A tremendous first half by the squad in yellow and blue was enough to put Jerusalem on chase mode securing the important 78:89 road win. Scottie Wilbekin (18P & 5A) received MVP honors
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Playing their 5th game in just 10 days Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv Hapoel Jerusalem on the road wanting to continue their positive momentum. From the tipoff the yellows imposed their will as they danced on the floor enroute of 32:54 lead at halftime. In the second half the locals made a comeback attempt that lasted until the fourth quarter where a vigilant side in yellow and blue led by Wilbekin secured the 78:89 road win. The yellows remain on top of the domestic standings with a record of 17:4.
Coach Sfairopoulos’ starting five: Tyus, O’Bryant, Roll, Zoosman
and Wilbekin. Maccabi got off to a great with Johnny sparking the yellow offense to an early 2:9 lead. Ohayon reacted from deep but the squad of coach Sfairopoulos was floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee with Johnny leading the yellow and blue machine to a 7:17 lead forcing coach Katash to call for a timeout. Zoosman and Scottie scored back to back threes and Johnny added a jumper making it 7:25. Jerusalem started to trim down Maccabi’s lead but Kane had the final say in the first quarter with a buzzer beater giving the yellows the 14:29 lead.Brown started the second quarter with a
three pointer but Pargo and Black reacted for Maccabi (17:33). The yellows kept controlling the tempo on offense cruising to a comfortable 21:44 lead. Jerusalem completed a 5:0 run forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 26:49. Feldeine found his offensive rhythm and alongside Owens the duo made it 32:51 but Scottie ended the first half in style with the dagger from downtown to put Maccabi ahead 32:54.Johnny was the first to score in
third quarter but Jerusalem started to react as they trimmed Maccabi’s lead to 42:58. The reds continued their comeback as Brown and Timor capitalized to make it 51:62 forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout. Owens connected with Brown as Jerusalem and Feldeine’s layup made it 57:63 but Pargo was the last to score in the third quarter (57:65).Cohen ended the long yellow drought from deep as he puts Maccabi ahead in double digits 57:68. Feldeine scored for Jerusalem to keep his team close to the squad in yellow and blue but who reacted time and again as they remained ahead in double digits (64:75). The yellows kept their composure and their lead (70:80) with 02:30 remaining in the game. Owens completed the
three point play but Scottie answered with a huge three down the stretch keeping the locals at bay (73:83). Feldeine and Ohayon made a final push for a comeback but Zoosman and John-Di reacted for Maccabi to secure the 78:89 road win against Hapoel Jerusalem.
