Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 94-85 thanks to a huge fourth quarter to advance to the Israel State Cup final on Thursday night where they’ll meet the winner of the Bnei Herzliya and Hapoel HaEmek clash. The reds had been in control for the majority of the game as Austin Wiley and Khadeen Carrington were crucial for Yonatan Alon’s team but Jeff Dowtin and Roman Sorkin kept Oded Katash’s squad in the game.

However, in the second half Yovel Zoosman and Jared Harper helped build up an almost double digit lead but Jimmy Clark, Jaylen Hoard and Gur Lavy were able to overcome the deficit to take the victory. Sorkin scored 20 points, Dowtin added 19 points and Clark put in 16 points in the win while Carrington scored 22 points, Wiley scored 17 points and Harper chipped in with 13 points in the loss.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach Oded Katash talked about the win, “I’m very happy and proud how we were able to handle some of the issues we had during the game. We were able to really make it through this game and we kept it close by halftime which isn’t something I would have taken for granted. There are no favorites and we didn’t come into this game in the best shape with so many injuries and Jerusalem always seem to play well here with confidence. It want always the most gorgeous play but Jeff Dowtin was tremendous as was Jimmy Clark and Gur Lavy really made all of the difference.”

Hapoel Jerusalem Head Coach Yonatan Alon spoke about the defeat and when the game started to slip away, “I felt that Maccabi were starting to hit their shots in the fourth quarter, scored cheap points and grabbed rebounds as well as hustled. Maccabi Tel Aviv is a great team and their players made the plays. I did what I could and not having Nimrod Levi available really hurt us.”

Jeff Dowtin reflected on the win, “I was just starting ready for when the time comes and I’ve played the game of baketeball at the highest levels and my preparation is always the same as has my confidence. There are things you can’t control and I work out to stay ready to go.”

Isaiah Mobley commented on the loss, “They outhustled us and had extra possessions on the rebounds down the stretch and we needed to be better on the glass and we could have walked out with the win. Jeff Dowtin had them going and he made some big shots to keep them in the game which allowed them to come back. We have to be better going forward.”

Austin Wiley dunked, Khadeen Carrington put in a 3-point play while Isiah Mobley scored off the backboard to get things rolling for Hapoel Jerusalem, Roman Sorkin put down a monster jam and Jeff Dowtin scored a deuce for Maccabi Tel Aviv to get the game off and running. Jared Harper found points, Cassius Winston went from deep, Jaylen Hoard scored a pair of baskets in the paint, Justin Smith came back with points, Sorkin scored a pair of buckets in the paint, Roi Huber dialled up long distance and Marcio Santos dunked but the reds held a 24-19 lead after ten minutes of play.

Mobley and Santos traded baskets to begin the second quarter, Harper hit a long two while Carrington nailed a corner 3-ball, Dowtin scored points a plenty, Wiley and Winston responded, Sorkin put down the hammer, Jimmy Clark went from deep off the backboard, Dowtin hit a jumper, Smith and Carrington scored while Sorkin went from deep but so did Harper to keep Yonatan Alon’s team in front 47-45 at halftime.

Dowtin led off the third quarter with a floater, Clark drained a triple, Yovel Zoosman and Mobley countered, Carrington went from deep and Wiley dunked, Tamir Blatt put in points, Harper hit a jumper and Smith put points, Sorkin came back with a finger-roll and Clark nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Maccabi kept the game close with the reds up 68-66 after thirty minutes of action.

Gur Lavy hit jumper to begin the fourth quarter, Mobley went from deep, Wiley scored inside while Oshae Brissett did the same at the other end, Lavy added points, Clark put down a massive dunk and added a layup, Carrington and from deep, Hoard scored inside, outside and then in the paint on a mismatch, Carrington hit two more from downtown but Lavy’s free throws closed out the win.