Hapoel Tel Aviv stream-rolled Hapoel Afula 85-62 thanks to a superb second half in which they outscored the visitors 45-25 to stay perfect in Israeli league play with a record of 4-0. Patrick Beverley nailed his shots from deep to begin the game for the Reds while Bruno Caboclo and Marcus Foster scored at will as Tomer Ginat and Antonio Blakeney closed out the victory.

Stefanos Dedas’s team came into the game without star center Johnathan Motley who had cleaned out his locker and was seemingly headed to Red Star Belgrade without the club’s approval, however, the Serbian team has denied having any interest in the player and there are also reports that he is heading back to Hapoel Tel Aviv. However, the bench boss had a new guard in Blakeney that just joined the club to provide yet some more scoring for the reds.

Foster scored 15 points, Caboclo added 12 points and Ginat chipped in with 10 points in the win while Jalen Lacque scored 13 points and Justyn Mutts out in 10 points in the loss.

Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Stefanos Dedas explained how his team picked up the victory, “We were serious for the most part of the game and we didn’t give up more than 15 points per quarter. I was satisfied with our defense and had 9 blocked shots. We only had a day to prepare and still win by over 20 points. The game is now over and we have to continue on with our next game in the EuroCup.”

“I want to split the game up into two halves,” Ariel Beit Halachmi said. “The first half we were really good and were right there but at the end of the day their depth and athleticism ended up winning this game. We did our maximum and the most that we could.”

Bruno Caboclo reflected on the win and spoke about the loss of Johnathan Motley, “We had a good game although we started slow but we got some good stops. We adjusted some things which we did during the game, opened the advantage and we took the win. I think Jonathan is a big loss and he was very important for us, but we have a great team and everyone will step up. We will do our best on the court. I still have a lot to show for the team and myself with this opportunity and I can show more of what I can do. Ultimately my job is to help the team win.”

Noam Avivi looked back on the loss, “We were there in the first half and we followed the game plan but they broke us in the second quarter and hopefully we can use this experience in the upcoming games. We have played many road games which isn’t an excuse. I’m still looking to find my role in this team and it’s taking some time in order for me to help the team as best as I can.”

Patrick Beverley knocked down a pair of 3-pointers while Bruno Caboclo scored from the inside and outside to get Hapoel Tel Aviv on the board while Jalen Lecque and Justyn Mutts countered for Hapoel Afula but an Oz Blayzer triple at the buzzer gave the reds a 24-22 lead after ten minutes of action. Lecque and Armaan Franklin scored for the visitors, Marcus Foster dropped a couple of buckets as did Tomer Ginat, Beverley scored an easy deuce but quick baskets by Eyal Harel and Sandy Cohen cut the Tel Aviv lead to 40-37 at halftime.

Foster with a layup and dunk and Bar Timor from deep bumped up the Reds lead, Muriel Lutati tried to keep Afula close but a triple by a red hot Foster and deuces by Ish Wainright and Blakeney gave Stefanos Dedas’s squad a 63-50 lead after thirty minutes of action. Ginat and Noam Yaacov scored to begin the final frame, Guy Palatin went from downtown as Noam Avivi tried to keep Afula relevant but more points from Blakeney salted the game away for the hosts.

Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Hapoel Gilboa Galil 89-81 as Jared Harper scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to help the Reds to the win. Yonatan Alon’s squad jumped out to an early lead as Noam Dovrat and Jeremy Morgan found the bottom of the basket, but Emmanuel Nzekwesi and Ish El-Amin responded and were able to give the hosts a 69-67 lead in the final frame. However, Harper started to score in bunches with a pair of triples to put Jerusalem back in front and more points from the line to go along with a key 3-pointer by Chris Johnson to close out the victory. Following the game, reports indicated the guard Speedy Smith asked to leave the club as his role had bee drastically reduced since Harper came on board over the summer.

Harper scored 23 points while Gaby Chachashvili and Morgan each scored 13 points in the win. Nzekwesi scored 21 points, Ben Moore chipped in with 17 points and El-Amin put in 16 points in the loss.