El-Classico comeback: Maccabi gets the 77:74 win in a thriller

Encouraged from the win over Efes on Thursday, Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv hosted Hapoel Jerusalem in the 19th round of the Israeli league. The game started with a high tempo as both teams stayed close to each other. Jerusalem took control over the game but a heroic comeback led by the magnificent Cole in the fourth quarter gave the yellows the El-Classico win just before the game against Khimki Moscow region on Thursday. 

Coach Spahija’s starting five: Jackson, John-Di, Roll, Bolden and Tyus. The reds were the first to score as they got the early 0:6 lead. However the yellows kept their composure as John-Di sparked a 5:0 run. Kinsey scored from downtown, but Jackson connected with Bolden to keep the yellows close in the Israeli El-Classico as the scoreboard showed 8:9 four minutes into the game. Both teams struggled to score, but John-Di ended the drought with a midrange jump shot giving the yellows the 18:16 lead. Jerusalem finished the first quarter strong with Roberts giving the Red the 18:21 lead after 10 minutes.

Stratos scored a three pointer at the beginning of second quarter increasing Jerusalem’s lead to 18:24, Cole reacted with a midrange jumper yet the reds continued controlling the tempo increasing their lead to 22:30. John-Di scored from downtown to cut Jerusalem’s lead to 29:34 with just over four minutes remaining in the second quarter. Both teams exchanged baskets with Maccabi capitalizing on both ends of the court trimming the visitors lead to just three points (37:40). Jerusalem managed to score but Cole had the final say with a mid-post floater at the end of the second quarter as the yellows trailed 37:41.

Tyus scored for the yellows but Kinsey reacted (41:46), the reds increased their lead to 43:51 forcing coach Spahija to call for a timeout. Jerusalem increased their lead to 46:55. Jerusalem continued to control the rhythm as the scoreboard showed 50:60 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Lucas helped the reds finish the third quarter with a 12 points lead (52:64) after hitting both free throws.

Both teams struggled to score at the beginning of the fourth quarter, with the yellows being the first to capitalize with a three pointer by Roll (55:64), Cole and Thomas continued the yellows’ comeback attempt trimming Jerusalem’s lead to 59:64 however Ohayon reacted with a three pointer (59:67), Jerusalem tried to stop Maccabi’s hopes of a comeback (61:69) however Cole and Thomas showed resiliency as they tied the game (69:69). Cole gave the yellows the 72:71 lead with just under two minutes remaining in the game.000

Both teams struggle to score however Maccabi managed to get a few impressive defensive stops, Dyson missed both free throws with 23.1 seconds remaining. John-Di kept composure from the free throw line giving Maccabi the 74:71 lead. Jerusalem managed to cut Maccabi’s lead to 75:74 from the free throw line, however Jackson secured Maccabi’s win (77:74) from the free throw line, as the hosts improve their record in the domestic league to 15:4.