and didn’t defend well,” Gilboa coach Oded Katash said. “Jerusalem deserved to win.”
After a tight first five minutes, Jerusalem ended the first period with an 8-2 run, opening a 20-14 lead after 10 minutes.
Thompson’s three-pointer to start the second quarter increased Jerusalem’s gap to nine points and the visitors had their first double-digit lead of the night at the break after Jeter’s triple (42-32).
Goodes’s team was still 10 points in front midway through the third period, but Gilboa went on a 16-4 run to erase the significant deficit and take 55-53 advantage.
The score was tied at 57-57 with 10 minutes remaining and the gameseemed completely open. However, Jerusalem controlled the fourthquarter and ended up claiming a comfortable victory.
A 9-0 run, capped by a Pinkney basket, gave the team a 69-61 margin andOhayon’s spectacular three-point move extended the gap todouble-figures (73-63) with 2:57 to play, breaking Gilboa’s spirit andsecuring an important win for Jerusalem.