Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Hapoel Galil Elyon 77-62 as Cassius Winston filled in for Jared Harper admirably in the win. Harper, who was given the night off, watched Winston score in bunches and the guard who went off for 35 points in EuroCup play last week continued having the hot hand as the Reds used a strong second half to send the Galilee team back up north empty handed.

Winston scored 23 points, Austin Wiley added 14 points and Khadeen Carrington scored 13 points in the victory while Shachar Amir scored 16 points and Yahel Melamed put in 14 points in the loss.

Hapoel Jerusalem Head Coach Yonatan Alon spoke about the win, “We didn’t play well offensively during the first half of the game but we started to move the ball well in the third quarter and we took the win. We’ve had a lot of games and flights and it’s good to be able to give players some time off which we did with Jared Harper and Cassius was able to step right into his shoes.”

“I’m proud of the guys especially after last game,” Hapoel Galil Elyon Head Coach Guni Izraeli began. “We didn’t start the game off well but the second quarter was very good for us in both sides of the floor. We spoke about how the aggressiveness was going to go up after halftime and it did but we moved to small ball and we were able to stay with them.”

Austin Wiley who recorded a double-double talked about the victory, “I’m doing what I can to get the win and keep the momentum that we have. We have been watching a lot of film and I’m happy to be able to help the team on the court. I like playing with both Jared Harper and Cassius Winston, they are my two favorite point guards and they cause our opponents all kinds of issues.”

Yahel Melamed spoke about the game, “We battled really hard and with that intensity we will win some games this season with that energy. Slowly but surely I’m learning the team as well and what the coach wants from us. We are working hard as a team to integrate everyone into the system.”

Cassius Winston started scoring for Hapoel Jerusalem while Yovel Zoosman and Anthony Lamb both went from deep, Shachar Amir sunk two from long distance and Yahel Melamed scored as well for Hapoel Galil Elyon but points from Khadeen Carrington helped the reds to a 20-14 lead after ten minutes of play.

Amir and Winston traded triples to begin the second quarter, Sam Aljiki went from the inside and outside, while Jordan Bone and Cyril Langevine also found points, but Carrington scored a quick 5-points to give the hosts a 32-31 advantage at halftime.

Langevine began the third quarter with a 3-point play, both Winston and Wiley put in a pair of baskets, Josiah-Jordan James scored from the inside and outside, Noam Avivi went from deep and Yuval Sznaiderman scored but points from Dmytro Skapintsev gave Yonatan Alon’s team a 57-44 lead after thirty minutes of action.

Melamed and Amir scored to start the final frame, Lamb went from downtown and Carrington scored, Melamed went from the outside and inside, Winston put in a 3-point play and added a deuce to close out the double digit victory.

Nes Ziona topped Elitzur Netanya 86-78 as Desi Rodriguez starred for Amit Sherf’s team in the win. Bryce Brown and Desi Rodriguez scored for Nes Ziona while Semaj Christon and Otis Frazier who hit a full court shot as the first quarter came to an end gave Netanya a 23-20 lead.

Spencer Weisz started hitting his shots while Rodriguez continued to fill the basket as Frazier tried to keep the diamond city squad close but the hosts took a 47-40 advantage into halftime. Isaiah Whitehead started to score for Nes Ziona as Shaq Buchanan as Or Cornelius answered along with Frazier who gave Netanya a 78-77 lead with just over two minutes to go but points from Tyreek Smith, Weisz and Rodriguez closed out the game.

Rodriguez scored 19 points, Brown added 12 points and Weisz dropped 11 points in the in while Frazier scored 23 points, Christon put in 16 points and Cornelius scored 14 points in the loss.