Hapoel defeats Ness Ziona
Hapoel started its Winner Cup games with a home victory over Ness Ziona, 84:94 at the Arena. Justin Smith scored 17
11/09/2024
| 22:45
| Post-Game
Hapoel is indeed the reigning Winner Cup holder, and tonight (Wednesday) they opened their games in Group C on the right foot, with a home win over Ness Ziona, 84:94, at the Arena. Throughout most of the first half, they were somewhat chasing their opponent, but just before halftime, they took the lead thanks to an impressive performance by Speedy Smith. Back from the locker rooms, they saw the orange team come back into the game but responded with a run of their own, and in the final quarter, they turned up the heat and didn’t look back.
Before the game, Hapoel fans raised a huge banner in memory of our Hersh, a team fan who was recently murdered while held by Hamas, and his face will be displayed throughout the season on the players' official jerseys. What helped Yonatan Alon's squad recover from a slow start and run all the way to win was mainly a fantastic shooting day from beyond the arc, with 11 three-pointers at 50% — with Speedy Smith and Khadeen Carrington each hitting three of their four attempts from distance. The Jerusalem point guard was there for the reds throughout the game with a series of crucial baskets at key moments, while Smith Justido minated under the boards and finished as the leading scorer. Austin Wiley and Gabi Chachashvili grabbed important rebounds for their team, while Jared Harper and Noam Dovrat each recorded four assists — contributing to a total of 17 assists in the game against only nine team turnovers. On Sunday, the reds will head to Gan Ner, looking for another victory to bring them closer to the next stage.
Before the game, Hapoel fans raised a huge banner in memory of our Hersh, a team fan who was recently murdered while held by Hamas, and his face will be displayed throughout the season on the players' official jerseys. What helped Yonatan Alon's squad recover from a slow start and run all the way to win was mainly a fantastic shooting day from beyond the arc, with 11 three-pointers at 50% — with Speedy Smith and Khadeen Carrington each hitting three of their four attempts from distance. The Jerusalem point guard was there for the reds throughout the game with a series of crucial baskets at key moments, while Smith Justido minated under the boards and finished as the leading scorer. Austin Wiley and Gabi Chachashvili grabbed important rebounds for their team, while Jared Harper and Noam Dovrat each recorded four assists — contributing to a total of 17 assists in the game against only nine team turnovers. On Sunday, the reds will head to Gan Ner, looking for another victory to bring them closer to the next stage.
Game Summary:
Hapoel's Starting Five: Speedy Smith, Khadeen Carrington, Yovel Zoosman, Justin Smith, Gabi Chachashvili.
Ness Ziona's Starting Five: Darnell Edge, Bryce Brown, Tzof Ben Moshe, Ricky Lindo, Itai Shegev.
The point guards of both teams opened the game with three-pointers, Chachashvili and Lindo exchanged baskets, and Austin Wiley — who came off the bench — put the hosts ahead 5:7. Brown turned the tide with a three, Carrington responded with one of his own, and a dunk by Wiley increased the lead to 8:12. Ben Moshe and Brown restored the advantage for the orange team, Jake Van Tubergen entered for his first minutes with his new team and scored his debut basket — and Brown’s third three-pointer made it 12:18. Cornelius scored the seventh three-pointer of both teams combined in the first quarter, Justin Smith with four consecutive points restored the lead for the reds — but Van Tubergen and Lindo ensured that Ness Ziona finished the first ten minutes ahead 19:22.
Justin Smith opened the second quarter with six personal points, while Brown hit three free throws after being fouled on a three-shot attempt, and Segev brought his team back to a maximum lead — 21:27. Jared Harper scored the first points on a three, Yair Kravitz made two free throws on the other side, but a second three-pointer by Speedy Smith brought the hosts closer to 29:27. Edge again extended the gap to four with free throws, Speedy Smith narrowed it again with a two-pointer, but Edge, with his second three, made it 29:34. The red point guard continued to be his team's man with six consecutive points — including three accurate free throws after he was also fouled on a three-shot attempt — and Carrington with two of his own turned the score to 34:37. Van Tubergen restored the visitors to the lead with four consecutive points, Wiley tied it with one free throw, and Jeremy Morgan, with his first points in red, gave his team a 38:40 lead. Harper dazzled his way to a difficult basket, Kravitz hit a beautiful three on an assist from Ben Moshe, and Harper set the halftime score from the line — after a late basket by Or Cornelius in transition was disallowed. 41:43 for the reds at halftime, which was particularly offensive, including 12 combined three-pointers at 60% for each team.
