A great first quarter by Maccabi was enough as the locals took control over the game; John-Di and Scottie sent the game to overtime but the locals came up on top. Scottie led the scorers in yellow and blue (22P, 6A & 3R)
Coach Sfairopoulos’ starting five: Wilbekin, John-Di, Caloiaro, O’Bryant and Tyus. John-Di was the first to score in the game, Jerusalem reacted but Johnny scored from deep to give Maccabi the edge (4:5). Scottie got into the zone as he knocked down his shots from deep to put Maccabi ahead 7:13. Butler completed a four-point play but the duo of Johnny-Di made their presence felt as they kept the train in yellow and blue running, making it 11:19. Tyus connected with Wilbekin for a thunderous dunk, Jerusalem tried to react but the squad of coach Sfairopoulos were too dominant (15:27). Feldeine managed to beat the buzzer scoring from deep as the first quarter comes to an end (18:27).
Jerusalem started the second quarter with an 8:0 run as they made it a one-point game (26:27); Roll and Pargo woke up the yellow offense scoring five points keeping Jerusalem at bay (26:32). Ohayon scored a step-back three, Chubrevich added a long two pointer to bring Jerusalem to within a striking distance, forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout (36:38). Blatt tied the game from the free throw line but Scottie gave Maccabi the 42:43 edge at halftime.
Both teams traded blows at the beginning of the third with Jerusalem staying close to Maccabi (49:51). Feldeine and Blatt completed the comeback for the locals who took the 57:54 lead. Johnny’s hustle payed off big as he capitalized on the offensive board to tie the game (58:58). With less than a minute remaining in the third quarter John-Di scored a transition three to give Maccabi the 58:61, but Amare tied the game as the third quarter came to an end (61:61).
Jerusalem took the 67:65 lead in the fourth quarter, the yellows tried to react but Feldeine increased the hosts’ lead as he completed the three-point play making it 70:65. Johnny reacted with four points, bringing Maccabi to within a striking distance (70:69). Amare created a bigger safety distance for Jerusalem but Roll got the open look from deep and he made it count forcing coach Katash to call for a timeout (75:72). With 01:42 left in the game Amare completed a three-point play to put Jerusalem ahead 72:80. It didn’t take long for Scottie to answer from deep, forcing coach Katash to call for his second timeout (80:75). Maccabi came back from the timeout extremely focused continuing their run with John-Di and Scottie to send the game to overtime (80:80).
John-Di was the man for coach Sfairopoulos in overtime scoring Maccabi’s first four points to give Maccabi the 82:84 lead. Thomas completed a 7:0 run for Hapoel but Johnny tied the game from deep (89:89). Feldeine and Thomas gave their team the 93:89 lead. John-Di scored a three pointer but Feldeine answered with one of his own giving Jerusalem the 96:92 lead, from which Maccabi could not recover as they lose 92:98 on the road.