Speedy. The man of the first half
A dunk by Lindo and a put-back by Segev turned the score back around after the break, Zoosman, on the other hand, scored his first points with a three, but Brown with a fourth three and Lindo with a basket and a foul completed a 3:10 run from the start of the quarter — 46:51 for Ness Ziona. Hapoel responded with an 11:2 run that started with a basket by Wiley and continued with threes from Morgan, Carrington, and Chachashvili — who put his team at 10 of 16 from beyond the arc on the way to a 53:57 lead. Amit Sheref called a timeout before two successful free throws by Justin Smith, Tomer Levinsion scored his first points of the game with a three — but Smith with one of two from the line made it 56:60. Kravitz and Segev brought the visitors within one point, but Carrington responded with a dunk and Justin Smith with a layup — as Harper's layup gave Hapoel a maximum lead of eight points — and Segev, with three free throws, left his team trailing 67:62 at the end of the third quarter.
Harper. A part of the run on the third Q
In the final ten minutes, Hapoel turned up the heat, and with a 0:6 run, took their first double-digit lead — 62:73. Levinsion and Lindo briefly stopped the momentum, but a dunk by Wiley and a layup by Carrington increased the lead again to 66:77. The visitors took another timeout, and after points from Zoosman and Wiley, Lindo and Edge managed to narrow the gap to single digits — 81:72. This time it was Yonathan Alon's turn to call for a discussion with his players, and Carrington returned from the timeout with a foul drawn for three and accuracy on all three free throws — 72:84. Lindo responded with two of his own free throws, Chachashvili scored one from distance, but Edge, with his second three-pointer of the game, cut it to 85:77. Wiley hit twice from the line, Speedy Smith stole the ball and raced for an easy layup — and the lead grew again to double digits, 77:89. Edge became Ness Ziona's leading scorer with five consecutive points that narrowed the deficit to seven, but Harper and Justin Smith pushed the hosts away again, and the red big man sealed the game’s score — 84:94 for Hapoel.
In the final ten minutes, Hapoel turned up the heat, and with a 0:6 run, took their first double-digit lead — 62:73. Levinsion and Lindo briefly stopped the momentum, but a dunk by Wiley and a layup by Carrington increased the lead again to 66:77. The visitors took another timeout, and after points from Zoosman and Wiley, Lindo and Edge managed to narrow the gap to single digits — 81:72. This time it was Yonathan Alon's turn to call for a discussion with his players, and Carrington returned from the timeout with a foul drawn for three and accuracy on all three free throws — 72:84. Lindo responded with two of his own free throws, Chachashvili scored one from distance, but Edge, with his second three-pointer of the game, cut it to 85:77. Wiley hit twice from the line, Speedy Smith stole the ball and raced for an easy layup — and the lead grew again to double digits, 77:89. Edge became Ness Ziona's leading scorer with five consecutive points that narrowed the deficit to seven, but Harper and Justin Smith pushed the hosts away again, and the red big man sealed the game’s score — 84:94 for Hapoel.
Justin Smith. Finished as to scorrer
Scorers for Hapoel: Justin Smith 17 (6-9 for two, 5-6 from the line, 4 turnovers), Speedy Smith (3-4 from three, 3-3 from the line) and Carrington (2-5 for two, 3-4 from three) 16 each, Wiley 13 (5-12 for two, 7 rebounds), Harper 11 (1-5 from three, 4 assists), Zoosman 7 (3 steals), Chachashvili 6 (6 rebounds), Morgan 5 (0-3 for two, 1-4 from three), Cornelius 3. Also played: Dovrat (4 assists).
Scorers for Ness Ziona: Edge 20 (4-5 for two, 3-5 from three, 3-3 from the line, 5 turnovers), Brown 17 (4-6 from three, 3-3 from the line, 4 turnovers), Lindo 15 (5-8 for two, 5-5 from the line), Shegev (3-4 for two and from the line, 10 rebounds, 3 steals), Van Tubergen 8 (4-5 for two), Kravitz 6 (3-5 from the line, 4 turnovers), Levinsion 5, Ben Moshe 4 (0-4 from three). Also played: Danieli and Amsalem.
Hapoel Players thanks the crowd at the end. Opened on the right foot.
Group C Standings:
1. Upper Galilee (1-0)
2. Hapoel (1-0)
3. Gilboa Galil (1-1)
4. Ness Ziona (0-2)
